The Client Project

For the last assignment, you will create a document project for a real-life client on campus or in the local area. The client can be an organization, a faculty member, a business, etc.

This project should both meet the needs of the client and bring together the skills and insights you've gained from working on the other assignments this semester.

Possibilities

The "document project" for the Client Project may take many forms. What's best depends on the needs of your client and the audience/purpose.

• a Web site,
• a "business set" (letterhead, business-card design, logo, Web banner and other appropriate pieces all sharing the same design),
• a newsletter or brochure,
• a coordinated set of newspaper ads,
• a book-mark/Web-site-style project, etc.

Process

In consultation with the client, you will first create a "BETA" version (working draft) of the document, which we will workshop in class. Then you will take the feedback you receive in the workshop to complete the finished project, which should be delivered to the client by the date of our final exam. You will also hand in (or send me the URL of a Web project) an annotated copy of the finished project as well.

Community

One of the important goals of any Client Project is to build the client's community: to increase and enhance the client's contact with the audience, to develop the "channels" and occasions by which this contact can take place, to sharpen the client's image and identity with its clientele.

Elements

1. a BETA version (rough draft) of the project shared with the class for workshopping.

2. Handed in with the BETA version and shared with the class, a short self analysis of a paragraph or two explaining the client, the audience, the purpose of the document, and other contextualizing matters. With the help of the self analysis, we will workshop the BETA version in class on the days indicated on the schedule.

3. a final version delivered to the client and submitted to me by the final exam date. As usual, the copy of this version for me will include annotations that reflect on not only the final product itself, but also on the process of working with the client.