Selecting A Graphic Designer – Choose or Lose!

 

Selecting the right man for the right job at the right time is an extremely difficult task. Clients, who are looking for graphic designers to do their work, often do not know how to select the appropriate graphic designer. Since the selection of a graphic designer is a very daunting and tiring process, clients tend to get frustrated and select the graphic designer they can easily locate.
There are several ways that clients go about searching for a graphic designer. Some of these include:

  1. Checking design companies and freelance graphic designers.
  2. Contacting established companies and their hired graphic designers.
  3. Asking your business associates and relatives who have previously hired a graphic designer.
  4. Posting free classified ads on online design forums.
  5. Selecting a graphic designer through an online design contest
 

Criteria for selecting the graphic designer:

While there are numerous people who are offering their services as graphic designers, they differ in the level of experience, skill and professionalism. Searching for a suitable graphic designer can be quite a cumbersome process and cause an awful confusion for clients. Therefore, look out for the basic attributes of a graphic designer before selection. I have listed some of them below

  1. A Strong and Dynamic Design Portfolio:
    A strong portfolio is the foremost attribute that you should look for while choosing a graphic designer. An experienced and talented graphic designer can be judged by their design portfolio. Graphic designers who have a weak design portfolio or simply don’t have one are signifying their low level of experience. The more dynamic the portfolio will be, the more versatile the graphic designer will be.

  2. Good Interpersonal Skills:
    A very important quality of an experienced and adroit graphic designer is the ability to interact with their clients. Good interpersonal skills include listening intently to the clients and then suggesting ideas to spell out that they understand what is required from them. Graphic designers who cannot place their ideas clearly to their clients demonstrate their lack of experience.

  3. Strong Marketing Skills:
    While it is not necessary for a graphic designer to possess a degree in Marketing, but to be able to market the clients’ products and service efficiently is important. While choosing a graphic designer, always ask for the ways in which the graphic designer will promote your products and services through his design work.

  4. Say No to Nepotism:
    One of the most common practices prevalent in corporate hiring process is the nepotism. Many a times, designers are hired on the basis of favoritism, which is bad for the corporations. Selection of graphic designers should be made purely on merit basis. Hence, when you are hiring a graphic designer, you should set aside personal issues. It doesn’t matter to which ethnic, religious or political orientation the graphic designer belongs to as long as he/she is talented and qualified.

  5. Professional Approach:
    An expert and experienced graphic designer can be identified by the way they talk, the way they walk and the way they deal with their clients. An able graphic designer will work with professionalism. They will work with contracts to safeguard the clients’ and their own interests.

  6. Impressive testimonials and referrals:
    Another factor that is crucial in determining the ability of a graphic designer is the testimonials and reviews from previous clients. If majority of his previous clients are happy and content with his design work, you can rest assure that you will also get a similar treatment.

In the end, I would recommend that no matter how you choose a graphic designer make sure that both you and the graphic designer are on the same wavelength. Choose wisely or you will lose badly!

 
What have you got to say about this?
But before you leave folks…here is another point which will immensely count for me if I go out looking for a graphic designer. Do you think a presentable personality somehow hints the talent of a designer in any way?
 

Presentable Personality:

During your search for a graphic designer, do keep an eye on the personality of the designer, as well. While one should not judge a book by its cover, sometimes minor details can warn you of major problems. For instance a well presentable graphic designer will signify that he is organized and will be able to handle your design work with responsibility. On the other hand, graphic designers with dirty shoes, untidy fingernails etc can point towards their carelessness and negligence to minor details.
 
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  1. Dimi On March 1st, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Great post!

    You need to find the right designer for the right job. There are so many people out there that think all designers are the same. Even though as designers we all share the same sense of balance and understand the basic principles of good design we all have are specialties (web, print, typography, illustration etc.)

    I also agree with Say No to Nepotism.

    I wrote a post about this subject not to long ago, you guys might be interested in reading.

