Design First, Color Later

Forum member "eight32" brought up an interesting question about whether or not to present the first rounds of design in color or black and white. I find it's helpful in many cases to avoid color at the start of a design project and instead focus on the design itself. You don't want a client rejecting a design simply because it contains a color they can't look past. You also don't want to be asked to see different color palettes on designs that may not even make the cut. Instead, start in black and white in the early stages and add color once there is a clear direction. For logo or print design, this may mean starting by presenting the client with some simple sketches. In web design, wireframes are a good start. Of course, there are exceptions... a project may be lost without the presentation of color, or the perfect palette might come to you and you can't wait to show it off. So by no means should "start in black and white" be a rule, but it's definitely worth considering when starting a new project.