8 Tips for Hiring a Graphic Designer

If you’re looking to create a website, brochure, digital advertisement, logo, or other imaging for your business that will get you the exposure your brand needs to succeed—you’ll need top-notch graphics. That means you’ll need a top-notch graphic designer. 

How to Hire a Graphic DesignerIdeally, a sound graphic designer will have the skills to create engaging and professional video and animated graphics and magazine design, with competency in photography, print, and environmental display as well as UX and UI, web, and logo design. Ask your candidate; if he or she knows how to create what you want, you might be able to get everything you need in one place! 

1. Have a Time Frame. When you interview candidates, know ahead of time what deadlines you need to meet for your website launch, brochure mailing, or tradeshow. Be sure you and the designer are on the same schedule. A good graphic designer knows what they can do in a given time frame and can better pitch project ideas within your time frame. 

2. Show Examples of Things You Like and Why You Like Them. Great marketing relies heavily on taking cues from successful examples that already exist. A good graphic designer will consider examples of images and layouts you like, compare them to successful existing content, and come up with a fresh design for your project. 

3. Discuss Brand Guidelines. As with any brand, your outreach campaign has specific messaging best practices and visual guidelines to which you know you must adhere. Advise your graphic designer on what types of messages are not appropriate for your audience and which notes must be hit to achieve your message. Share a detailed branding guide, if you have one. 

4. A First Draft Is a Rough Draft. Remember, any artistic endeavor is a process that includes revision. If your graphic artist offers you a draft that doesn’t match your needs, that doesn’t mean she’s incompetent. It says it’s time for a revision. Be sure to include time for changes in your project timeline. 

5. Provide Specific Feedback. During the initial brief and revision process, be sure to give clear and direct feedback to your graphic designer. Review their initial work and provide a detailed report on what you like and don’t like about the draft. Clear and direct feedback is a necessary part of the process. 

6. Think About Ideas You Had Not Considered. At this point, your graphic designer will have a clear enough idea of what you’re aiming for to provide suggestions you may not have foreseen. Be open to these ideas; they could be solutions to problems you have struggled with for some time.

7. Fear Not: Always Ask Questions. Should I have put this one first? If you have a question, ask it. Even if your graphic designer is not an expert on your business, she may bring fresh insights and ideas to the table. Ask questions. You’d be surprised at how much a design professional knows about the world. 

8. Perfection Is Fiction—Done Is the Goal. Remember, your first visual product does not have to be the best in the world. Your goal should be to get done with a reasonable to high level of quality. After that, once customers start coming in, you can use metrics to fine-tune your brand imaging. 

Can I Be Your Go-to Graphics Source? Ridpath Creative is a boutique design shop equipped to tackle your website, digital & print media, and photography & video needs. To learn more about what a top-notch KC, MO, studio can do for your business, get in touch today.