INSPO: TO BRING, OR NOT TO BRING

WHY ZERO IDEAS IS A SILLY IDEA

When businesses bring inspiration to a graphic designer, they set the stage for a creative and productive collaboration that can enhance the quality and output of your final product.

Here are five key reasons to bring inspiration to your next design meeting:

ALIGNMENT WITH BUSINESS GOALS

Bringing inspiration to the table helps ensure that your designer’s work aligns closely with your business’s overall goals. When a designer understands the core objectives, brand values, and target audience, they can create visuals that not only look good but also serve a strategic purpose. This alignment ensures that the design effectively communicates your desired message, supports marketing efforts, and resonates with your intended audience.

Together, we fill in our carefully curated Branding Questionnaire which helps identify these core objectives and values in your business.

EFFICIENT USE OF TIME & RESOURCES

Providing clear inspiration and direction helps streamline our creative process. When designers have a solid foundation to work from, we can spend more time refining ideas and less time guessing what the client wants. This efficiency reduces the likelihood of extensive revisions, saving both time and money. It also ensures that the project stays on track and meets deadlines.

ENHANCED CREATIVITY & INNOVATION

Inspiration can serve as a springboard for creativity. By understanding your brand’s identity, goals, and the industry landscape - designers can push the boundaries of traditional designs and explore innovative concepts. This collaborative inspiration can lead to unique, standout designs that differentiate the brand in a crowded market and place you beyond the trend.

CONSISTENCY IN BRAND IDENTITY

When businesses provide us with inspirational material that reflects their brand’s voice, style, and ethos, it helps ensure that the design work remains consistent with existing branding elements. This consistency is vital for building brand recognition and trust with their audience.

IMPROVED COMMUNICATION

Inspiration fosters better communication between business and designer. When both parties have a clear vision of what they want to achieve, it reduces misunderstandings and misalignments. This open line of communication not only makes the design process smoother but also empowers us as designers to ask the right questions and offer valuable suggestions, ultimately leading to a more successful outcome.

TOP 10 FORMS OF DESIGN INSPIRATION:

• Mood Boards

• Fonts and Text Styles

• Music or Artists

• Photography

• Specific Colours

• Textures or Interiors

• Social Media Profiles

• Mindmaps or Brainstorms

• Shapes

• Other Brands and Businesses

READY TO BRING YOUR INSPO TO A QUALIFIED DESIGNER?

HOW TO: CHOOSE YOUR DESIGNER

Brilliant design not only comes from experience and creativity level, but an understanding of deeper working relationships between clients and designers. We have narrowed it down to our top 5 things you should consider when shopping for your next designer, photographer or creative professional.

PROFESSIONAL CHEMISTRY

Noting the importance we put on chemistry in our personal lives, it’s a wonder that business owners don’t follow the same rule in business. Perhaps because chemistry is immeasurable and difficult to align against a monetary goal. However, having chemistry in a professional setting ensures that you’re conducting business with someone you like, know and trust. At MONOCROW, we set an initial meeting either in-person or over zoom to discuss your project and see if we’d be a good fit as your designers.

Design outcomes often suffer without professional chemistry. The chemistry in working relationships is what sets the foundation for trust and allows designers to anticipate and execute the correct creative choices or strategies that align with you, your brand and its goals.

UNDERSTANDING of CLIENT NEEDS

Designers who formulate a deeper understanding of their client’s needs will result in overall better design outcomes. It is integral that your designer gains an understanding of not only the business in question but the individual or group that created it. Why? Because the client knows their industry the best. It is our job as your designer, to listen.

Your designer must be able to discern and understand what your needs are, who your audience or market is, and the project constraints (time, budget, materials, requirements).

TRACK RECORD OR SOCIAL PROOF

Social proof is one of the quickest way to assess your designer’s reputation. Some agencies have ways to create social proof that may be misleading or portray a particular image they wish to sell. So how do we find authentic social proof? Here are a few tips:

1. Google Reviews - Google is heavily monitored and reviews regulated to maintain authenticity. It creates a space that is free from bias and allows for honest feedback amongst businesses. This can be a good gauge on the public opinion of a designer as well as how they respond to feedback that is given.

2. Social Profiles - You can gather a lot of information from social profiles by just knowing what exactly to look for:

Follower Count - Does not directly mean a business with customers. Instead, note who engages with the profile, what content the brand is tagged in and if they collaborate with other brands and business in a positive and ethical way.

Design Brief or Design Work? - You can tell if your designer has worked with a business as opposed to working on a design brief (or passion project) by checking the post’s tags. Designer’s with legitimate turnover will post a range of projects and be inclined to tag and share from those they work with. This implies a real working relationship is present and a reputable portfolio of work.

