Know-How Exchange : Other

This is obviously an issue with several nuances. If this is a high-end design house, I would expect them to proof-read at a minimum, and probably offer editing suggestions if/when they see an opportunity to improve overall communication effectiveness.

I would not expect them to carefully check all the numbers or calculations, and I would not expect them to be responsible for delivering a ready-to-print document without significant client interaction.

Is the design house typically responsible for their own QA, proof reading, layout checking? Yes. I would think so. I'd be reluctant to hire any design firm that didn't provide that kind of QA.

Or is it up to the end-client to find any errors before signing off pre-press? Yes again. Ultimately the client is responsible. It is their document.

In general, the design house has expertise in the layout of the documents. They should be given material that is as close to complete and checked as possible, and lay that out. Someone at the client's end should be responsible for the content being correct, including doing a proofing after the designer lays it out but before it goes to print. These double checks are made to hopefully catch the errors before it goes to print and is expensive to fix.

So problems with the design and layout are the designer's issue. Problems with the content are the client's problem. Using your specifics:

- misspellings and grammatical errors would be client's fault. it is likely the designer will notice and be able to correct many misspellings, as most tools mark these. But then again, there also may be many technical terms that the dictionary doesn't know, so many items marked as misspelling by their software aren't actually wrong.

- layout mistakes or big blunders like missed or misnumbered pages - definitely designer's fault and they should have caught that.

Read more: https://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstid=43394#ixzz3CkESNXz...

Q: Would the senior designer simply be given all the data and a brief, and be expected to return a fully completed, perfect document ready for customer sign-off and printing prior to the deadline?

A: No. I've been that senior designer and it's not a position I'd suggest any creative be place in.

Q: Would the design house use any QA checking throughout the process? If, for example, there are misspellings, grammatical errors, layout mistakes or big blunders like missed or misnumbered pages, should that be picked up by a proof reader or a sub-editor?

A: Yes and no. There are serious project management and work flow issues here. The text needs to be buttoned down before it gets to the design staff, which is where editors and sub editors come in.

As for design QA, proof reading, layout checking? Layout is the designer's overview, everything else needs to be checked, rechecked, and signed off on by the client before the job goes to press.

In a large design unit, a traffic manager is the neutral go-between who often prods all parties to the finish line but also manages, in a hands-on way, the settlement of these issues.

Whether or not there is a traffic manager to coax the complex issue along, the project should start with a brief to the senior designer that is as comprehensive as possible. And when the project is vital to the company, then all hands are required to make it correct. A designer may not be responsible for correcting a suspected error, but is certainly responsible for calling a potential error, or missing information, to the attention of the person who ordered the job. It is that person's job to supply the correct and/or complete content information.

There should be a "first look" review process for all parties and, if it's a complex document, then a second and third look before the final version. These scheduled review dates become deadlines for everyone, and everyone in the review process owes corrections on that day. This makes the design process manageable, because constant iterations of content make design incredibly inefficient.

Final proofing should be assigned to more than one person, each from different areas. Someone in the design section should review primarily for design issues, but also noting correct spelling in headlines and captions. Someone who is a subject matter expert should review the document line by line to ensure it is accurate and representative of the brand's voice. Both areas should sign off before handing it over to the most senior executives (in the case of a financial statement, that would be the CEO/COB and CFO who sign the document). In documents like these with legal implications, the legal department also needs to sign off.

Bottom line: Subject matter experts are responsible for the accuracy and veracity of content; design experts are responsible for the layout, look, and production; and whoever assigned the job is responsible for the final sign-off. Designers are not proofreaders; it is the content-owner's responsibility to proof (or designate a proofer with content expertise). That said, no one is exempt from calling out an error if they spot it.

There are lots of content owners who really don't understand the designer's job, but believe they do; and lots of designers who erroneously assume the rest of the company understands their role. Once content owners DO understand the role of design, especially if designers are willing to share insights before things come to blows, then issues like this tend to happen less often.

Hope that's somewhat helpful.