Hiring a designer and what to look for...

Posted by Mark on 08 August 2008 in Graphic Design

If you've never hired a web designer or graphic designer before it can be a daunting task. What should I be looking for? What should I ask? Here are some frequently asked questions to ask yourself and the designer before hiring them.

Where do I find a good web designer or graphic designer?
It's always better to use an agency that have been recommended. If you know of someone who has used a design agency before, then its a good place to start. Ask them if they were happy with the service, price and quality of work. If they were than go to the designer's website and have a look through the portfolio, whether you need a brochure or a website this is the first place to go because it's all about the quality of the finished product.
Bourn get a lot of work via word of mouth it's one of the best forms of marketing but 100% of customers always go and check out our website before an initial meeting.

Should I hire a freelancer rather than an agency?
Freelancers can sometimes offer cheap prices but there is a trade off. A lot of freelancers have fulltime jobs and therefore they are hard to get hold of when you need updates or if things go wrong. If you need a reprint of letterheads or a new page adding to your website will they still be there next year?

What about companies overseas offering cheaper rates?
There are companies in India and Poland but ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want to meet the designer in person?
  
• Are they sensitive to British design trends and know how?
  
• Will the language barrier be a problem?

How much does a designer cost?
We price jobs on an individual basis and give clients a capped price but we work out those costs using an hourly rate. Design agencies in Manchester and Stockport charge between £40 - £90 per hour, Bourn are priced at just £50 per hour.

For example if you want a small 5 page website that just provides information on your company and services it's likely the cost will be £500 - £900. However, if your site needs more functionality you should expect the price to rise. For example, if you want an online shop or the ability to update the website yourself this will increase the price. You also need to consider other costs like web hosting, domain name purchase and ongoing maintenance.

Avoid agencies who offer packages or cheap websites; it's asking for trouble. You do get what you pay for. The last thing you want is an amateur looking website that does your company image more harm than good.

You should always negotiate a price based on your needs and deadline but remember if you ask for something extra after a price has been agreed expect to pay more for the extras.

How long does it take to design something?
Remember that a design agency will have other clients and they will have a roster of projects. Bigger projects with more requirements will inevitably take longer to deliver than smaller projects as they need more planning, proofing and if it's a website - testing.

Will my website appear in Google?
It depends on how the webite is built, the content that is on your site, how often its updated and whether other websites are linking to your website.
A good design agency will be able to get your website listed quickly but if you're hoping to get your site listed high up in search results for very competitive keywords then it will need planning and ongoing work to achieve this.

There are many more questions that I have been asked on this subject, if you have any question why not email me on hello@bourndesign.co.uk.