So I hear you are on the lookout for a graphic designer...
Good move! Fabulous graphic designs can really elevate your brand or message.
BUT, finding the RIGHT graphic designer can also be a bit of a challenge.
Let's be real, we live in a world with an abundance of graphic designers and it can be hard to decipher: a) who's the right fit, b) what questions to ask, c) what you are actually looking for and d) what you actually NEED for the purpose you require.
So, let us help you.
Whether you are working with us, or looking into other designers, we hope this little guide helps you in some way.
Let's dive in!
The first thing you need to consider is your 'brief'. Now, before you get overwhelmed, this isn't as hard as it sounds. You simply need to consider:
What it is that you are looking to have designed? (maybe it's a logo, social media post, flyer, poster etc)
Then who is this being designed for? (Is it for your personal use? It is for your business, brand or company etc...)
What values, colours, qualities and styles take your fancy? Or, reflect your brand message? (This could be as simple as providing your designer with some google images of the style you are drawn to or inspired by)
The client brief is a very important component of the design process. Using a brief, a designer can determine if their style or skills can meet your request. A brief also helps you determine whether a designer is fitting with YOUR requirements.
Beyond having a client brief and ensuring that the designer can meet your design requests, it's also important to ask what file types you will receive when the design is finalized and handed over. This is a critical step in the process, that SO many people don't even realize exists. File types can determine your ability to re-produce your design. What do I mean by this? For example: If you get a logo designed by a graphic designer and you ONLY receive a high resolution png... You may find this is great for online uses, however, when you go to get the logo file printed, perhaps on a flyer, poster or banner, you may find that the file cannot be used.
Personally, the must-have file types at BARE MINIMUM should include:
png
jpg
pdf
Having other file types like, an ai, eps or psd file, can be extremely useful, however, not ALL designers include these in their packages. That is why is it important to understand WHAT you are getting, HOW you want to use your logo and what file types you will need to achieve that. For more information on file types, check out our recent blog.
Another important question is around the number of revisions that you receive. What are revisions? You might be asking...
When you ask a designer to produce a design for you, they will usually extract as much information from you as they can, commonly known as the 'brief'. Then, they will go away and produce some 'concepts' to present to you.
From here, you, as the client, have the opportunity to 'revise' the concepts and provide feedback to the designer, to help drive the direction of your final design.
Some designers will allow 2 to 3 revisions during this process before charging additional fees for further changes and the time involved. However, the number of revisions and the terms surrounding them change from designer to designer. It is important to know HOW many you are being offered. This can often be found in 'Terms & Conditions', or you can simply ASK the designer to include it in the quote.
Always make sure that you are being offered a reasonable number of revisions for the price being requested, as this will allow you room to provide feedback. Alternatively, you can go back to step one and ensure you provide a VERY clear brief that enables the designer to nail your design request on the first or second go.
If your 'design hunt' is for a designer who can produce a logo, a question you may want to ask the designer (or consider for yourself) is whether or not you want a 'brand style guide'?
When producing a logo, many designers will offer to develop a brand style guide to showcase the branding components. This can be particularly helpful as a 'brand style guide' usually includes:
Fonts - What typefaces are used in your logo?
Colour palette - What are the codes of the colours used in your branding?
Mono Logo - Black & White versions of your logo for cost-effective re-production
Moodboard - A small collection of inspiration that embodies the style and direction of your brand
Having these components on hand, in addition to your final logo, can be really helpful in maintaining consistency with your branding, especially if you employ other professionals to assist with additional design projects.
The last point to mention before making your decision is one that SO many race to ask upfront... And that is, of course - COST! Cause, let's be real, quality designs can cost serious $$$.
Don't forget the time and skill that goes into creating your designs, but also be aware of the answers to the points mentioned above and carefully weigh up the value.
If the quote is higher, but you are getting a lot of revisions and are being offered a range of files types, the investment could be worth it and MUCH better than a cheaper logo with minimal revisions that leaves you disappointed.
We hope that you are successful in your hunt for a graphic designer and that you find these tips helpful!
Goodluck!
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