Below are some answers to commonly asked questions about my design services:
-What specific graphic design services do you provide?
-What forms of payment are accepted?
-How do I receive my files once a project is complete?
-How long will a project take to complete?
-I don’t live near you, will this be a problem?
-Do I own the rights to a design?
-What’s involved in the logo design process?
-Why should I hire you over someone else?
-What if I don’t like the artwork or designs presented to me?
-How will I be able to communicate with you throughout the design process?
-Can I view testimonials from past clients who have worked with you?
Answers:
Q: What specific graphic design services do you provide?
I specialize in logo design/business identity but offer a variety of graphic design services, including:
- Logo design and business branding.
- Image editing and photo touch up.
- Promotional design: flyers, album artwork, posters, banners, brochures & more.
- Custom graphics and vector art.
- Digital portrait paintings.
- Custom WordPress based web site design.
- Photography services.
- If you are in need of video services, I can put you in touch with my talented friend Nikke Nelson.
To learn more about my services, please view the services pages in the drop down menu at the top of this website.
Q: What are your prices?
I would love to have a “one size fits all” pricing list, but with all projects being different, fixed pricing becomes difficult. The price of a logo design for example depends on a few things, including: number of revisions wanted, estimated research required, and level of difficulty. If I were to have a fixed pricing structure, I would have to pad prices to ensure I cover my costs. This would be unfair to my clients.
I can give you an exact price but I will need to know the specifics of your project first. By filling out my project questionnaire you will provide me with enough information to give you a price quote.
My payment policy for projects is pretty standard; 50% down and the remaining 50% to be paid upon satisfied completion of a project.
Q: Will you price match?
Price matching only works for items that are identical. Since no two designers or projects are the same, it’s not really fair to demand “So and so only charges $200 for a logo design, why don’t you?”.
There is a reason why one designer may charge $200 for a logo, and another charges $900. Graphic design is like any other service industry; the pricing is based on a value of “worth”. It is up to the buyer to determine whether or not the price justifies the worth.
When pricing a project, I factor in things like business cost, time, and expected difficulty. I believe my pricing is fair; I hope you do too.
Q: What forms of payment are accepted?
Paypal, credit card, check, or money order are all acceptable forms of payment. The benefit of making payment through Paypal is that payment is received instantly and I can begin working on your project that much sooner. If you don’t have a Paypal account you can still use their services to make a credit card payment. All Paypal fees will be paid by me.
If you chose to pay by check or money order, I won’t be able to send your final project files until payment clears.
Q: How do I receive my files once a project is complete?
Your files will be emailed to you after payment is made. If for some reason the files can’t be sent via email (i.e. file size), then there is always the option of FTP or cd by mail.
The file types/formats you will receive depend on the type of project. All vector work will be sent in either “.pdf”, “.eps” or “.ai” format. High resolution images (if needed) will be sent in either “tiff” or “jpg” formats. To learn more about these file formats and other design terminology, check out my “graphic design glossary” blog post.
Since there are literally hundreds of different combinations of file size, color mode, and file type, it’s not reasonable for me to send you hundreds of files. Instead, I will ask you what colors and sizes you will be needing your logo submitted in. This way you receive only the files you need. Also note that any color, size, or format you will ever need, can be created directly from your master EPS file.
Q: How long will a project take to complete?
Once I’ve established the details of your project, I will be able to inform you of expected time frames. The complexity of your design will determine this more than anything. Some designers offer “fast delivery” as a selling point, but at what cost to quality?
I don’t view the creative process as a speed contest. Good design takes time. I understand the necessity for getting a project finished in a timely manner, but I will not sacrifice quality for anything. Read about my design process (below) for a better understanding of the work flow, and why it takes time.
Q: I don’t live near you, will this be a problem?
Not at all! Although I love having local clients, most of the people I work with are hundreds of miles away. With the internet, distance is not a barrier. All communication can be done strictly through email and phone, with no problem.
Q: Do I own the rights to a design?