Passion projects or Instagram ‘Designer Briefs’ are when a profile posts a creative brief for designers and artists to interpret. Designer’s may use these briefs to display creativity and showcase their skills which is a great way to see the level of your designer’s creativity. However, if they only post this kind of work, it means they may not be servicing many (or any) - real business.

3. Referral and Word of Mouth - Seen as the most reliable form of social proof. What do clients who have worked with this designer say about them? What was their experience like?

Overall, ask questions about and research their previous work to better understand how the designer can benefit you and your business.

PROCESS AND FEE STRUCTURE

Different design studios have different design processes. They vary in degree of formality, documentation and account management. It’s best to select a designer with an approach that suits you and your company. A designer’s process and fee structure will communicate the way they conduct business and in what manner.

At MONOCROW, we provide a breakdown of your project costs and provide flexible payment options to allow for varying budget types. We believe all business should have access to quality design, no matter if they are established or still in infancy.

Asking your designer how their fees are structured allows you to budget for other projects as they arise.

VALUE FOR MONEY

It’s the age-old saying but it still rings true. You get what you pay for.

It is unreasonable to expect high budget results if you have a lower scale budget. Conversely, if it is a major project with a larger budget, you will want to be sure that your designer thoroughly understands and can handle the requirements of these kinds of projects and/or workloads.

It should also be said that the final result, artwork or finished product - is never the only value. A designer’s time, level of expertise, attention to detail, ethics, reputation, creative style, exclusivity or influence and approach should all be seen as added value.

Our value is in the extra mile.
Discover why we are rated 5 stars on Google Reviews.

REFERENCE ARTICLE
https://agda.com.au/find-a-designer/how-to-find-a-designer

WHY FIVERR FALLS SHORT

Exploring the Pitfalls of Crowdsourcing Creativity

In today's digital age, the landscape of graphic design has undergone immense transformation, with platforms like Fiverr promising affordable and accessible solutions for businesses seeking design services.

While the idea of quick and budget-friendly designs may be enticing, there are significant drawbacks to relying on platforms like Fiverr for your graphic design needs. We delve into why Fiverr shouldn't be your go-to destination for graphic design and explore the pitfalls of investing in such platforms:

Lack of Quality Control

One of the most glaring issues with Fiverr is the lack of quality control over the designs produced. While there are certainly talented designers on the platform, the low barrier to entry means that anyone can offer their services, regardless of skill level or experience. This often results in a flood of low-quality, generic designs that fail to capture the unique essence of a brand or project.

Limited Communication and Collaboration

Effective graphic design requires clear communication and collaboration between the designer and the client. However, the nature of Fiverr's platform, which emphasizes quick transactions and minimal interaction, can hinder meaningful dialogue and creative exchange. Without the ability to articulate your vision or provide feedback in real-time, the end result may fall short of your expectations.

Intellectual Property Concerns

When you commission a design on Fiverr, you may not have full ownership of the final product. Many designers retain rights to their work or impose restrictions on its use, which can lead to legal complications down the line. Protecting your intellectual property and ensuring that you have the rights to use and modify the design as needed is essential, but it can be challenging to navigate these issues on Fiverr's platform.

Cookie-Cutter Solutions

Graphic design is a highly creative and personalised endeavour, tailored to the specific needs and objectives of each client. However, on platforms like Fiverr, designers often rely on pre-made templates and generic concepts to churn out designs quickly and efficiently. This cookie-cutter approach may result in designs that lack originality and fail to resonate with your target audience.

Undercutting the Value of Design

By commodifying graphic design and driving prices down to rock bottom, platforms like Fiverr undermine the intrinsic value of creative work. Talented designers invest years honing their craft and bring a wealth of expertise and insight to the table. Expecting them to deliver high-quality designs for a fraction of what they're worth not only devalues their skills but also perpetuates a cycle of exploitation within the industry.

OUR Conclusion
Investing in Quality Over Quantity

While Fiverr and similar platforms may offer a quick and convenient solution for obtaining graphic design services, the drawbacks far outweigh the benefits. Investing in quality design is an investment in your brand's success, and cutting corners almost always sets you back in the long run.

By investing early, you’re ensuring the longevity of your brand and the creation of its perceived value. Too often we see clients who have used these platforms investing little capital, to only have to rebrand 6 months down the line, investing more time, more funds and confusing their market with mixed brand messaging.

Cheap branding communicates a cheap product/ service. By seeing the value of design, we’re able to capture your brand essence at the highest quality and ensure your investment lasts and reaps results.

Want to know more?