Graphic Design

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

A. Business cards, logos, ads.

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

A. Have a very good vision of what you need before we meet to talk about it. Your confidence and thoroughly thought out idea will help me to intuit your needs.

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

A. Designers don't just click a button to make your design appear. Good designers take your needs, process those needs through our knowledge and then deliver to you (after much cursing and tears) the best possible solution to your graphics needs. All good designers do this.

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

A. I rarely go with the safest possible design solution, I have a knack for type, I am always consuming fresh, new design and all of this surfaces in my work.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I get to make an intangible idea a reality. Sometimes that reality is an entire business and livelihood for a client.

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

A. "Do you know what I mean?" Yes.

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

A. I designed a logo for a catering company and it was used throughout the venue on signage. It was a pretty big deal to see my work plastered all over a business' interior like that.

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

A. I can tell whether or not you trust me as a designer after a couple of emails. I never even have to hear your voice to tell.

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

A. The discount graphic designers get at Denny's.

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

A. I dropped in a really arty, handmade looking background for a friend's press photo. I was particularly fond of it because he told me to "do whatever I thought looked good" and I work superduper well with that kind of suggestion. It turned out awesome.

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

A. Yes. I am an Adobe Certified Professional User (2009) and I read industry periodicals as well as keep up with The Dallas Society of Visual Communicators (dsvc.org). If I am not too busy, I like to get out in the art community, mingle and meet artists.

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. The advance of digital media is an ever increasing challenge to the print industry, but I don't think we'll ever really fade out. The idea here is to adapt as designers as much as we can to keep up with our clients' digital needs.

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

A. My most recent project was a wedding logo/stamp. I used a client-supplied photo of a ranch brand and traced it, refined it and added type. It is to be used on napkins, wine glasses and stickers. It took 3 hours and cost $130.

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

A. I work at a flat rate to start a project and provide 3 rounds of changes for that flat rate. If designs are not finalized in those 3 rounds, then an hourly rate kicks in.

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

A. Believe in yourself but never stop listening to the ideas of others.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Are you hungry? Yes.