U.S. Based Print and Web Graphic Design Specialists

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. From the Argeron.com Blog Post "About Graphic Designers: A Cautionary Tale":

Amateur “designers” make you pay full price before beginning work. Why? Because they are guaranteed revenue, even if the design is terrible and you are unhappy.

Amateur “designers” also charge/accept “bargain basement” prices, like $50 for a logo. How this works: The designer takes your money and creates a) elementary school-grade clip art or b) nothing at all. Either way, they don’t have to work hard, have no real experience, and cannot devote the time and care to a design that the client deserves. Our services are worth more than you think – we create the “look” that draws in your customers, THEN you let them know about your services!

A great design brings in customers and increases revenue…but a poorly-designed item keeps customers away and you have to work harder to gain them back.

Amateur designers have current software and hardware.

Good designers have current software and hardware, and enough experience to use it effectively.

Great designers have current software and hardware, enough experience to use it effectively, and have work samples, testimonials, and/or references

Fantastic designers have current software and hardware, enough experience to use it effectively, have work samples, testimonials, and/or references, maintain open lines of communication, will keep you informed during the design/implementation process, and send you regular proofs. This is what Argeron is all about.

Remember, everyone:

Fast and cheap = Not good
Good and cheap = Not fast
Fast and good = Not cheap

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. From the Argeron.com Blog Post "Be the Best Client a Designer Can Have":

Professional designers have a basic form of communication: You contact us. We contact you for more info. You reply with said info. We draw up an agreement based upon the answers given to us. You sign the agreement and return it with the deposit. We begin work. Your input does not stop there, but we will get into that later.

To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of DO’s and DONT’s:

DO know more about what you need before contacting us. “I need a ____” is not enough information. A brief description, such as “I need a ____ for my winery in 2 weeks or less on a budget of $____” is perfect! We will contact you for more info. Speaking of more info:

DO fill out the form we send in its entirety! If you need clarification about a question or don’t think you have an answer, DON’T hesitate to call us. We would rather you fill it out with our help than leave it blank – which could lead to a lot of wasted time going back-and-forth. All of the questions are specific to the type of project you need.

DO remember that design is a partnership. We want to create items that work for you, with your input. When drafts are sent to you, feedback is needed within 24 hours to stay on your timeline. If we request collateral from you (photos, video, text, etc.) it must be sent ASAP. The longer we wait for project-vital materials, the longer you will wait for the finished product, and we know that no one likes to wait!

DO listen to our advice. Comic Sans should never be used in a design – ever, no matter how well it fits with your dog-sitting company. We have lots of insight into how consumers think, and we DO appreciate it when you ask us questions.

DON’T procrastinate. If you do, please understand that everything will be late and we are not at fault.

DON’T ignore questions we ask or emails we send. We understand that you are busy…so are we. However, we would prefer to have one or two concise messages that answer all questions posed than six “Oh, by the way” messages. Unfortunately, we sometimes receive no answer to a crucial question and have to ask it repeatedly. Please help us save time.

The bottom line is to communicate with us in a timely manner and know most of your needs. Following those two rules will easily make you the best client a designer can have.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. Be sure to ask for:

References or testimonials
A portfolio to view
Brochures, business cards, etc.
Current promotional offers

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Please see the above answer to "If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?"