When new clients first get in touch with me (particularly small business owners and start-ups), they’re sometimes hesitant about working with a designer - and understandably so! Graphic design is a huge part of your brands identity, and choosing a designer for your graphics is an important decision, and one you shouldn’t rush through. Often clients are unsure what to expect from their designer in terms of communication, deliverables, value, etc…
During our first conversation, I always walk my clients through these five points, so they know where we both stand in this transaction, and what they can expect from me, moving forwards. You should always ask the following five questions before beginning a project…
What can you do for my brand?
This is an important question. No doubt the answer will be something along the lines of ‘improve it.’ So push it a little bit further. How can they improve it?
As a designer I’m honestly shocked that I don’t get asked this more frequently. It’s the first thing I’d want to know; it’s basically an interview packaged neatly into a single question: what can you do for us? It’s a chance for the designer to showcase the thing that makes them and their service special — why are they unique, how do they go the extra mile and why will working with them make your life easier?
My role is to identify and solve problems for my clients, and package these solutions in a neat, consistent and convenient graphic package.s My design experience allows me to help businesses communicate their worth through their visuals to build increase audience reach and promote brand recognition and customer loyalty.
How would you approach this project?
This is an excellent opportunity for a designer to distinguish themselves amongst others and give you a valuable insight into how much involvement you’re likely to receive throughout the process. It gives you a step-by-step guide on what you can expect, when you can expect it, and avoids potential misunderstandings further down the line because you’ll already know the thought process and strategy behind the designer’s work.
What are your prices, lead-times and how soon can you start?
Sometimes clients are hesitant to talk about money; sometimes they feel rude demanding a clear answer on timelines. It doesn’t matter. If you’re paying for a service you’re entitled to know the terms of the agreement. It’s also a great way to ensure both parties are on the same page. These questions are important - ask them early, before either of you has your time wasted.
Do you outsource any of the work?
If you’re paying for someone to complete a service for you, you want to know how it’s going to be done, who is responsible for each section, and you'll want to know they can get the job done efficiently.
There’s nothing necessarily wrong with outsourcing, but your designer should be clear about it; I’ve had clients return to me for additional services in the past, and either I didn’t have the availability during the timeframe they needed the service completed, or it was a service I didn’t offer - so I put them in contact with another company/freelancer that I trust to take care of my clients. I made it very clear that I couldn’t complete the service, and then offered to put them in touch with someone who could.
If a freelancer or company is discreetly outsourcing their work, it’s usually a bad sign; it typically leads to delayed and/or sub-quality results. Ask the question and understand how your designer works. This helps set the tone for the relationship.
What do you need from me?
This is the single best question you can ask of your designer. It lets you know where you stand, it helps your designer get off to a quick and efficient start, and it opens the communication channel and sets a collaborative tone for the rest of the working relationship.