Graphic Design

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I do a lot of ads for people. Logos and business cards next, then collateral for businesses. I also do many large and small publications, websites and ezines...

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

A. If you are looking for a cheap designer, you will get a young designer most likely that is interested in building up her portfolio with a pretty art piece more than they are interested in your target audiences needs. Also there is a lot of going back and forth with cheaper artists because they don't know what they are doing yet.

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

A. I wish I what the Google engineers write in their algorithms that read the code on a website so I could create the perfect SEO friendly site every time.

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

A. You don't need to know anything before calling me except my number.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. God is in the details. It's being finished with a job and then saying, What can I do to improve it and then adding the little touches that I feel need to be added. Also, I have a system that my clients use to help me see what they are hoping to accomplish with the design.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I enjoy the satisfaction of my clients coming back for more because they like the results they get from the work.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. What is my rate is always the first. I tell them and they always say that it's competitive. They also ask when the job will be done and I usually get it to them with in two work days.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I was in a meeting with Janet Reno, the CEO of the New York Times. She asked what we could do to improve the paper globally. I made a suggestion. She wrote it down with a smile. Later during a tour of the plant, she saw me and ran over, tapped me on the shoulder and told me thank you for the suggestion. I could see she was really excited about it. I liked feeling like someone with her kind of influence liked my ideas.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish my clients realized that what they want is not always what their customers want. I have a system that helps my customers be in control of their creative without them putting their target audience to sleep. For example several times a new client has drawn a circle and put his name in it and called it a logo. He's so proud of it because he created it but his clients are not going to find that attractive so it will not benefit his company.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I was born to do this! I have always been a designer and art lover. I also love technology. In elementary school I was making graphics on an Apple IIe. I was in high school when the first mac was available to design on and I got a feel for computer design. A dozen years ago I was using Microsoft paint. Now I use state of the art top tier programs as my paintbrush to design. The computer is a design tool, not the designer. That's one thing that makes me different is that I am an artist first.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I finished an online catalog for a client that included embedded forms, video, audio, hyperlinks and it was attractive to look at as well.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Every day M-F I try to learn something mentally, spiritually, socially and financially. You can't be a leader unless you stay on top of the changes that are so prevalent.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. 3D is big, I work in a 2D world but I make it appear 3D to clients that like that look. Also clients want to be where the new technology is. I use traditional principles applied to new technologies to help people get exposure for their business in the areas that they feel comfortable with but I like to give them options as well.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. Currently I'm designing a magazine editorial chart for Pediatricians, a pharmacy bag design ad with a custom graphic, a preschool and automotive website. I just finished a stone etching design.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. $55 per hour for most design services.

$200 for a web design and 2 additional pages.
$75 per page after that.

Misc. services can be seen an our rate sheet. I would be happy to email that to you.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Start with a firm understanding of Art principles. Care about the client's target audience more than your portfolio. Do your best and then allow it to be critically scrutinized in house before sending it out, then when it's perfect, pray and have God tell you what to do to make it better. Revise it, send it, repeat until approved. Treat clients with respect.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. What is the most important thing a business owner can do who wants to get out the word about his products or services?

Answer: Go where people are searching for them! Let Guru Design, LLC show you the way.