3+ Sample Graphic Design Project Proposal

What is a Graphic Design Project Proposal?

A graphic design project proposal is a useful document that demonstrates clear goals, objectives, and plans to create and accomplish a specific type of graphic design project. It is commonly written by a person who has an expertise in graphic design projects such as visual arts and graphic illustrations, environmental graphic design, corporate design, marketing and advertising, motion graphics or visual effects, packaging, media publication graphic design, website graphic design, book cover design, brochure design, label design, 3D graphic design, mobile app design, stationery design, user interface (UI)  design, brand identity design, infographics design, and many more.

A 2018 report revealed by Red Website Design that tweets with visual assets generate 150% more retweets, whereas Facebook posts with images deliver 230% more engagement. That’s why graphic design is a fundamental element for businesses and organizations  to create and promote brand awareness and accelerate their digital marketing strategies. Thus, if you need to start a specific graphic design project for your prospective clients, the first thing you need to do is to prepare an effective graphic design project proposal.

Different Types of Graphic Design Project Proposals

The book Introduction to Graphic Design: A Guide to Thinking, Process & Style stated that graphic designers act as intermediaries between the client and the end user or audience, and such designers are the ones who are responsible to both groups. Design was utilized as an element to provide visual form and the persuasive muscle necessary to motivate people to make purchases.  There are numerous areas of specialization in graphic design. So, you need to consider what type of graphic design project proposal that you will use for your work.  However, there are a wide array of graphic design forms and outputs around us such as books, magazines, posters, and fliers. Below are different types of graphic design project proposals:

1. Visual Arts and Graphic Illustration Project Proposal

A graphic designer named Adrian Shaughnessy said: “Graphic design’s ability to deliver explicit messages makes it a major force in the modern world: it is embedded in the commercial infrastructure. Illustration, on the other hand, with its woolly ambiguity and its allusive ability to convey feeling and emotion, makes it too dangerous to be allowed to enter the corporate bloodstream.” By combining both aspects of graphic design and illustration, this will create a unique product called graphic illustration that applies the common design principles of color, form, shapes and layouts to organize and display original artwork. Graphic illustrations serve as guides in the visual expression of ideas, clarification of concepts, product selling, education, and promotion. If you are starting your work as a graphic illustrator, you have skills in drawing, painting, art history, digital illustration, business and marketing.  Also, you need to be able to develop an effective proposal for a visual arts and graphic illustration project is a crucial method to get your  graphic artwork and design approved by your prospective client.

2. Publication Graphic Design Project Proposal

Communication Arts, Wallpaper*, eVolo Magazine, Metropolis Magazine, Interior Design Magazine, ARCHITECT Magazine, Frame Magazine, Creative Review, and GRAY Magazine are some examples of the top and famous design publications around the world.  From books, catalog, magazines, and newspapers to newsletters, annual reports, and directories, publication design is a type of discipline of layout and art of graphic design that deals with printed items in order to tell stories and design various objects that would be enticing to the audience. The job of a publication designer is to visualize the look,  layout, and content of a publication thematically. For example, the Time magazine cover page and contents layout should reflect the content relevant to history. Thus, it is essential that you also create an engaging graphic design project proposal for your publication graphic design project so that you will have chances of getting a thumbs up from the media and publishing firm.

3. Graphic Design Project and Branding Services Proposal

Branding design is a type of graphic design that includes marketing collateral, websites, menus, uniforms, as well as the physical business or office space. It is fundamental in establishing a one-of-a-kind brand identity that perfectly reflects one’s brand. As a complex process that utilizes eclectic elements in design, it focuses on creating elements that shape the branding design of a company and represent the personality of the brand. Some methods that are typically used in branding design are shape branding, typographic branding, color branding, and illustration branding. For example, the brand design of For Kids By Kids takes the rainbow color palette based on the color version of the logo and forms a colored geometric pattern for the decoration of cards, envelopes and letters. Writing a striking proposal for your graphic design project and branding services will help you in catching the attention of more potential clients and audience interest.

