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