Using the GAME Problem Solving Method in Graphic Design
A beautiful website means nothing if users cannot navigate it. A stunning advertisement is ineffective if it doesn’t encourage conversions. An informative carousel on Instagram may as well have remained a draft if it doesn’t conclude with a call to action that benefits your brand.
Graphic design combines artistry and strategy to create brand assets that look nice and serve a larger purpose. For instance, that beautiful website we mentioned above also considers UI/UX best practices and places the most important elements and call to action above the fold.
As a graphic design agency, our job is to get past a client’s idea of creating a pretty design and instead get to the root of what they want that pretty design to achieve. We’re artistic problem-solvers, executing creative solutions that make our clients look great on the surface and subconsciously to their target audiences.
The GAME problem solving method has transformed how our graphic design agency approaches discovery conversations with clients to effectively break down why they need professional graphic designers beyond creating something pretty. GAME is an acronym for gathering information objectively, analyzing, making a plan, and executing and evaluating. Let’s take a look at how we use it as graphic designers.
Gather Information Objectively
Remaining objective during conversations with clients allows us to get to the root of their problems without our personal design opinions standing in the way. For instance, a client may assume that they’re not getting conversions because their website is outdated. In reality, it may be because of how they phrased their call to action. However, by letting the client explain their thoughts without interjecting, we’ve uncovered the root of the problem, that they are not getting conversions.
Analyze
Only after we’ve gathered as much information as possible is it time to brainstorm the reasons why. Imagine if we’d rushed out of the gate and told a client everything we’d change about their website without first understanding their issues with it. Analyzing all of the information allows us to form educated opinions, decide on variables for A/B testing, and have a more comprehensive conversation with the client.
Make a Plan
Once we’ve analyzed the information and understand why the client needs a new website, a rebrand, or graphic design, we can formulate a plan to achieve it. As we noted earlier, oftentimes, this plan to achieve the client’s goals varies greatly from their original ideas about it. Those discrepancies are exactly why we go through the first steps before jumping into the planning stage.
Execute and Evaluate
Armed with information and a strong plan in place, it’s finally time to execute. During this stage, it’s critical to maintain two-way communication with the client and keep them abreast of where you are in the process and what you need from them to keep things rolling.
Of course, no game plan is complete without evaluating the results, learning from them, and adapting your strategy accordingly. For example, if updating the verbiage on a client’s call to action increases their conversion rate, we should add a new call to action to every page on the website and incorporate the same strategy into their social media posts.
Join the GAME!
Like the GAME problem solving method has helped us level up our communication with clients and execute better plans from start to finish, it is just as useful of a communication tool for B2C and B2B relationships, partnerships, employee relationships, and more. It encourages you to set your ego and ideas aside, actively listen to someone’s concerns, and gather more information to form a better action plan.
As always, if you have been thinking about hiring a graphic design agency to help solve some of your business problems, we’re open to a conversation.