Before a project starts, the project must be won.
In order to win the project, our clients must first get buy-in from key stakeholders. This is precisely when a "persuasive sketch" works its magic.
Our client's projects not only have different stakeholders, but also different goals to achieve before the project can start. For example, one project might need to be approved by the internal leadership team, whereas another project needs funding from an outside investor. Another project might need to create alignment within its product development teams before they can forge ahead with the build.
The big job of a "persuasive sketch" is to excite, influence, and align stakeholders around your design vision so that your project gets the green light.
So how do we strategically craft a sketch that, well... persuades?
1. Start With The Ending
What do you want to persuade your stakeholder to do?
Do you need them to grant your project a budget, give you the approval to move it into the product development pipeline, or maybe assign you the resources needed to develop it?
Make sure all of your efforts are aimed at achieving your end goal. Throughout the creation process, frequently revisit your end goal to make sure you haven't gotten distracted and veered off track.
2. Capture The Whole Vision
In order to persuade our stakeholders, we must clearly communicate our design by visualizing what it is and why they should care.
A persuasive sketch is very similar to a movie poster. The plot of the movie is summarized on just one page in a way that compels someone to want to watch the whole film. It's an overarching vision, but also a bit of a teaser.
Intently choose what content to include on your page in order to summarize your design's story, while enticing your stakeholder to act.
3. Choose The Best Fidelity
The fidelity of your sketch will drive the type and amount of feedback or collaboration you receive from your stakeholder.
A high-fidelity, photorealistic sketch will say to your stakeholder that your design is nearly complete and simply needs their ok to be built. This will discourage your stakeholder to give their feedback on the design itself.
A low-fidelity, loose sketch will tell your stakeholder that your design is just an early concept and will invite their input to help shape it.
Select a fidelity that will stimulate your stakeholder to act in the way you need them to.
Side note: Sometimes the most persuasive sketch isn't a sketch at all. In some cases, what a stakeholder needs to see is a physical prototype or an animation-whatever helps them understand and believe in your design vision.
Crafting a persuasive sketch with the proper objective, content, and fidelity arms you with a powerful tool for persuading your stakeholders.
Concept generation & illustration is our specialty.
If your innovation team could use some extra bandwidth,
come have a look at the services we offer. They're all aimed at
helping you innovate more and stress less.
www.knackdesignstudio.com/waystoengage