Most design projects that drag on do not drag because of the design. They drag because the ingredients show up one at a time. The logo comes on day one, the copy on day four, the photos on day nine, and the real deadline gets mentioned after the first draft.

When you hand a designer everything up front, you get better work in fewer rounds. This guide is a checklist of what to gather before you start. And if you have a project waiting, now is a good time: from Monday, December 14 through Sunday, December 20, 2026, design services and the Social Smoke Pack are 20% off. The discount applies automatically at checkout, and code COOKED20 works as a fallback.

1. Your brand files

These are the foundation of every project:

Your logo, in the best format you have. Vector files (AI, EPS, SVG or a vector PDF) are ideal. If all you have is a small image pulled from your website, say so. It is better to know early.
Your colors. Exact color codes if you have them. If not, point to something you have printed before that looks right.
Your fonts. The names of the fonts you use, or a sample of a piece that uses them.
Any brand guidelines. Even a one-page document helps.

2. The words

Design is built around content. Final or close-to-final copy is the single biggest thing that speeds up a project.

Headline and main message.
Body text, product names, prices and details.
Contact information exactly as you want it to appear.
Legal lines, disclaimers or required fine print.

If you are not sure what to say, write it rough. A designer can shape a rough draft. It is much harder to design around "copy coming later."

3. Photos and images

Send the original, full-size files, not screenshots or images saved from social media. Phone photos are fine if they are in focus and well lit. If you want stock imagery or illustrations instead, say that up front.

4. The job the piece needs to do

This is the part people skip, and it matters most. Tell your designer:

Who it is for. New customers, regulars, partners, job applicants?
Where it will be seen. Printed and handed out, mailed, posted on Instagram, shown on a screen?
What you want people to do. Call, book, visit, buy, scan, follow?
What success looks like to you. In your own words.

5. Examples you like and do not like

A few screenshots of designs you love, and one or two you cannot stand, save a lot of back and forth. They do not have to be in your industry. Note what you like about each: the colors, the layout, the mood, the type.

6. Specs and deadlines

Size and format. Letter flyer, social square, story, banner, two-sided card?
Print or digital. Print files and screen files are built differently.
When you need it. And what date that is tied to, such as an event or a launch.
Who approves it. If a partner or manager has to sign off, bring them in early, not after the final draft.

Which design service fits

Once your ingredients are ready, pick the right size of project:

One Sided Digital Flyer Design ($50). A single-sided digital piece for social, email or your website.
Two Sided Print Design ($99). A print-ready front and back, for flyers, cards, postcards and similar pieces.
The Social Smoke Pack ($350 to $950 a month). Ongoing social content, with 10 to 30 assets a month depending on the tier. A good fit if you post regularly and want a consistent look without designing every post yourself.

Not sure which one you need? Send a few lines through our contact page and we will point you in the right direction.

Order up: 20% off design, Dec 14 to 20

From Monday, December 14 at 12:00 am through Sunday, December 20 at 11:59 pm Eastern, design services and the Social Smoke Pack are 20% off. The discount applies automatically at checkout. You can also enter code COOKED20.

Browse design services or see this week's deal page. Gather your ingredients, and we will handle the cooking. Questions? Email info@smellthesmoke.com.

— Alan

What to Hand Your Designer Before a Project Starts