By Dylan Clifton
The last 10 years of designing and winning bids has taught me how important design is. Writers and SMEs are working hard to develop and write to a solution that fits the RFP. This solution needs to be molded to fit the RFP requirements. Designing graphics of the solution is a process that creates the solution itself. In nearly every proposal the solution or concept changes before we finalize the graphic. The design process helps the writer create the best solution. Without this process the best solution would never have been discovered.
Designing graphics for a solution is a process that creates the solution itself.
There are many companies championing the idea of writers being their own graphic designers and utilizing tools like PowerPoint to make their graphics themselves. In my opinion, this skips an important process that creates less impactful proposals. Writers are assigned to sections that they have expertise in. Expecting them to create the solution and then design it all on their own is ridiculous. The process of writers working with designers not only gives the writer a way to see their solutions in new and different ways but also lets two experts work together in a symbiotic way.
Finding a designer who can be effective in the proposal environment can be difficult. I recommend finding someone who has a technical background and can understand business goals. Proposal graphics need to be focused on delivering concepts & ideas in ways that achieve business goals. The graphics need to be clear and effective and often require the designer to break common design rules that many have become accustomed to. The two most important skills of a proposal graphics designer are speed and the ability to take feedback. This is why the IDT methodology focuses on the iterations that happen between the designer and writer.
Below you will find the IDT methodology that I have developed to help illustrate how to create winning solution graphics. This process helps strengthen your solution which leads to winning more contacts. Start your graphic solutioning process as early as possible using the IDT methodology.