4. Environmental Graphic Design Project Proposal

Designing day-to-day surroundings in a way that can invite people with the space is a type of design known as environmental graphic design. It integrates diverse elements of graphic design, architecture, interior design, landscape design, and industrial design. This is significant in transforming the space into more informative, more convenient to navigate and more memorable for its visitors. Several different areas of environmental graphic design examples are wayfinding systems, exhibitions, interactive experiences, public installation, and placemaking and identity environmental design. According to a report conducted by the Gensler Research Institute, people are 10x more likely to share a post of a store with unique design features, infrastructure and visual cues on their social media accounts.

One example of an environmental or experiential design project is the “WAVE” project designed by d’strict which is a firm with expertise in utilizing immersive technology to create public art. It showcased a giant wave that appeared on the LED façade of the city or South Korea’s biggest digital billboard located in the former SMTown COEX building. The anamorphic illusion rears up before crashing into the surface of the screen, creating the two-dimensional wraparound display that seems more similar to a gigantic tank. Making a compelling proposal for your environmental design project is an important method to achieve your project fully well.

5. User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Graphic Design Project Proposal

Digital technology is used to manage and create visual designs of technical projects and innovate strategies with electronic technology that aim on humanizing information and customer experience for the web and for television, print and portable electronic devices. User interface (UI) designs and user experience (UX) designs are often used synonymously for digital designs. Most of the companies and organizations used digital technology for both UI and UX designs. When it comes to product design, UX and UI designs complement each other. The UI design is all about UI prototyping, interactivity and animation, adaptation to all device screen sizes and implementation with developers while the UX design centers on wireframing, prototyping, testing and iteration and content development planning. If you are skilled in designing all the visual and interactive elements of a digital product and/or designing the overall experience feels for the user , then it is important that you create impressive proposals for your UI/UX graphic design projects.

6. Motion Graphic Design Project Proposal

Are you preparing for a TV commercial, music video, animation or online video project? A motion graphics designer needs to write a compelling project proposal and to accomplish many steps to the pre-production, production and post-production processes. The motion graphics designer must construct a project plan, make an informative brief to define the concept and goals, brainstorm ideas for the project, organize inspiration and references through a moodboard, visualize the sequence of your animation through a storyboard, share the visual concepts with your team through style frames, develop an animatic, create production boards, solicit pre-production feedback, collect and organize assets, design the rough animation, and finalize the animation.

Basic Components of a Graphic Design Project Proposal 

In this section, you will learn how to craft a proficiently-written graphic design project proposal so that you are able to reach the attention of your prospective clients, investors, and many others. However, a graphic design project proposal has different components. Include the following elements for you to create an impressive document:

Title: One of the basic elements of a graphic design project proposal is the title. It is an eye-catching and thought-provoking line of the document which highlights the main topic, or subject of the graphic design project proposal, as well as to catch the attention of the client to check the proposal thoroughly. It is typically set in a size larger than other remaining text elements in the page.Description of Project Goals and Objectives: Describe the definite project goals, objectives and outcomes that are integral in order to accomplish the graphic design project. Explain how your group will fulfill the design project goals and objectives. Executive Summary or Project Overview: This part is the crucial section of your graphic design project proposal. It provides a brief and comprehensive summary of the creative methods, and strategies that will be executed while producing a particular graphic design project. As the compelling part of the graphic design project proposal, use some visual representations like moodboards to illustrate the essence and flow of the production process. Another element to add in this section is the significance, implications and other contributions of the graphic design project that may provide to the people.Timeline of Pre-Production, Production and Post-Production Stages of the Design Project: Construct a clear timeline of your activities, and methods according to their time period of the pre-production, production and post-production stages of your project. Include the day, allotted hours, and overall date. Use some graphs, tables, and other visual diagrams to depict the status and performance of the group project. Conciseness and Precision: Highlight the essential details when it comes to your graphic design project. Write concisely and precisely with the inclusion of both short words and short sentences. Keep it as brief and specific as possible. Avoid the use of ambiguous words that are irrelevant to your proposal.

