How to make your business tenders and proposals stand out: Design tips for success
This may not be the first thing on your mind when preparing a tender or proposal, yet the quality of your design makes all the difference between blending in and standing out.
Of course your capability, pricing, and experience also matter, but the way your document is presented plays a huge role in whether people read, remember, and trust it.
Great design makes your proposal clear, professional, and easier for the evaluation team to say “yes”!
Here’s how to use strategic design to elevate your next tender or proposal
1. Use real photography to build trust
Stock photos can be a helpful last resort, but they do look generic. Real images of your team, your projects, or your work sites make your proposal genuine and grounded in the real people and real environments of your work.
If you can, invest in professional photography for your business. It instantly lifts the sophistication of your document and helps the evaluation team connect with who you are.
2. Plan your layout with intention
A strong layout guides your reader seamlessly from the cover page to contact your details.
A few ways to do this well:
Keep headings consistent
Use simple page grids to create a natural reading rhythm
Break up long paragraphs
Start each section with a clear message or outcome
Focus on presenting your information in a way that’s easy to understand and visually appealing.
3. Use white space and relevant images for clarity
Clutter is the enemy of attention.
White space helps your content breathe, and strong images help anchor important messages. When your document feels spacious and considered, your content becomes more digestible (and more enjoyable to read).
This gives your core points and takeaways the best chance of being understood and remembered.
4. Keep branding consistent
Your colours, fonts and logos should support the overall design, not distract from it.
When brand elements are used consistently and strategically, your document feels cohesive and polished without coming across as overly promotional.
5. Highlight key messages visually
Evaluation teams often skim before they take a more thorough read-through of tenders and proposal documents.
To help skim readers pick up the highlights and core points, you can use:
Icons
Callout boxes
Infographics
Highlight blocks
These elements help direct the evaluation team’s eye and make it easier for them to grasp important achievements, differentiators, or data within seconds.
6. Use digital-friendly features
Most tenders are viewed on screens before they’re printed.
If relevant, you can add a few simple and interactive touches, like:
QR codes
Clickable links
Buttons to view case studies
These make your document feel modern and provide easy pathways for evaluation teams to learn more.
Make sure any links you include are highly relevant to the content of your tender or proposal, and add extra value and delight to the evaluation team’s experience of your business.
7. Choose formats that work both online and in print
We often recommend designing tenders and capability statements in A4 landscape, as it:
Displays beautifully on screens
Prints cleanly without the needs of resizing
A well-planned template saves your team hours, and helps you maintain consistency across every submission.
Need help designing your next tender, proposal or capability statement?
Harbrow Creations specialises in strategic, visually striking tender and proposal designs and templates that help your business stand out professionally and with confidence.
Email us for a quote or to discuss your next project. We look forward to hearing from you!
Looking for other Graphic Design and Branding support? Learn more about our Services.
