The Design ProcesS

Semi-Custom Orders

Many of the designs you see on our website are available for customization with your name and text. Small design changes, such as font color and style, can also be made for semi-custom orders, so if you see something you like while browsing through our galleries, please contact me for a quote!

Fully Custom Orders

When I take on a fully custom project, I work directly with my client to create a one-of-a-kind piece specifically tailored to their needs. Below is a breakdown of the custom design process from start to finish.

Step 1: Initial Consultation

The first step towards commissioning a custom piece from The Little White Dog Paperie is to reach out to me and share a bit more information about the project. The more I know about you and what you’re hoping for, the more creative fuel I have to design something special. 

Typically, I will ask you to answer a few questions to help get us started, such as:

1. What is the piece for—stationery, an event, etc.?

2. What are you looking for from the piece? 

Do you have a specific idea in mind or would you like me to dream up something? Do you have a particular color scheme you’d like me to incorporate? Do you prefer a lighter style (e.g. soft watercolor) or something more bold? Are you enamored with a particular printing method—e.g. letterpress, foil, or thermography? 

I encourage clients to share any images/pinterest boards/magazine clippings/etc. that they think might be helpful during the design process. Keep in mind, these don’t have to be other invitations/stationery—send me anything that inspires you!

3. What is your time frame?

Time frame can often affect how complex a custom project can be so please take a look at our “timing” page for more information on turnaround times. 

4. Do you have a specific size/shape of printed piece you’d prefer? 

Depending on the function of the custom piece, I can suggest an appropriate size/shape but if you have something in mind already please let me know.

5. What text would you like me to include on the invitation? 

If you aren’t completely sure just yet, not to worry, I can put in placeholder text in the interim. However, if you are planning to include large sections of text, please let me know at this stage as it will help me balance the composition appropriately when I am creating the artwork. 

6. Roughly how many items would you like to order?

Most items can be ordered in groups of 10 (if any exceptions apply to your project, I will let you know). 

7. Do you have any special add-ons you already know you’d like to include, such as specialty envelopes and envelope liners?

We can always decide on these things later in the process but, for the most accurate quote, it helps to have this information in advance. 

Step 2: Design Proposal

Based on everything you have shared with me, I will draft a design proposal for you to review that will include simple pencil sketches of possible designs as well as an estimate of the total cost of your project.

If, following our design proposal, you would like me to proceed in creating a custom piece for you, I kindly ask that you pay the custom design fee up front to compensate me for my design time should you wish to conclude the process prior to completion.

Step 3: Selecting & Refining a Design

After taking into account all of your feedback on the design proposal, I will move forward with refining the design we agreed upon. At this juncture, I will need all of the text you’d like me to include. 

This is the point where I sit down and fully flesh out the artwork for the piece. Depending on the complexity of the project and because I am an incurable perfectionist, this can easily take upwards of 30 hours of consistent work! 

Once completed I will share a digital proof for you to review. Based on your thoughts, I will tweak the design and present you with a refined proof. (At this stage, major/drastic changes to the artwork are no longer possible.) 

*Please note, while three digital design proofs are included with your purchase—an initial proof, a refined proof, and a final proof—each additional proof is subject to a starting fee of $30, which increases based on the complexity of the changes asked for. 

Step 4: Final Review

After you have reviewed the refined proof and conveyed any small adjustments you’d like to make, I will present you with the final proof for you to check for text errors. After confirming that everything is correct and we are ready to order, I will send you an invoice for the total cost of the project. When I receive your payment, I will submit the order for printing and will alert you when it is on its way to you!