University of Redlands
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Creative Project Timeline

For design work relating to the University of Redlands, we may provide you with a branded template to work with yourself, or 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—assuming we have the capacity. 

Please submit your request at least six weeks in advance of your deadline.

This allows two weeks for design, two weeks for the approval process, and two weeks for printing (if applicable). 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?
  • Approval— 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.

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

Small print project: 4-5 weeks

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

Major print project: 8-10 weeks

Brochure or booklet

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