Design-audit
Clients trust what they see, not what companies say.
It is a well established fact that clients, customers, and other stakeholders trust what they see about companies, not what companies say. This makes visual communication a central strategic tool. If visual identity sends contradictory or poorly targeted messages, the result is an inappropriate perception of the company with wrong positioning and an undesirable image.
A design audit permits executives to undertake a critical evaluation of the company's visual signals through the eyes of the unbiased expert.
Do visual elements match goals and values? Is there a discrepancy between the company's body language and the way that management understands the firm? A design audit examines all visual expression: places, printed matter, website, products, and more.
A design audit takes a company's visual temperature by identifying two
critical issues. Since nobody can see themselves through the eyes of others, both may be difficult for the company to see from inside. The first issue deals with the consistency of visual signals. Do visual signals contradict each other? Does the company fight its own messages?
The other issue revealed by a design audit is the direction of signals. What picture does the company create? Is it conducive to company goals?
There are many reasons for undertaking a design audit
| — | New management |
| — | New organization |
| — | New field of action |
| — | Plans for a new design |
| — | Increased competition |
| — | Market changes |
| — | Nothing happening |
The design audit creates a qualified knowledge base for future action. It is documented with a written report and a presentation for the management.
All design audits are supervised by Professor Per Mollerup, Dr.Tech.
