Published on November 9th, 2008 30 appreciated comments »

The addition of a FAQ page to your website will not only save your time, but also that of your potential clients. When you’ve been offering the same product or service for a while, you’ll become accustomed to the standard questions clients ask. Why keep typing the same responses into email after email?
→ Continue reading Save your time with a FAQ page
Archived under Business.
Published on October 20th, 2008 63 appreciated comments »

The following article contains a conversation between graphic designer, Michael Laborde, and a potential design client. It gives an accurate portrayal of what some people wrongly expect from the design industry.
→ Continue reading A conversation about spec work
Archived under Business.
Published on September 28th, 2008 42 appreciated comments »

Choosing a designer can be a daunting decision for a client. After all, the visual identity of his/her business depends on the choice. Here are a few important attributes to expect from a graphic designer.
→ Continue reading 10 things to expect from a designer
Archived under Business, Identity.
Published on August 14th, 2008 51 appreciated comments »

Contracts can be an essential part of freelancing as a graphic designer, but when you’re starting out, it’s not always clear what you must include.
Here’s a look at how established freelancers are conducting their businesses, how I’m currently dealing with potential clients, and a mention of some valuable graphic design contract resources.
→ Continue reading Using freelance graphic design contracts
Archived under Business.
Published on August 1st, 2008 65 appreciated comments »

The following graphic design interview tips were written by Lee Newham, founder of Good People, and former design director at London-based Davies Hall.
→ Continue reading 15 graphic design interview tips
Archived under Business, Graphics.
Published on July 23rd, 2008 74 appreciated comments »

Image copyright: ConnArtist
Today I received an email from a potential logo design client.
It read in full, “can you design my fashion logo”.
No introduction. No punctuation. No details or common courtesy.
I cannot design your fashion logo.
→ Continue reading How not to approach a designer
Archived under Business.
Published on June 25th, 2008 83 appreciated comments »

Many hands make light work. John Heywood (1497–1580)
What do you do when a potential client asks for a service you can’t provide? Do you apologise and send them on their way, or do you refer them to a trustworthy contact who can help?
I often receive work requests that I either don’t have the skills for, or am too busy to work to the set deadline. That’s when I call on one of the talented designers / programmers / marketers / copywriters etc. I’ve come to know.
However, what happens when these people are also too busy, or the project is outwith their own skillset?
→ Continue reading The value of trustworthy subcontractors
Archived under Business.
Published on April 21st, 2008 36 appreciated comments »

Here are some valuable tips for writing graphic design briefs, kindly guest authored by Sharon Hayes of Round Box Design. Sharon has a wealth of experience and has been working as a graphic designer since 1994.
→ Continue reading 10 tips for writing graphic design briefs
Archived under Business, Graphics.
Published on April 10th, 2008 49 appreciated comments »

A few days ago, a young designer thought they’d take a stand against spec work, and uploaded the NO!SPEC logo to LogoSauce (a website offering logo design competitions). In response, an article was published on the LogoSauce blog, no-spec vs spec.
→ Continue reading Spec work in the internet age
Archived under Business, Graphics.
Published on February 22nd, 2008 26 appreciated comments »

When you’re hiring a graphic designer, what do you look for?
Their portfolio? Sure, this is perhaps the most important aspect when deciding who to work with. There are other aspects, however, such as pricing, timeframe for completion, communication and experience, but who’s to say you can trust the designer in the first place? After all, they could be leading you up the garden path by stretching the truth.
→ Continue reading The importance of client testimonials
Archived under Business.