What To Consider When Hiring A Graphic Design Agency

Nov 1

Every business needs a professional and skilled graphic designer in order to grow. With that being said, it is critical to make sure that the graphic designer or agency you hire has the basic qualities needed for the job. It can be stressful finding the right person or agency for your business and/or project. Here Treebird Branding details some of the most important things to consider when hiring a graphic designer or agency for your business and brand.

Experience

When looking for a graphic designer, the first thing to consider is their overall experience. Do they have diverse work experience? Designers who have worked for companies like ad agencies or design studios usually have worked with a variety of customers. This usually makes their skills efficient to cater to each new project. Designers who have worked with in-house corporate businesses have likely developed a set of skills that are more disciplined and sensitive to budget constraints. The best thing is to find a graphic designer or agency that have this diverse experience.

Portfolio

It’s like the classic saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. A portfolio can really give you a good glimpse of a graphic designer’s skills. If they show a small portfolio, that might be an indication of inexperience or lack of skills. Look for a graphic designer or agency who presents a broad variety of work for multiple industries. If they’ve done work for businesses similar to yours, then that is a major plus. If you’re potential designer or agency only has logos when looking for full web design, then they might not be the right fit. It’s always a good idea to get a portfolio before hiring.

Reviews

Referrals and reviews speak numbers when it comes to a graphic designer or design agency. If they have a website with a bunch of positive testimonials, that means their previous customers were satisfied and willing to go out of their way to share their experience. With that being said, look at the reviews and see if they are all the same or if they speak to the full experience of the job. Even consider contacting some of the customers/clients and ask them about their experience working with the graphic designer or agency.

Accessibility

When hiring a graphic designer or design agency, another thing to consider is if they are local or not. A lot can be learned from engagement beyond the project at-hand. The relationship between you and the hired designer is critical to the success of your business. Meeting a designer or agency face to face can help them get a better understanding of your wants and needs. Furthermore, the designer gets a better picture of your attitude, personality and style for the work being created. Accessibility, open and honest communications can help a company grow bigger and faster.

Worth the Money

While you might find that some freelance graphic designers charge lower rates, those usually tend to work slower and tend to require more direction. That typically means that more of your time is spent not getting stuff done. Experienced graphic designer agencies that charge higher rates typically don’t need as much direction. They work more efficiently and are more accustomed to best practices. In some cases, they might even have relationships with industry experts or vendors. Finding the cheapest designer might have some appeal. But you could actually end up paying more through your time spent or in back-and-forth revisions.

Constructive Criticism

An experienced graphic design agency has been around the block and can offer advice that could cause you to reconsider some of your own ideas. While some hate constructive criticism, this can be a great thing. Look for a design agency who is willing to respectfully challenge your thinking. If you tell them, “I know exactly what I want. I just need someone to put it together,” you might just get exactly what you want. But it might not be what you really need. Remember, it’s also in the best interests of the graphic designer that your business succeeds.

Passion

Look for genuine passion in what they do. Inquire about specific clients or projects you saw on their website and what role they played. Find out whom they work with and what they offer beyond their design skill set. An experienced graphic design agency can bring a lot of hats to the table, so be open to their passion and skills.

Looking To Hire A Graphic Designer?

At Treebird Branding, good graphic design and logo design isn’t subjective. Unlike art, which poses a question to a problem, design provides a solution to a problem. Good design isn’t about the designer at all—it’s about the problem at hand and the end-user. Therefore, we must first listen, observe, empathize, understand, and glean insight into a problem, a challenge, an opportunity, a goal before we begin putting together mood boards or choosing fonts or selecting colors.

Somebody once said that design is where art and science break even. Well, we aren’t quite artists and we aren’t quite scientists, but we are problem solvers. And logo design and graphic design form our toolkit. We solve on your behalf, and make sure you look good as a result. If you are looking for quality and reliable graphic design, be sure to give us a call today!

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Jaci Lund

Jaci Lund partner, creative director, designer Jaci’s quick wit and native intelligence comes across as soon as you meet her—and carries over to her design, where she fuses fun and sophistication in just the right doses. With a dual focus on creating original branding for new concepts and revitalizing the look and feel of even the most-established brands, Jaci approaches each project with a fresh and thoughtful perspective. While she recognizes the relevance of current trends, she’s hyper-conscious of the fine line that separates “trend” from “fad,” and tends toward more timeless and classic looks for her clients. Before founding Treebird, Jaci was instrumental in growing the design department at Atlanta’s The Reynolds Group, Inc. Through a five-year tenure that saw her quickly ascend to senior designer and then become the company’s first creative director, Jaci worked on design and branding projects with visionaries, entrepreneurs, and business leaders whom she admires greatly and whose own passion elevates her sense of what’s possible through new design, branding, and communication. Jaci has won nine ADDY Awards (and counting) for her design and branding work and has twice been featured in the national design blog “Art of the Menu.” She holds a B.A. in communications from Michigan State University and completed the graphic design program at The Creative Circus, where she also teaches a quarterly course called “Introduction to Creative Thinking.” To see Jaci's previous work please visit jacilund.com.

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