Choosing a Designer? What questions you should ask to narrow down the list

As someone who needs a graphic or web design service, you are truly blessed if you have multiple designers trying to win your attention and your project. There are definite benefits to having lots of people vying to help get you something you need.

But now that you’ve found yourself with at least several designers to choose from, what makes one designer better than another for your project?

Design Style

This aspect is critical… Well, it’s not as critical to some, but if you’re reading this blog I’m assuming you care at least a little bit about design. Each designer has their own style, so it’s important to look at your candidate’s portfolio to get a feel for the kinds of work they typically do. Is their common style artsy, classy, edgy, grungy, professional? Are they versatile enough to design in more than one style depending on what kind of project they’re working on? Make sure the designer is capable of producing the look-and-feel that you want.

Experience

This is one of the easiest ways to cut down the list. If you have a simple project, this factor may not be as important in helping you decide, but if you need something more skill-specific, make sure that your candidates all have what it takes. Have faith in your designer’s abilities, but the more experience the have on multiple related projects, the more likely they are to understand what you need and how to get it to you quickly.

Availability

The designer can complete the job, and the final product will look great, but can they complete the project in the time frame you’d like? Make sure to clearly explain the project and express your desired deadline so the designer can estimate whether they can meet it. If you don’t explain the project with at least some degree of detail, you may get a time frame estimate that will end up being incorrect as the complexity of the project reveals itself.

Skills

Obviously, if the designer doesn't have the technical skills to complete the job, you wouldn't hire them. But when choosing a designer it's important to look towards the future. You should ask them about the skills they have that you currently don't need. You may be just looking for a business card right now, but one day you may need a website. If you develop a good working relationship on the first project, it's easier to keep the same designer for multiple projects than try to find another.

Rates

If I’ve learned anything, it is this: there are people in every profession who do their job poorly, but still manage to get paid for it. Designers are no different. Some designers make a living off low quality work. Others don’t charge much, but haven’t got much experience either. If you’re looking for your first website, or a simple graphic piece, you should look for a designer who has a diverse portfolio of designs you like, some related experience, and middle-of-the-road rates. You should be prepared to pay decent rates for good design, but don’t pay for something that is poorly done.