05 — Process
05 — Process
The Satzspiegel Method.
Satzspiegel — the German typesetting term for the printed area of a page, the disciplined space the words live in. Four stages, applied to every project regardless of size.
Four stages, one discipline
Brief (Auftrag)
A structured call or form covering audience, goal, deadline, and existing material — built to surface what a typical creative brief leaves out.
What you do
Answer the brief questions, share existing copy/brand material, confirm the package.
What we do
Ask follow-up questions until the brief is complete enough to draft from — not just long enough.
1–2 working days.
Manuscript (Manuskript)
The first full draft, written against the brief, in the service’s documented voice.
What you do
Nothing — this stage is ours. (If a voice guide exists from Brand Messaging & Voice, it’s applied here directly.)
What we do
Draft every page/asset in scope, in full, ready for review.
Varies by package — see each service page’s stated turnaround.
Proof (Korrektur)
A second, separate editorial pass against the original brief — the stage that doesn’t exist at most agencies. Cut what doesn’t earn its place; tighten what stays.
What you do
Review the draft and flag anything factually off; the proof pass handles craft.
What we do
Edit line by line against the brief, not just for typos — checking argument, structure, and whether every sentence is doing work.
1–3 working days, depending on scope.
Set (Satz)
Final copy, formatted and delivered ready to use — not a raw document you have to reformat yourself.
What you do
Publish it, or hand it to your designer/developer/ESP.
What we do
Format for delivery (CMS-ready, ESP-ready, or print-ready depending on the service), apply any final revision round included in the package.
Same day as proof completion.
Typical timelines
| Stage | Typical duration | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Brief | 1–2 working days | A confirmed brief and package |
| 02 Manuscript | Package-dependent (see service page) | — |
| 03 Proof | 1–3 working days | — |
| 04 Set | Same day as proof completion | Final, formatted copy |
Process questions
Stated per package on each service page — typically 1 round for Starter, 2 for Standard, 2–3 for Premium. Revisions are requested after the Set stage, against the original brief.
Tell us as soon as it does — small adjustments are absorbed into the current pass; scope that meaningfully grows is re-quoted before more work starts, never billed after the fact without agreement.
Either — the checkout’s “Project brief” step captures the essentials in writing; a call is available at the Brief stage if the project needs more back-and-forth than a form allows.
The Manuscript (stage 02) is the working draft; most clients see it before Proof so factual corrections can happen before the editorial pass, not after.
Say so specifically — we’d rather understand exactly what isn’t working than guess. Additional revision rounds beyond what’s included can be added at the package’s stated rate.