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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Run the first meeting with clarity and confidence.
A 14-page guide to running a confident first meeting with a new client. It follows the meeting in order: preparing and qualifying, what to bring, setting the tone, the questions that build a real brief, talking about budget, timeline and decision-makers, walking the space, explaining how you work and closing with a clear next step. It ends with what to do in the day or two afterwards, including a ready-to-use thank-you message, and a checklist for before, during and after every first meeting.
BEST FOR
- Designers preparing for their first client meetings
- Anyone who leaves meetings without a clear budget or brief
- Studios standardising how they run first meetings
- Designers who want to turn more meetings into signed projects
HIGHLIGHTS
- The meeting in order, from preparation to follow-up
- Brief questions on how clients live, what they want and why now
- How to raise budget and separate fee, products and building work
- A ready-to-use thank-you message for after the meeting
- A before, during and after checklist
WHAT'S INSIDE
Every chapter in the guide
How to use this guide
Who it's for, how it's organised, and the full contents.
01 · Before the meeting
Qualifying first, the pre-meeting questionnaire, paid or free meetings, and what to confirm.
02 · What to bring
A first meeting kit for the conversation, the space and the next step, and what to leave behind.
03 · Set the tone
Arriving, sharing a simple agenda, agreeing the time and introducing yourself.
04 · Listen first
Questions on how they live, what they want and why now, and how to note the brief in their words.
05 · Talk about budget
How to ask, separating design fee, products and building work, and being honest about fit.
06 · Timeline and decisions
Questions on timing and decision-makers, and how to agree communication from the start.
07 · Walk the space
What to look for in every room, how to photograph and measure, and why to hold back on solutions.
08 · Explain how you work
Your process, relevant work, fees and payments, and how to invite questions.
09 · Close the meeting
Summarising the brief, agreeing the next step and handling a project that isn't a fit.
10 · After the meeting
Writing up notes, a ready-to-use thank-you message, sending the proposal and following up once.
11 · The first meeting checklist
A before, during and after checklist for every first meeting.
About The Design Index
A NOTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN
General information, not legal or financial advice.
WHAT YOU GET
In the file
14-page PDF guide, A4
Instant download
Print-friendly layout
Request the guide with your email, then use the private link in your inbox to read it on screen or print it.
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