How you introduce a client to your design process can have a profound impact on their experience with your firm. Tap into these fresh approaches to set the tone for a successful project.

There’s a tendency to define the beginning of a design project as the moment your pencil hits the drafting paper (or, these days, the moment you double-click on SketchUp). But the truth is, by that point, you’re already deep into the job. The real beginning of a project is the moment you pick up the phone and hear a potential client on the other end.

There’s something thrilling about that very early stage, when everything is pure possibility. Maybe this is the project that will end up on the cover of AD. Maybe this is the client who will enthusiastically sign off on custom everything—and it just so happens they’ve got a Caribbean beach house that needs some sprucing up too. On a lighter note, maybe this time, three out of five pieces won’t arrive damaged. It’s a beautiful moment, but also a delicate one. How many potentially great clients have bailed at the start of the project because the vibes were off? Or worse, how many times does the job turn sour halfway through because expectations weren’t clearly set at the beginning?