Publication Designer Onboarding Checklist

Publication Designer Onboarding Process

Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Publication Designer starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Design onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Publication Designer, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Publication Designer onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.

Publication Designer Onboarding Checklist

1. Introduction to company culture and values: The task involves providing a comprehensive overview of the company’s culture, values, and mission. This helps the publication designer understand the company’s ethos and align their work accordingly. Typically, the HR department or a designated company representative performs this task.

2. Familiarization with design software and tools: As a publication designer, it is crucial to be well-versed in the design software and tools used by the company. This task involves providing training and guidance on the specific software and tools utilized for designing publications. The company’s design team or a designated trainer usually performs this task.

3. Understanding the publication design process: This task entails providing a detailed explanation of the publication design process within the company. It includes understanding the workflow, collaboration with other teams, and the various stages involved in creating a publication. The publication design team lead or a senior designer typically performs this task.

4. Reviewing past publications: To gain insights into the company’s design style and standards, the publication designer should review past publications. This task involves studying previous designs, understanding the target audience, and identifying any specific design guidelines or branding elements. The publication design team or a designated mentor performs this task.

5. Meeting with stakeholders: It is essential for the publication designer to meet with stakeholders, such as editors, writers, and marketing teams, to understand their requirements and expectations. This task involves scheduling meetings, discussing project objectives, and establishing effective communication channels. The publication design team lead or project manager typically performs this task.

6. Collaborating with the editorial team: As a publication designer, working closely with the editorial team is crucial. This task involves establishing effective communication channels, understanding the editorial guidelines, and collaborating on content creation and layout. The publication design team lead or a designated editor performs this task.

7. Understanding brand guidelines: Every company has specific brand guidelines that need to be followed in publication design. This task involves familiarizing the publication designer with the company’s brand guidelines, including logo usage, color schemes, typography, and other visual elements. The publication design team lead or a designated brand manager performs this task.

8. Reviewing project management tools: Many companies use project management tools to streamline workflows and track progress. This task involves introducing the publication designer to the project management tools used within the company, providing training on their usage, and explaining how to collaborate effectively using these tools. The project manager or a designated trainer performs this task.

9. Shadowing experienced designers: To gain practical insights and learn from experienced designers, the publication designer should have the opportunity to shadow and observe their work. This task involves pairing the new designer with experienced team members, allowing them to observe the design process, ask questions, and learn best practices. The publication design team lead or a designated mentor performs this task.

10. Providing access to design resources: To ensure the publication designer has access to necessary design resources, this task involves setting up accounts, providing access to stock image libraries, design assets, and other relevant resources. The publication design team lead or a designated IT administrator performs this task.

11. Conducting design critiques: Regular design critiques are essential for growth and improvement. This task involves scheduling design critique sessions where the publication designer can receive feedback on their work, learn from constructive criticism, and refine their design skills. The publication design team lead or a designated senior designer performs this task.

12. Establishing a feedback loop: To foster continuous improvement, it is important to establish a feedback loop for the publication designer. This task involves setting up regular feedback sessions, encouraging open communication, and providing constructive feedback on their work. The publication design team lead or a designated mentor performs this task.

13. Providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities: As the design industry evolves, it is crucial for publication designers to stay updated with the latest trends and techniques. This task involves providing ongoing training opportunities, workshops, and resources to enhance the designer’s skills and knowledge. The publication design team lead or a designated professional development coordinator performs this task.

14. Introducing to company-wide design standards: Some companies have specific design standards that apply across various departments. This task involves introducing the publication designer to these company-wide design standards, ensuring consistency in design elements and branding across different publications. The publication design team lead or a designated design standards coordinator performs this task.

15. Providing access to design samples and inspiration: To inspire creativity and provide references, this task involves providing the publication designer with access to design samples, industry publications, and other sources of inspiration. The publication design team lead or a designated resource coordinator performs this task.

16. Conducting a final review and evaluation: After a designated period, it is important to conduct a final review and evaluation of the publication designer’s performance. This task involves assessing their progress, providing feedback, and discussing future growth opportunities within the company. The publication design team lead or HR department typically performs this task

Setting Up Your Employee Onboarding Process

From reading through the items in the example Publication Designer checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Publication Designer up to speed and working well in your Design team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.