Time, cost and quality triangle, these varely rarely coincide and it's a trade off between these three things, and depending on what client wants this will change. There are 3 distinct elements the design phase, execution phase and implementation phase.
Design phase: this covers all aspects related to design, research, idea generation, design concept, design embodiment, technical completion.
Execution phase: this covers all aspects related to the completion and production of the design. Technical completion, production issues print, 3D aspects, moving image, delivery etc.
Implementation phase: this covers all aspects related to the design and production once it is out in the public domain.
Always work backwards
You have to consider that everything can be done by the deadline, 1 man day Equals 8 hours, 1 man week equals 5 man days which is 40 hours, and 1 man month equals 4 man weeks, 20 man days which is 160 man hours. You have to consider holidays, sickness and time of year, recognise your staff and yourself need a break.
Design phase this will take an estimate of a few hours on research, idea generation is 1 day, design concept is 2 days, design embodiment is 2-8 days and technical completion is 3 days. So overall you have 9-25 days to complete the design phase. In this process you also must get to client sign-off here not at end of process.
