Questions tagged [freelance]
Questions about work while self-employed and not committed to a particular employer long-term. Freelancers are sometimes represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and labor contributed by its regular employees. Others are completely independent. "Independent contractor" would be the term used in a higher register of English.
144
questions
53
votes
2
answers
16k
views
What should I do if a potential client claims my pricing is too high?
I gave a possible client a price estimation for concept of a character, and making it 3D as well.
Now I find out that my estimation is double what he is paying his current artists. He never mentioned ...
- 695
53
votes
9
answers
12k
views
Selling a logo to a business who did not ask for one
One of my projects in college was to recreate a logo for a local business.
The professor picked the business and I do not believe the business owners know about it. Since my logo has won several ...
- 521
46
votes
7
answers
109k
views
What price should I charge for design services?
I was hoping I would find some people in the industry that could help me decide what's the best price to charge to design (in this case) business cards.
What are standard prices for professional ...
- 561
37
votes
10
answers
13k
views
How can a designer explain their work to non-creative people?
One issue I face personally is how can I, as a designer, effectively explain my work to potential clients or people that do not have a creative side. I know how to explain what software or process was ...
- 18.3k
32
votes
8
answers
11k
views
How long are designers expected to keep client files?
A client recently emailed me asking for the source files from a project I did for them two years ago. I don't have the source files since it was such a long time ago and the client said it was very ...
- 323
30
votes
7
answers
7k
views
I am a client and my work is being delegated without informing me
I am a client who posted on Linkedin a request if somebody would be interested in designing a thesis cover for me. I had a few responses and decided to go with a person who offered me the following (...
- 403
29
votes
8
answers
7k
views
First client's partner demands free website redesign, wants deposit returned - moral dilemma
Sorry in advance for the long read.
I'm 22 years old and just finished university for graphic design. I was approached by a small business which wanted me to design them a logo, stationery, and a ...
- 523
27
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Why does my client want her company name confidential, when I post my work on design sites?
One of the clients I'm working with insists that my work with her stays confidential, she doesn't want her company logo nor their name to be shown on my designs when posted on Behance.
Is it normal ...
- 577
26
votes
7
answers
10k
views
$300 Logo Redesign as "Trial" Project for Possible Full-time Position
I’ve been freelancing for around seven years now, but I’m not sure how to handle this situation. I have a startup interested in me for an interface design position, but they want to do a trial project ...
- 377
25
votes
9
answers
6k
views
How do I treat requests for work for causes that go against my personal principles?
Recently, I received a request for a quote from a party that promotes and teaches an ideology that diametrically opposes my own beliefs. The job involved designing promotion material for classes and ...
- 25.1k
24
votes
8
answers
26k
views
Should I ask for client’s budget before the initial first meeting?
First of all, is it a good idea to ask a potential client for a ballpark budget they are thinking to work with? I just don’t want to meet with somebody who has a very low budget, and who could be ...
- 426
23
votes
5
answers
14k
views
Client not satisfied with the design. Doesn't want to pay
I have a new client which approved my proposal saying that we will split the project into milestones - first payment after the first milestone (30%). The problems appeared right from the start because ...
- 333
23
votes
5
answers
3k
views
How do you charge for extra non-design related services?
I find it very difficult to charge clients for "extras." In my particular case this is usually consulting and copy writing. Clients expect my input and often leave me with little to nothing to work ...
- 23.1k
22
votes
10
answers
18k
views
I'm a beginner: my client won't answer simple questions I've asked to aid design, what to do?
It's my first time designing for any one
Email sent:.
Hi [Client]! If you wouldn't mind answering a few questions I need to know so I can communicate your brand better and have a better sight as ...
- 229
19
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Do my potential customers need to understand the "meaning" of a logo, or just recognize it?
I'm trying to come up with a logo for a web devlopment freelance company called Two-Bit Studios. The logo concept that I came up with involves a 1 and 0 combined to make a lowercase 'b'.
