Whether you have a small business and a handful of employees, a sole proprietorship, or a massive enterprise, there is a least this in common: you want to make a stunning impression on every potential customer who contacts you. You want to look established. Official. That is why you seek the best logo, marketing materials, and visuals for your digital and printed content.
While you can do all this on your own, nothing will ever look as good as it could if you had a professional assist you. But what should you expect when hiring or working with a graphic designer? Here is everything you need to know about the process.
What Do Graphic Designers Do?
Graphic designers are storytellers who use images, words, and other design elements to deliver a message. For a business, this translates into marketing materials and the development of brand identity.
In more simple terms, graphic designers make logos, posters, cards, brochures, billboards, and much more to support businesses, big or small. They do this by using software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
What To Expect When Working With a Graphic Designer
Before working with a graphic designer, you should know at least the basics of their job. This helps with communicating your needs as well as understanding how the entire job will proceed.
Have Goals Ready
Just like an interview, you would never show up unprepared. You should know what you are looking for, your ideal deadline, how much of each item you are going to need, and your budget. If you haven’t already, gather up some samples of graphic designs that you like, because this will help your designer understand exactly what you are looking for. Similarly, you can bring samples of certain fonts you like.
Be Prepared For Changes
Remain realistic with what you want. Some things are not going to look as good on print as you imagined them—and a professional graphic designer will tell you that. Since graphic designers are creating something based on their interpretation of what you ask for, you also need to accept that nothing is going to be completely perfect.
You may have to go through multiple rounds of proofing before you both reach an agreement on the final version of the design. Don’t worry. This is all part of the process.
Understand The Timeline
Since graphic design is a process of first drafts and multiple versions, the timeline you originally planned for could change greatly. If you have a tight schedule, you should discuss that beforehand.
Typically, the average project runs like this:
- Briefing and initial design – 3-10 business days
- Proofing and revisions – variable (can take a few days or weeks)
- Printing, if necessary – 7-10 business days
- Delivery of final product (after approval) – 1-3 days
In total, this means your design can take anywhere from several weeks to a couple of months. The more you need done, the longer it will take.
Final Thoughts
Working with a graphic designer is a rewarding process, because you will receive an expertly done logo or business cards or whatever else you required. Understanding what is expected and what happens when working with a graphic designer is key to ensuring you are completely satisfied, however. Now that you have a better idea of the process, you will be able to communicate better and receive exactly what you’re looking for.
