University of Redlands
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Design projects: getting started and timeline

For design work relating to the University of Redlands, we may refer you to a freelance vendor, provide you with a template to work with yourself, or take the project in house and work with you to carry out your project from beginning to end.

How do we decide? The larger your piece’s audience and bigger the potential impact on University-wide fundraising, reputation, and/or recruitment, the more likely it is we will take the project on in house—assuming we have the capacity. (And we give extra points for completing a creative brief.)

Please contact us at least six weeks before you need your project delivered or mailed. This allows two weeks for design, two weeks for the approval process, and two weeks for printing. Projects may take more or less time, depending on their complexity or simplicity (see below for examples). Factors that will have an impact on the timeline include: Content—is new writing needed, or is your piece a “revised repeat” with minor text and photo updates? Is new photography required? Are your key stakeholders available to approve your piece? What vacations/holidays are coming up?

You are the subject matter expert, which means that you are responsible for the content of your pieces—accurate facts, correct phone numbers, URLs, degree program names, campus location names, etc. Our team can provide copy editing and proofreading services, but not fact-checking.

Following are examples of three design projects to give you an idea of the creative process and typical timelines.

Major print project: 8-10 weeks

School of Business Brochure with Pocket (8 pages) 

Weeks 1-2

  • Project initiated by campus partner
  • Campus partner provides final text in a Word document, along with print quantity
  • Campus partner requests new photography; work with MarComm to strategize and plan approach to capturing new photography (1-2 weeks)

Weeks 3-4

  • MarComm conducts photoshoots (1-2 weeks)

Weeks 5-6

  • Once new assets are created, MarComm commences design/layout (2 weeks)
  • MarComm requests print quotes

Weeks 7-8

  • MarComm sends proof and quotes to campus partner for review
  • Go back and forth with edits (2 weeks)
  • Final approval received; final art to print vendor (10-12 business days + 1 day for Independence Day holiday)
  • Brochures delivered to campus partner
  • Samples delivered to MarComm office

sb_300x468.jpg

Medium print project: 6-7 weeks

Homecoming Brochure (20 pages)

Weeks 1-2

  • Project initiated by campus partner with the direction to use the same design as last year, but with all-new text and photos
  • Campus partner provides final text in a Word document, along with print quantity
  • MarComm commences design/layout and requests print quotes (1-2 weeks, depending on the finished quality of content provided)

Weeks 3-4

  • MarComm sends proof and quotes to campus partner, with questions or missing text denoted in pink
  • Go back and forth with edits (2 weeks)

Weeks 5-7

  • Final approval received; campus partner provides mailing list
  • Final art and mailing list to printer (10-12 days)
  • Mail date
  • Samples delivered to MarComm office

homecoming_300x450.jpg

Small print project: 4-5 weeks

Discover Redlands Postcard

Week 1

  • Project initiated by campus partner
  • Campus partner provides minor text edits (handwritten and scanned) to existing print piece, along with print quantity
  • MarComm commences design/layout and requests print quotes (3-5 business days)

Weeks 2-3

  • MarComm emails proof and print quotes to campus partner; go back and forth with edits (2 weeks)

Weeks 4-5

  • Final approval received; campus partner provides mailing list     
  • Final art and mailing list to printer (5-7 business days; may be longer for large quantities)
  • Mail date
  • Samples delivered to MarComm office

discoverredlands_300x196.jpg