To me as a ...
- 191
18
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Just how much information should you share with a former client?
I know this is subjective to a degree. I am asking for best practice or experienced input.
TL;DR: How willing should a designer be to share specific job specifications with a past client after the ...
- 207k
18
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Customer Requests (Sometimes) Drive Me Bonkers!
Like lots of you, I do freelance graphic design and content creation (copywriting and traditional artwork, some photography) and generally I have no issue with customer requests and/or complaints, or '...
user67207
18
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Client wants me to teach them InDesign
My client wants me to teach them how to do basic editing in InDesign.
This is after, against my better judgement, I had agreed to give them the source files of the documents I created in favor of ...
- 1,329
17
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How to handle a request for handing over 6 years of working files?
My best client has just employed a new person who is vaguely capable of design work and wants me to upload all my 6 years and 70GB worth of files to their drive so they can update them when they need ...
- 171
17
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How should I handle a client when they ask for my opinion about another designer's work?
I met a client that currently works with a designer whom I don't know - the client showed me his new logo and asked my opinion about it. I answered that I don't like "grey on grey background". That's ...
- 10.5k
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Not fond of time related pricing - what's a better way?
I'm still struggling with pricing. How does one best calculate flat rates for commercial design or illustration work?
I don't like the hourly rate thing. I just can't seem to properly gauge the amount ...
- 161
15
votes
9
answers
6k
views
Should I ask for payment for my logo and website design when I delivered them late?
I have designed a logo and a website for a company.
Because I took a little longer than usual (3 weeks), they are talking about hiring someone else.
I delivered the designs, (10 Logo Designs with at ...
- 257
15
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What if client doesn't like any logo design concept?
I'm in a process of creating Graphic Design contract. I've decided to provide each client with 3 logo concepts and 3 rounds of revision. Ideally, I would create 3 concepts and client will chose one, ...
- 351
15
votes
7
answers
5k
views
Is online freelancing a viable source of income?
Fed up with the university life, I thought I would try to be a freelancer. I am familiar with coding.
How can I earn money online as a web designer? Is there any reliable way to earn money? I saw ...
- 161
15
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How can I write requirements for a graphic designer?
A friend of mine is in need of some graphic design work. I'm trying to explain to him that his make-me-something-like-X-but-different-approach is not a very good way to communicate his needs. We tried ...
- 253
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Can I sell rejected logos to other clients?
Can a designer save rejected logos and sell these to other clients in the future?
- 303
13
votes
8
answers
15k
views
How should a designer communicate price is negotiable to a client?
While in the stages of a bid, quote, or proposal I was curious how should a designer communicate "price is negotiable" in a professional manner instead of stating the simple fact. I know it's ...
- 18.3k
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What should be in a job contract?
Inspired by the great answers from this question, what are things you would include in a graphic design job contract?
Are there items or conditions you would have in a freelance contract that aren't ...
12
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Is it right to use the ideas of non-winning designers in a design contest?
I am a mobile developer. I want to create my own mobile app, so I ran a contest for the mobile design.
Many good designers participated in the contest. I get lots of good ideas from almost all of ...
- 321
12
votes
9
answers
23k
views
What is "standard markup" for purchases which need to be passed on to the client?
Let's say I'm designing a site, and Client and I agree that I'm going to purchase a slideshow to use on Client's site. The slideshow code costs $30.
I will mark this up to compensate me for my time ...
12
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Should you offer multiple logo design options to the client or just one final design?
When designing a logo for a client, do you offer multiple options, so 3 different logos for example? Or do you offer just 1? How do you price for these?
- 309
12
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Do you expect a client to pay for a design they don't like?
Situation: a long time client (at this point I've done consistent work for them for about two years) just messaged me saying they do not want me to bill them for the last design I did because it was ...
- 123
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Should I be charging for the social media versions of designs?
I'm designing A1 posters with a Facebook header and Instagram post version of each poster.
