Volunteers
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General expectations of a volunteer
Please remember why you are volunteering. The main reason MUST be that you are wanting to help people. Your goal is to help them achieve their goals. These projects are vital to them and your work is very important. Read the links on the right in the volunteer section to be sure you understand the nature of this work and can commit to that idea.
So that we are all on the same page, I felt these guidelines important to clarify. I will try to define projects based on industry standards generating from an agency environment, (with less rigorous processes). Obviously we can’t physically present thumbs, roughs, and comps, however we will do this in a modified process. Note: these standards will be modified; more than likely there will be some removed.
Guides to help you. I will define these design procedures merely as guidelines. If you have questions or wish to inquire as to the necessity of these processes, this is acceptable. There will be many projects that do not fall under these categories.
Creative Brief. As a volunteer, you must follow basic design standards as your purpose is to create a successful design and deliverable for the client. If the Creative Brief (see process) defines a project you are not interested in working on, please let me know so someone can be assigned to the project. If you want a particular type of project, you should let me know so I can match you to a project.
Meeting your needs. I will try to match you to your requests, however all Briefs will determine the look/feel and as a designer, it is your job to create a design based on what the needs of the client are.
Egos aside. As a volunteer, you are checking your ego at the door. We are working for someone else, and in a capacity of someone who is donating, you will gain the design experience, stay in the game, and use the project as an opportunity to improve your portfolio. Remember however, the client and their needs come first. Your ability to satisfy them is what makes you a good designer. If you do not agree with this strategy, you should not be volunteering.
Agency Process. It is vital to the success of any project that you understand the process is an agency process; not a freelance process. Your work will be critiqued, and you will be directed on what changes to make based on the direction of the Project Manager. The Project Manager will communicate with the client, and convey directives. This is an authoritative process. Please be advised and open to this idea.
Staying WITH the project. If you begin a project you are expected to finish it, even if you find employment and have little time. This is allowed for in the stated process to the client—that these projects are completed based on our availability. When you volunteer, this should be assumed. If by chance, you cannot work on the project on your weekends or spare time, or have extenuating circumstances, please provide all assistance for someone to take over and continue your work. Remember, if you stop contributing to a project you began, you are in fact hurting the organization regardless whether or not you think it justified. I assume the responsibility for all project completion. (please don't un-volunteer).
Learning design processes. If you are unfamiliar with these techniques and processes, you can get help with them (within reason). I.e., I can't teach you CSS, but I can help you to make a style guide. Back to top
Stay ON TOP OF your assigned project. Save all emails (there may be many) save all files, re-read emails and instructions as you might not have absorbed the directives originally. You need to be responsible for your end of the project as if you were working for the client yourself. Back to top
Logo and graphics design
- Information-gather based on the Creative Brief and client suggestions. Present information (links and images) to the client for comments
- Create three four or five roughs and submit for comments and critique (jpgs)
- Create four or five (or more) comps for client approval (jpgs and orig. art)
- Create four or five final comps for client approval (jpgs, and orig. art)
- Make edits and generate new concepts if client desires, and continue the process until the client approves a design. This can involve many revisions and changes.
- You will furnish an Adobe Illustrator file (or Freehand) a PDF, a jpg, and whatever other format the client needs
- Unless otherwise specified, you will use Pantone colors based on what the client requests. I.e., 2-color, 3-color, or 4-color process.
- You will also create a black and white and a grayscale version
- Logos should be reducible to 1” at the largest dimension and be readable (legible and discernable) at that size.
- Note, drop shadows or other effects must also be a pantone color
- Expect logo design to continue for (a possible) three months
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Layout - Flyers, brochures, collateral
Layout projects vary depending on client and type of layout, however it should involve the standard 3-5 hours per week time investment. It may involve many revisions, or not, but setting up paragraph, character, and object styles is good insurance for saving time. Layouts should take from one month to three.
- As in all projects, research is the most important step. Find examples of layouts with similar subject matter.
- Gather content from the client
- Possibly edit content (images or photos)
- Provide a rough layout (with styles) to the Project Manager (not the client at this point) for comments. [allow plenty of time for changes before the deadline]
- Make suggested changes and provide Project Manager a PDF to show client
- Client may make major or minor suggestions and have edits to the content
- Make changes and supply PDF
- When approved, all native files (packaged or collected) and high-res PDF
are needed.
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Website Design
The Web design work will mostly be highly functional, and content focused. Most non-profit sites are CMS based and will continue to gravitate toward that functionality. You are designing for organizations who have no one to modify or edit the site, so their focus is not design oriented. This does not mean that content focused sites aren't very nice looking. See Article '...Design is User-Driven"
- This may involve working with existing graphics
- The creative brief will determine the look and feel
- Your job will be to gather related information and provide this information for the client’s response. Links, images, etc.
- You will provide the client a sitemap for approval
- You will provide the client wireframes for approval
- You will design possibly two layouts based on actual dimensions (Photoshop or Fireworks preferred) plus a contact page.
- On client approval you will create (on the average) two templates plus a contact page
- You will provide sliced and optimized images, a site map, wireframes,
content, and other material necessary to the developer.
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Website Development
If you code by hand, use GoLive or another HTML editor, please be sure this will be editable in Dreamweaver. Frontpage is not acceptable for designing websites.
Prototype (design focused)
It is possible the cient may only want a prototype created that they intend
to have fully developed and redeisgned at a later date. This would involve
designing in Photoshop or Fireworks, slicing, and using deprecated layouts
(such as tables or frames). Note: designing in fireworks would enable you
to save the sliced image and text as a CSS layout, and it will create one
without tables for you to edit manually or in Dreamweaver. A prototype would
not need to be standards compliant or validate. Frontpage is not acceptable.
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Simple Website (content driven)
A simple website involves front end development only, plus form handling. It is an average of ten pages (including the contact page). You are not required to do anymore than basic front end (CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript) however if you want to add more interactivity, you may use other languages.
- You will be responsible for coding and further designing the approved mock ups of the web designer. You may work with the designer in the design process if the designer doesn’t have coding experience.
- The Web Designer will provide sliced and optimized images, a site map, wireframes, content, and other material necessary.
- The layout should be in XHTML 1.0 transitional or strict and CSS. Style sheets may be embedded until Home page layout is completed.
- The site should be accessible following sec 508 standards and both the HTML and CSS should validate (WC3).
- It is highly desirable to have tableless design as tables are being phased out.
- No frames or any deprecated code, please.
- It is possible the client may want a style guide.
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Advanced Website (complex or content driven)
An advanced website involves front and back end development. It is an average of ten or more pages (including the contact page). This project may take up to three months.
- You will create (code) the necessary templates (three to five)
- You will need to code basic front end (CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript) and other possible languages (AJAX, PHP, ASP, ASP.NET, Perl, etc.) as well as a database (SQL).
- You will build ten or more pages with content.
- You will more than likely be expected to create a style guide.
- The Web Designer will provide sliced and optimized images, a site map, wireframes, content, and other material necessary.
- See above for coding standards.
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