FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Over the last several years, the demand for the types of graphic design services I provide to my clients has evolved considerably. This quickly escalating world of technology and air of conservation and living green that we are now in the midst of has massively reduced requests for print media such as brochures, flyers and even business cards. Therefore I now mainly provide my clients with a variety of types of web-based services such as website design, installation, setup, management and maintenance. This includes a large variety of types of websites such as corporate identity, eCommerce blogs and social media profile pages, membership sites, traffic exchanges and on-demand printing websites. Internet advertising media design and installation such as splash and postcard pages, banner ads, html email templates, and lead capture web page design is also a very common need for my clients. In regards to websites and scripts, I can create designs for this type of media from scratch. Although, a very popular choice for my clients now-a-days is for me to customize a pre-made template that they are using via popular website hosting platforms such as Bigcommerce, Shopify, SquareSpace, Snappages, Web.com and more.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
I cannot emphasize enough -- be sure to look at the potential designer's own materials for which you are going to hire them for. Need a corporate identity package? Ask to see their logo, stationery and business card. Need a website? Be sure to get their URL(s) and dial it up. Make sure they represent themselves as a knowledgeable professional in a unique manner with skillfully presented promotions of their own which include correct spelling, creativity and "tidiness". Inquire about their customer service, copyright and other policies. Also their file production skills track record and vendor liaison offerings. Ask for testimonials, portfolio and other credentials such as professional memberships and associations they may belong to. Be sure to view any social media pages they may have live and online, particularly Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Their content on these types of sites will speak volumes about them.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
I suggest you think through the following points when compiling questions for your potential vendor: => That owning a graphics software package -- does not -- make the owner a graphic designer, just as owning a scalpel does not make a person a surgeon. => That design costs are incurred are mainly due to time, above most anything else. It simply takes time to create an eye-catching, effective design for any project. => That a graphic designer should do much more than simply plug in a cool looking icon into a space. They need to create an atmosphere that attracts, retains and compels its viewers as well as entices them to return. And finally... => that the computer equipment and software it takes to create the job a client really needs is not inexpensive and needs to be updated on a continuing basis in order to produce quality work. Therefore a portion of this expense must also be included within the fees a designer charges their customers.