Small Businesses deserve better treatment

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN HIRING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Too often we spend our time initially with clients petting them and assuring them that we're not going to be like everyone else who has damaged them. Scarred their "once fun" marketing ideas, or worse, destroyed their website. It's time we tossed out a few facts that you can arm yourself with when approaching TD for your design, web, SEO or promotional products needs. (they're facts because we believe in them and make every effort to follow them!)

STATEMENT: You need to know what you want to accomplish with your project.

FACT: A good graphic designer takes the time to get information this important from a client. It’s vital to know who your audience is and what are the things that you want to accomplish with your completed project. Whether that is a logo, a brochure, website or Search Engine Marketing project - they all require these important questions to be addressed.

STATEMENT: You have to take the time to view a designer’s portfolio.

FACT: Anyone can upload some samples of work, but consider the diversity of a porfolio; are there logo designs, brochure designs, postcards, tri-folds and a wide range of samples that show the designer’s skill sets Also be wary of a web designer who simply does an occasional design4print... these are two different worlds and mediums completely! Verify that your choice in a designer can handle your needs.

STATEMENT: Ask for a detailed proposal.

FACT: Know what you’re getting into. The proposal needs to clearly state what the design not only costs, but what that includes. It’s important to consider with any project “who owns the artwork,” after-the-fact. Getting these answers addressed and written down ahead of time before you move forward will help your customer experience go from feelings of uncertainty, to full disclosure before you sign on any dotted lines!

STATEMENT: You CAN ask for an estimate before you get a proposal.

FACT: If your designer is handling the entire project life cycle for you, it’s important to have an idea of what the production costs will be, on top of the initial design work. Many factors can effect the final expense of a completed Print project such as finished size, paper, ink coverage, quantity and more.  While it’s almost impossible for a good designer to estimate these factors PRIOR to designing your project, they likely have previous projects they can use as examples to give you an idea, up front.

STATEMENT: Map out a series of Milestones or Schedule to fit your needs.

FACT: Few things make a project grind to a halt faster than lack of communication, which can make a project drag on forever. Setting a schedule with weekly meetings or submissions, requested deadlines for feedback and revisions and even milestone payments all maintain the excitement and pace of a project. Your OWN project needs such as a marketing material piece for an upcoming event needs to be communicated from the start, so you’re not left without a finished piece!

ALL of these factors help determine if you've located the right design team to handle your needs. At TD, we are professionals as well as specialists in Design for Print, Web Design, Marketing, Social Networking & Promotional Product solutions. We hope to hear from you. In fact, we can't wait!