How to Create a Graphic Design Project Proposal

Aside from making an elevator pitch in proposal writing, a graphic design project proposal can effectively Outline what your specific goal and aspiration is all about. In this matter, we recommend that you follow the basic steps below while freely using one of our free graphic design project proposal templates in this article:

  • Step 1: Define the Specific Design Project Goals, Objectives and Outcomes

    One of the primary steps of writing a compelling graphic design project proposal is defining the specific design project Goals, objectives and outcomes. Uncover the real business objective behind this design project. Discuss and settle an agreement with your client concerning the priorities of the design project. Also, it is crucial to analyze the problem that will be solved through the design project because doing this provides a direct impact on project planning. Contemplate on the key issues existing in the particular situation and set a hierarchy. In this method, you are able to define the design project goals, objectives and outcomes

  • Step 2: Include a Brief Overview of the Graphic Design Project

    Your design project proposal should include a brief and concise overview of your graphic design project. Robert L. Peters, a designer and author, said: “Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.” Thus, describe your unique graphic design project ideas along with the culture and values that your project will bring in the society. When writing this section, you need to take your readers into sincere consideration.

  • Step 3: Present Design Solutions and Methodology

    Talk with each member of your graphic design firm while exchanging viewpoints and opinions about fundamental creative design solutions and methodology to potential issues which are connected to your project. After that, include these details in your graphic design project proposal. If you are working as a freelance, contractual, and independent graphic designer, brainstorm and develop an initial draft of your graphic design project ideas and concepts about creative solutions for the graphic design project.

  • Step 4: Indicate the Graphic Design Project Timeline and Budget

    Estimate the Financial budget of the graphic design project that you will work on in order to start the design and production process of the project. Provide a run-down of the cost for the project which includes printing fees, production costs, manufacturing costs, and other miscellaneous fees.

  • Step 5: Emphasize the Unique Value

    After that, emphasize the unique Value of your graphic design project and why it is unparalleled to others. Highlight the part on how your work will positively influence all sorts of people while supporting their needs and preferences with the production and realization of your graphic design project. This is a critical element for many corporate firms and organizations as they opt for collaborating with graphic designers who can immensely impact the public through an enthralling design.

  • Step 6: Prepare the Final Draft

    Lastly, prepare the final draft of your graphic design project Proposal that gives valuable and logical information about your pitch. Attach any supporting documents like a graphic design online portfolio. Schedule a meeting with the members of your graphic design firm and/or the prospective client or company who will receive your graphic design project proposal. Then, get help from professional editors and proofreaders or use some top editing and revising tools for much needed document proofreading and revision so that you can submit your proposal accordingly.

FAQs

What are some examples of graphic design project proposals?

Some examples of graphic design project proposals are visual arts and graphic illustration project proposals, environmental graphic design project proposals, corporate design project proposals, marketing and advertising project proposals, motion graphics design project proposals, packaging design project proposals, publication graphic design project proposals, website graphic design project proposals, book cover design project proposals, brochure design project proposals, label design project proposals, 3D graphic design project proposals, mobile app design project proposals, stationery design project proposals, user interface (UI) graphic design project proposals, brand identity graphic design project proposals, infographics graphic design project proposals, and more.

What are the fundamental elements of the graphic design project proposal?

When preparing your graphic design proposal, you should explain your innovative design solution to your client. Clarify to the client thoroughly about the important steps that you will perform. Then, include a simple and concise summary that contains the pricing, timeline, deliverables, and terms and conditions of the design service that you will provide. Explain the inclusions and the payment terms and conditions.

What are different types of graphic design projects?

The different types of graphic design projects are art and illustration for graphic design, environmental graphic design, marketing and advertising graphic design, motion graphic design, packaging graphic design, publication graphic design, user interface graphic design, user experience design, and visual identity graphic design.

What are some common types of designers?

Some common types of designer are graphic designer, brand and product designer, motion graphics designer,  animation designer, user interface (UI) designer, user experience (UX) designer, web designer, interior designer, industrial designer, packaging designer, environmental or experiential designer, book cover designer, publication designer, label designer, content layout designer, and many more.

Paul Rand said: “Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.”  Whether you are working in corporate design, publication graphic design, environmental graphic design, packaging graphic design, website graphic design, advertising graphic design, and other types of graphic designs, writing a clear and thought-provoking proposal for your graphic design project is an effective tool to attain your goal in lending a hand for people who need your graphic design prowess. So, please follow the aforementioned tips and steps here so that you are able to craft an exceptionally-written graphic design proposal. Plus, download our free graphic design proposal samples, creative project proposal templates, layout and design proposal samples, and other proposal writing template examples here today!