SayPro Documents Required from Employee: Design Mock-ups

SayPro Documents Required from Employee Design Mock-ups: Initial drafts or mock-ups of graphic designs and video storyboards from SayPro Monthly January SCMR-17 SayPro Monthly Creative Services: Graphic design, video production, and photography by SayPro Online Marketplace Office under SayPro Marketing Royalty SCMR

Objective:
Design mock-ups are essential preliminary drafts that help visualize the concepts and creative direction of graphic design and video production projects. These mock-ups serve as a tool for internal review and approval, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback before the final production phase begins. For SayPro, design mock-ups play a critical role in ensuring that the creative materials align with project goals, branding guidelines, and stakeholder expectations.

This document details the importance, structure, and requirements for creating and submitting design mock-ups, specifically for SayPro Monthly Creative Services under SayPro Marketing Royalty SCMR.

1. Purpose and Importance of Design Mock-ups

Design mock-ups serve as visual representations of what the final product will look like and are created early in the creative process. They are crucial for:

• Visualizing Concepts: Mock-ups help stakeholders and the creative team visualize how the final piece will look and feel. They are used to communicate the design, layout, and key elements before moving into full production.
• Feedback and Refinement: Mock-ups provide a tangible reference for feedback, allowing stakeholders to suggest changes, provide direction, and ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Time and Cost Efficiency: By creating a mock-up early in the process, the creative team can avoid costly or time-consuming changes during later stages of production.

2. Types of Design Mock-ups for SayPro Projects

SayPro’s creative projects include a variety of media, including graphic design, video production, and photography. As such, different types of mock-ups will be required for different project needs.

A. Graphic Design Mock-ups

• Purpose: These mock-ups are visual drafts of any graphic design materials, such as banners, brochures, social media ads, email templates, infographics, and website layouts.
• Content and Structure: A graphic design mock-up should include the main elements of the design, such as layout, typography, images, icons, color schemes, and call-to-action buttons (if applicable).
• Formats and Tools:
  • Static Mock-ups: These are typically designed in programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Figma. They represent a flat, two-dimensional version of the design.
  • Interactive Mock-ups: These mock-ups provide an interactive version of the design, showing how it will function or behave on websites or mobile apps. They may be created using tools such as Figma or Sketch.

B. Video Storyboards

• Purpose: A video storyboard is a visual draft that outlines the flow of a video project, providing a scene-by-scene breakdown of the video. This mock-up helps visualize the video structure, timing, and key shots before shooting or animation begins.
• Content and Structure: A video storyboard includes sketches or images of key scenes, along with descriptions of camera angles, audio cues, scene transitions, and any animation or motion graphics that will be incorporated. It also provides information about the pacing, timing, and overall narrative.
• Formats and Tools: Storyboards can be drawn by hand, but digital tools such as Adobe Story, Storyboard That, or Canva may be used to create detailed, professional storyboards.

3. Key Elements of a Design Mock-up

Regardless of the type of project, each design mock-up submitted by an employee at SayPro should contain specific elements that ensure clarity and coherence. Below are the key components to include in a design mock-up:

A. Visual Layout

• Placement of Key Elements: The layout should show how the main elements, such as text, images, buttons, or icons, are positioned. This gives a sense of how the final product will look visually.
• Grid System or Structure: The mock-up should demonstrate the underlying grid system or structure that governs the placement of these elements, ensuring the design is organized and visually balanced.

B. Color Scheme and Typography

• Branding Compliance: The mock-up should use the brand’s color palette and typography, ensuring that the visual elements adhere to SayPro’s established brand guidelines. This ensures consistency across all creative materials.
• Contrast and Readability: Color choices should be made with consideration for readability and accessibility. The contrast between text and background should be sufficient for easy reading.

C. Imagery and Graphics

• Image Selection: The mock-up should showcase the type of imagery to be used, whether it’s stock photography, illustrations, or custom images. The images should align with the project’s objectives and the brand’s visual identity.
• Graphics and Icons: If the design incorporates custom graphics or icons, these should be represented in the mock-up to demonstrate how they contribute to the overall aesthetic.

D. Branding Elements

• Logo Placement: The logo should be displayed in the mock-up in its correct form and position, ensuring it is used consistently and appropriately.
• Taglines and Messaging: Any taglines, calls to action (CTAs), or key messaging should be clearly shown in the mock-up, reflecting the tone and voice of the campaign.

E. Interaction or Animation Elements (for Video Storyboards)

• Scene Breakdown: For video storyboards, each scene should be visually represented to demonstrate the sequence and transitions. Annotations may be used to explain what is happening in each scene.
• Audio and Timing: Include notes on the audio (e.g., background music, voiceovers, sound effects) and timing (e.g., the duration of each shot) to indicate how the video will flow.
• Motion or Animation Cues: Any animation or motion effects should be clearly indicated in the storyboard, helping the team understand the movement and flow of the video.

4. Format and Tools for Creating Design Mock-ups

SayPro employees should use the following tools and formats when creating design mock-ups, ensuring that they are high quality and easy to share:

A. Graphic Design Mock-ups

• File Formats:
  • PSD (Photoshop): Ideal for creating detailed, layered mock-ups that can be easily edited.
  • AI (Illustrator): Best for vector-based designs and logos.
  • PNG/JPEG: High-resolution image formats that are ideal for sharing mock-ups with stakeholders.
  • PDF: For presenting final versions of mock-ups in a more universally accessible format.
• Design Tools:
  • Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator: Industry-standard software for graphic design.
  • Figma/Sketch: Digital design tools that allow for collaborative and interactive mock-ups, often used for web and app design.
  • Canva: A more accessible tool for creating simple mock-ups, especially for social media or marketing materials.

B. Video Storyboards

• File Formats:
  • PDF: For presenting the complete storyboard with detailed scene breakdowns.
  • JPEG/PNG: For individual storyboard panels or shots, if sharing in a visual format.
• Storyboard Tools:
  • Adobe Story/Adobe Animate: For creating more professional storyboards with animations.
  • Storyboard That: A web-based tool to easily create and share storyboards.
  • Hand-drawn Sketches: Sometimes, hand-drawn storyboards are used initially and digitized later, depending on the project’s nature.

5. Process for Submitting Design Mock-ups

For SayPro employees, following a clear process when submitting design mock-ups is crucial to ensuring smooth communication and efficient project workflow.

A. Submission Guidelines

• Complete Mock-ups: Ensure the mock-up is as complete as possible before submission, with all key elements (layout, color scheme, typography, imagery) included for review.
• File Naming Conventions: Use clear and descriptive file names to ensure easy identification of the mock-up (e.g., “CampaignName_SocialMediaBanner_DesignMockup_v1.psd”).
• Version Control: If submitting multiple versions of the same mock-up (e.g., with different layouts or colors), label each version sequentially (e.g., “v1”, “v2”, “final”).

B. Feedback and Revisions

• Stakeholder Feedback: Once the mock-ups are submitted, stakeholders will review them and provide feedback. Clear channels should be established for gathering this feedback, such as shared documents, email comments, or direct meetings.
• Incorporating Changes: After receiving feedback, the employee should make the necessary revisions and resubmit the updated mock-ups for further review. This iterative process helps refine the final designs.

6. Conclusion

Design mock-ups are an essential part of SayPro’s creative process, offering a clear and visual representation of how the final product will look. Whether for graphic design materials or video production, these mock-ups provide a valuable reference for stakeholders, help guide the creative team, and ensure the project stays on track. By following the guidelines outlined above, SayPro employees can effectively create and submit mock-ups that facilitate feedback, approval, and successful project completion.