Marketing and graphics have become almost a synonymous thing these days. More precisely, graphics are a crucial part of marketing. The first impression will always be lasting so there is a need to capture your potential customers’ attention from the onset with quality marketing materials. Don’t ignore the professional state of your business cards, website, brochures and others. A true pro will help you construct an image that is worthy of your values and brand as a whole. Therefore, do you know how to pick a graphic designer? Well, in contemporary times, graphic designers are in high supply yet ironically, this in itself is the problem. Often you will be so spoilt for choice that you fail to assess all the players in the industry keenly. However, don’t fret as this article will show you what to do.
First, start with self-assessment. This means coming up with an outline of the project needs. Figure out the needs that need to be addressed based on circumstance. Maybe you are still to find your footing as to want you want, or you have firmly set your eyes on rebranding. Come up with smart goals to guide you. Map out the time you want to spend doing the said job and also set the budget.
Moreover, evaluate past works they have done. This will help you see whether they fit into your project. Often when assessing portfolios, people merely look at the optics. Don’t get me wrong as visuals are integral but most important is the designer’s technique in presenting their collection of problems they have uniquely solved. Assess the color, typography, line width, texture, shapes and their synchronization and space between content. Check the portfolio to see if the design agency has proper communication capabilities.
The graphic designer should also be linked with certain designer associations. This is integral as these associations help to keep the designers in check by ensuring they adhere to stringent ethical and quality standards. An example are the legal consequences of type-facing another brand . The body mandated here will deal with the case as required.
Finally, address two issues: versatility and the contract. The graphic design firm should be able to provide material across various media and platforms. As for the contract, understand that various design agencies will have different frameworks to their contracts. Ownerships rights may be fully retained by the graphic design agency with no chance of reproduction while in other cases, they won’t mind at all. The point here is to solve the legal matters at hand to avoid nasty issues later.