Just had a grade school reunion. I wasn't able to attend, but talking to several of my classmates brought back so many memories. I was an artist back then and had created some banners for the church podium. That got me to thinking about my dad. I remember he realized back then that I was really interested in art. So one day he sat me down at the kitchen table, handed me some paper and a pencil. He gave me an idea of something to draw, if I remember correctly it was a hamburger. Then he set the kitchen timer to 15 minutes and indicated that I was to finish the drawing before the time sounded. You know the kind, the ones that tick very loudly and make that awful DING! Anyway, it took 3 tries and I finished a hamburger that looked pretty decent in the time frame. I realize now what a valuable lesson that was, to take a concept and put it on paper in a timely and productive manner. I treasure that lesson and have found myself using it on a daily basis.
Deadlines are important for a designer, just as important as the design itself. You have a message to get out through either a direct mail piece, ad, billboard, website, podcast, etc. But if the message is not done in a timely manner, then it is lost and all that effort is a waste of our precious time.
So, next time you have a project that you would like done to promote your business or product be sure to indicate when you would like to it done and the designer you choose can meet your deadline.
