So you need to hire a designer (aka freelancer) to help you with the branding and design needs of your business. I am naturally a strong believer in this being a good choice because of my passion for what I do. I can confidently say this is a great step to take as I see the value of great design time after time.
Starting a new project can however be overwhelming, especially when it involves aspects that are outside of your abilities. That is why you are hiring a professional right!
In order to make your project a success the first and most important step is building a solid working relationship with your contractor. A good contractor should be working to do the same with you. As a Solo designer my first step of the project process kind of works hand in hand with building this relationship. I take time to learn all about your business and your needs. In that I am also learning how you function professionally so that we can work together effectively.
It is good for you to also learn a bit about your contracted designer so you know how to maintain this healthy working relationship as the project progresses. Some of the information that would be good for you to know about solo designers is either not overly obvious or is easily over looked. Here is a quick list of things to keep in mind when working with a solo contracted designer or illustrator.
1. Respect the policies that are presented and you agreed upon.
They serve to help you and the designer both.
2. Respect our profession and trust our expertise.
Reputable designers are worthy of respect just as any other professional. They offer a fine service at a fair price. Designers are open to your input but micro managing is restricting and usually very ineffective. You hired a professional, allow them to show you their expertise.
3. Communicate clearly and in a timely manner to help the project progress.
Clear and organized communication is always key!
4. Please pay on time.
It has to be said sometimes unfortunately. Your designer worked hard for you and deserves to be compensated in a timely manner.
and last but not least..
5. Know that reputable designers want to take care of you. A reputable designer not only has genuine talent and skills sets, but passion and pride for what they do. They work hard and are thorough in learning about you so they can meet your creative needs. In additions to everything else, this is our lively hood! We give 110% to maintain a reputation so we can continue to making a living doing what we do best.
I am always eager to build great working relationship with old and new clients at Link Creative!
Originality is a term that is used often in the design world, whether in a request from a client or a promise of a designer. It is a desired quality for many obvious reasons. I mean, no one wants to be a copy cat, or at least I would hope so, right!?
One thing that can be noted about originality is how seemingly difficult it can be to find. That is because of the challenges, hard work, research, and skill it takes to develop something decently original. Some designers just don’t have the passion or motivation to go the extra mile in creating original work, OR, are simply satisfied with producing unoriginal rip off work. We see it everywhere. There are HUNDREDS of cheap logo design companies springing up online, you find more and more companies ripping off logo designs created by others. Plagiarism is a real problem. It is sad, and what is even more discerning is that clients with valuable business plans are settling for this poor attempt at design to represent their hard work and ideas. It’s a classic example of you get what you pay for.
These cheap logo design companies are treating logo design like a fast food drive through. Quick, cheap, and unoriginal. To a client that doesn’t know any better it might taste good and be at the right price now, but it’s not healthy in the long run because it is lacking those key ingredients that make up quality and originality. (careful research, consideration, and skill.)
Then there is always the debatable subject of how possible is 100% originality. Originality does bring up a lot of questions especially when you think of the thousands of years of art and design that has been created throughout the world. It makes it seem like anything you design is bound to have some kind of similarity to something else. This is another example of the importance in careful research but are some similarities all that bad? I say no of course not as long as you don’t cross a line and really I am only scratching the surface of this subject. Yes you will have occasions where work is evolved, or inspired by something else. Some of the best work I have seen has been inspired from something else but has it’s own original twist and is strong and beautiful. There is nothing wrong with this if it is approached well. Ask any great artist/designer and they will quickly tell you who they are inspired by, but when you look at their work you will see they are not ripping off anyone, they just allowed the artist that inspire them open their creative minds to create new and original work. There is a line and when it has crossed over to rip off, it is very apparent.
If you are looking for a logo for your business my advice to you is to strive for original. Don’t settle for a cookie cutter logo that is not considerate to anything about your business, and most certainly don’g allow rip offs. As I stated in a previous blog Logo design 101, your logo is your first impression, it needs to represent, and stand above. Don’t let this foundational starting point of your branding be quick, cheap and easy like fast food drive through. Originality is not just a side order so find a designer who will go the extra mile. There is so much involved that holds true value in quality logo design.