I'm charging hourly for the posters, but should I also be charging for the time it takes to design the ...
- 111
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do I earn more as remote freelance Graphic Designer?
I have worked as a Graphic Designer for almost a year. I was able to earn much more then I expected (I'm autodidact graphic designer), but now I think I have better skills and can price my work higher....
- 351
10
votes
2
answers
725
views
How do I know when I'm ready to start doing professional work?
I was searching around and I found this question here talking about how a designer knows when thier work is 'good'; and it has a lot of crucial information.
My question is almost an extension to this:...
- 3,025
9
votes
6
answers
6k
views
I have a client who keeps asking for quotations but never follows through
I'm fairly new to freelancing and have an issue that I'm not sure how to tackle.
I'm still struggling to get paid work so every potential job is very important, however I've had so many time wasters. ...
- 133
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Billing clients for resource expenses
I could use some other designers insights. I'm a freelancer and often I make purchases for my clients - stock photos, website plug ins, domain names, etc.
50% of the time I simply make these ...
- 233
9
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How to manage working for friends or family
I'd like to see peoples opinions and methods for managing jobs for family or friends.
Just to clarify, I mean singular freelance jobs. Actual employment would be something different altogether in my ...
- 40.3k
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is a good systematic approach to increasing the rates I charge?
In the past year, I have been getting more and more freelance projects along with my work as a graphic design teacher. I've been working in the graphic design field 10+ years. Because these contracts ...
- 8,471
8
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Can logo designers use free resources or elements from free image websites in their designs?
Can Graphic Designers use free resources to create their own design (or most of it) instead of creating something from scratch?
What if I can't draw or have troubles to come up with completely new, ...
- 351
8
votes
4
answers
5k
views
What can a designer do if a client claims that the work delivered is unacceptable and refuses to pay?
I recently had an experience with a client that was a bit messy, and now they don't want to pay for the work I did.
They needed some presentation decks, one of which needed to be editable (text to ...
- 81
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
How to appropriately charge a client for past resources?
Freelance based question.....
Scenario: A piece was designed two years ago. In the piece there are several client-supplied photographs. When the original piece was designed, the only image ...
- 207k
8
votes
7
answers
1k
views
What are some good ways to gain practical experience to add to my portfolio?
I passed the ACE exams for InDesign and Photoshop a few months ago, but I am stumbling on how to get practical experience.
I have a couple of years of news page design, and a very small number of ...
- 311
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What are common non-traditional Graphic Design requests, and how to handle them?
Naturally you would expect that a graphic designer is proficient in logo, print and web graphics, but what else do clients commonly request? (Web, email, motion graphics, 3D animation etc...)
I've ...
- 6,405
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How should a designer handle the request to repurpose a design?
Scenario:
You design a piece for Company A. The piece performs very well for Company A. So much so that they use the piece for several years.
Eventually Company A shuts down.
A few years later, you ...
- 207k
8
votes
1
answer
154
views
What to do with clients files as I stop consulting?
I've been an independent designer for years, keeping my own clients on top of freelancing/teaching. I'm busier with other things now and planning on stopping work for my clients.
At some point, I've ...
- 8,471
8
votes
3
answers
716
views
Client wants to bill me
I work for a small graphic design company. Very small. It's just the owner and myself. I'm technically an independent contractor, although I act more as an employee (I know this is already not a good ...
- 81
7
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why was my experience with a logo contest so miserable?
I'm starting out as a freelance designer (and no job experience at any company before) and I decided to join "contests" held by freelancer.com's users.
I've joined several of them already and I can ...
- 189
7
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How to change mind about taking on a freelance project
I currently met a man that was my car sharing driver who asked if I did business card design and I said I did and that is something I could help with and gave him my card.
THEN we talked about his ...
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Regular client increasing workload
I have been working as a contractor for this company. It is a non-profit company. They pay me a monthly salary. I do their graphic and web work. I first started as a one job, create their website ...
- 71