    Thanks for sharing!

  1. Ashely Adams : Sticker Printing On March 1st, 2010 at 2:30 am

    Very accurate post. you should follow these before you choose your graphics guy. various mediums require various types of experience.

  1. Jane Cooke On March 1st, 2010 at 4:08 am

    I think communication and the portfolio with client testimonials are very good points to consider. Personality not so sure unless it is very noticeable. But I guess it mostly happens more at an instinctive level than having to see details.

    Thank you for an excellent post.

  1. Website Designers On March 1st, 2010 at 8:05 am

    “A Strong and Dynamic Design Portfolio” normally this point is kept in mind while selecting designer but i think all the others points you mentioned are very important.Thanks for sharing nice post.

  1. seo tools On March 3rd, 2010 at 4:46 am

    I have a friend who is a pofessional graphic design.Maybe i can tell him the good news.

  1. Andrew On March 3rd, 2010 at 9:03 am

    First and foremost, I am NOT a Freelancer, and kudos to you guys who are.

    But in my share of doing some work on the side, in some cases it’s been the client who has tried to take advantage of the situation. Now I know there are some designer’s out there who probably get in over their heads but from a non biased perspective it sounds like Graphic Designers overall get the short end of the stick. When something doesn’t look right is it always the designer’s fault?

    Just saying, I’m neither for or against using freelancers, but to say “Selecting A Graphic Designer – Choose or Lose!” is a bit harsh towards designers in general.

  1. spa nyc On March 3rd, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Every designer I have worked with brings to the table a big part of himself in the final design, I feel like it’s better to learn a lot of stuff on your own, nut then again who has time, great poins though thanks

  1. Thomas Kennedy On March 3rd, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    A lot of good points here! I also think that many need to take into consideration that just because a designer is affiliated with an “agency” doesn’t mean they can do the best job. Many times going with a big agency will get you acceptable work with 3 or 4 times the cost because of the overhead those agencies have. Many times you can find a freelancer or someone who works from home that can deliver the same results for much cheaper.

    I think the personality aspect is very correct too. Any kind of graphic work done will show the personality of that company, and if the designer has no personality the design won’t either.

  1. Gonzo the Great On March 3rd, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    Hi Charlie,

    “On the other hand, graphic designers with dirty shoes, untidy fingernails etc can point towards their carelessness and negligence to minor details” – eh, when are you going to clean up your topbanner then ..? Haha, just kidding!

    Great post and well-written, thanks for sharing this info. Cheers & Ciao …

  1. sj On March 6th, 2010 at 2:48 am

    hiring on the basis upon merit is again a bad habit. I personally do not hold any degree in Fine Art but working in the industry for 10 years.

    I have seen many in India recruiting people without any basic qualification but strong design sense and visualization capabilities. That’s what the system should be.

    other points are true and best. thanks.

  1. Dougy On March 8th, 2010 at 1:50 am

    Thank you for sharing these. Anyone can learn how to use the tools for designing but not everyone is capable of designing…creativity is a gift, it can’t be learned

  1. PIMP On March 8th, 2010 at 6:09 am

    Everybody is a friggin’ graphic designer once they find the arrow tool in Photoshop.

    Put CSS Expert on your resume and you’ll get the job. LOL

  1. The Loft Creative Branding Design On March 26th, 2010 at 8:55 am

    It’s truly excellent blogs for Clients. Even designer should keep those points in mind to achieve its targets & clients need too. Great Post :)

  1. Are Graphic Designers Valued and Paid? On March 26th, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    [...] and utmost importance to each of their projects irrespective of their magnitude. Clients, while selecting a graphic designer want the best work done in the lowest price possible. It is an irrational argument that a [...]

  1. logo design services On April 16th, 2010 at 1:55 am

    many graphics design agency provide specialized service but cost a lot more then local design studio.and not afford by many clients.if one decide to go for design agency then before making selection he must check that agency fit in all those criteria set out here.

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