How to Talk to Designers: Purpose First, Actions Together

 Clear communication is the foundation of effective design collaboration. This conceptual model illustrates how clients and designers begin by sharing a common objective, then use structured frameworks such as 5W1H, 3C, and 4P to articulate it. With this shared understanding, both parties can jointly explore possible actions and move toward meaningful design outcomes.

Modeling Based on 稲葉裕美『美大式ビジネスパーソンの​デザイン入門』

Entity Name	Description
Client	The person or organization initiating the project and presenting the objective.
Designer	The creative professional who interprets the objective and contributes design expertise.
Objective	The core purpose or goal that both the client and designer must share and understand.
Communicate Objective	The act of clearly conveying the purpose to ensure alignment among all roles.
5W1H	A framework for expressing the objective using Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
3C	A strategic model that frames the objective through Customer, Competitor, and Company.
4P	A marketing framework that communicates the objective via Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.
Collaborative Action Planning	The process in which the client and designer, after sharing the objective, jointly explore possible actions.

When objectives are shared first, design conversations become clearer and more productive. This model highlights how mutual understanding enables clients and designers to explore actions together and create more intentional outcomes.