Absolutely! Full ownership of all designs and artwork is transferred to the client once final payment for a project is received. It is up to you whether you want to officially copyright your designs. I reserve the right to showcase in my portfolio, any designs or artwork I create (unless you ask me otherwise).
Q: What’s involved in the logo design process?
Design brief: To save us both valuable time you will be asked to fill out my project questionnaire. This will help me better understand your needs, insights, and expectations. I will review your answers and spend some time establishing a price and a time frame for completion.
If we agree on the simple terms of the project, I will request 50% of the payment be sent prior to starting on your logo design.
Research: Some time is spent researching your company, your industry, and your competition. Research is helpful towards creating more custom logos and avoiding cliche designs.
Brainstorming: This is where I take all the notes I have gathered about your company, and begin to brainstorm ideas and start sketching my thoughts to paper. This process should not be rushed, as this is where the initial concepts are formed.
Drawing: When I feel I’ve got enough good ideas to work with, I begin the task of converting my favorite ideas and rough sketches into more clean and proportional designs. This step can become very tedious, but well worth the added effort.
Computer Development: By now, I’ve accumulated enough drafts of the logo design to re-draw digitally on the computer. After the designs are complete, I begin playing around with color options.
Delivery and Analysis: The computer drawn concepts are then sent to you for analysis. Once a design is chosen, we then discuss any necessary modifications.
Finalizing: When a design is chosen and finalized, the second half of payment will be expected. After I receive payment, you will be sent the appropriate files for print and web use, as well as a receipt of purchase.
Q: Why should I hire you over someone else?
This is for only you to decide, but I can offer you a list of the perks of working with me:
• You will be working with me directly. With some of the larger design firms, you may not receive this one on one attention. Projects often get tossed around between designers.
• I think communication is key, so you should never have to wait too long for a response from me. I have a 24 hour rule, but usually I’m able to respond within a few hours. If I’m on my computer, you will receive instant replies to your emails. You can call my personal phone number as well @ 615-425-6851.
• Based on the industry recommended pay rate, my pricing is quite fair and much lower than what many designers are charging. With design firms, you are looking at even higher prices due to their higher overhead costs.
• My logo designs are created specifically for your company. There are many designers who slap a pre-made symbol or graphic next to your company name and call it good. I like to call these “drive through” design shops. They appeal to certain people because they are cheap and fast. The result is almost always a logo design that is overly generic. My logos are 100% original, scalable vector, researched, and used only once.
• A design firm may consist of a dozen designers. 8 of them are fantastic at what they do, but the other 4 are not so good. Which one will be working on your project? Unless you can view the designer’s individual portfolios (usually not the case), you may just be playing a game of Russian roulette with your design. By viewing my portfolio and viewing my website, you are able to get a good sense of my abilities and work process. I believe this is a great benefit I have over multi-member design companies.
• I don’t outsource any of my work like some design firms or freelancers do. When you work with someone who outsources their projects you are running the risk of working with a designer who you know nothing about.
• I don’t cut corners or rush my projects. Quality design over quick design.
Q: What if I don’t like the artwork or designs presented to me?
My policy is pretty standard. In the unlikely event you are unsatisfied with the final design, you are left with a couple of options. For logo design projects, you will have the option to purchase additional concepts (at pre-determined rate), or to walk away.
If you decide to walk away from the project, I will keep the initial 50% down payment for time invested, but you are not expected to pay the remaining amount. Only when full payments are received, do the rights of any designs become property of the client. For all other (non-logo) projects, the same rules apply.
Please note; I have yet to have a customer just walk away empty handed. It is my goal to make you happy, and I will do what I can to achieve just that. However I must protect myself as well. Offering unlimited concepts and revisions is just not possible or realistic. Any design company offering this sort of deal is pure bogus. What does “unlimited revisions” mean…50 revisions?…100 revisions?
Q: How will I be able to communicate with you throughout the design process?
You can contact me by email or phone, which ever you prefer. I can also meet with you in person if possible, and when necessary.
Q: Can I view testimonials from past clients who have worked with you?
You can see what others have had to say about working with me, by viewing my testimonials page.
