Truly "saying something" is more than just design; it is the end product of knowing and discovering your client, learning what they have to say, and finding a way to say it that captures the attention of their audience. Get a taste of Michael Buckingham's essay in the new Outspoken book!

blog: Outspoken book
To celebrate the release of Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication, we are reviewing different essays from the book in a series of  blog posts. Win a free copy of the book by leaving a comment on one of the posts! One winner will be chosen at random and announced the first week of November.

Ben's thoughts on:
"Please Say Something" by Michael Buckingham of Holy Cow Creative

Michael writes from the perspective of a designer and design agency, whose aim should not just be to make something "look pretty" for their client, but to "deliver a message in a way that delights and inspires."

Truly "saying something" is more than just design; it is the end product of knowing and discovering your client, learning what they have to say, and finding a way to say it that captures the attention of their audience.

At Fishhook, one of the core processes we use -- before starting any kind of design -- is that of Discovery. While it's true that meetings, brainstorming sessions and conversations with our clients are important, it's also essential that we know WHO we're serving and WHAT they have to say.

For me personally, the process of identifying and delivering my own "message" (for instance, the culture I'm building in my family and the permissions I allow my children) takes a lot of thought and determination. It helps when someone I trust can come alongside me to bounce ideas off of, and reinforce and remind me of things I've said before. I hope we are doing the same for the churches and organizations we partner with.

Get your copy of Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication today at Amazon.com.