How to get great results from working with a graphic designer
Lance Smith | October 21, 2021You’ve got a great product. You’ve poured your hard earned money and your heart into it. You’ve got a vision for the future. Maybe you even know who you are planning to sell it to. If you really want to get your product out there, you are going to need to employ the services of a graphic designer to create your visual identity – you’ll need a logo, perhaps packaging, business cards, promotional material, a website. Here are a few tips to get the best results possible when working with a designer.
Find a designer that suits your style
There are a huge variety of designers out there. If you have a vision in mind, it greatly helps to chose one who has a sense of style that is compatible with your own. For example, if you have a very strong preference for flowing lines and embellished floral designs, don’t bother considering someone whose portfolio is full of slick corporate designs or blocky fitness designs. It’s important to vet the people you chose to work with to ensure that they are the right fit for your needs and personality.
Communication, communication, communication
Avoid using terms like ‘Make it Pop’ or ‘I need it to look professional,’ as this kind of language is redundant and unhelpful. Think deeply about what feelings you are trying to invoke, and where you are drawing your inspirations. Talk about your target audience, talk about your competitors, talk about why you are doing what you do. For best results avoid being prescriptive and centre your conversations around your deeper needs and the root problems you are trying to solve. A good designer with be able to listen, see your potential and help visually align you with it, but you have to articulate the problems you are trying to solve and the process you and your business are undergoing – clear communication is key!
Do what you do best and allow your designer to do what they do best
If you’ve vetted your designer well, it will benefit you to trust them and their abilities. Be careful not to micromanage details, such as colours, fonts or line thickness, which you may have a personal preference toward. It is very common for a design to lose its integrity because clients who aren’t well versed in design principles or don’t quite understand the nuances of the design insist to add their two cents. It’s good and fine if something doesn’t sit right with you – let that be known, but if that is the case, make sure to discuss honestly the root of why it’s not sitting right with you. Avoid prescribing solutions. Trust in your designers training, abilities and process to form an elegant, unified solution.
These tips and tricks can help you save time and money and get better results when working with a designer. If you are hiring a professional, vet them, communicate your problems clearly, and empower them to do professional level work.
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