60
votes
Accepted
How do I talk to clients who are used to seeing ads for $5 logo designs?
You say "You get what you pay for."
Sure, you could get a logo for your business for $5. You could also build your website with the free "website builder tool" which your registrar offers, and you ...
57
votes
Why is it that people are so surprised that graphics design can be hard?
It's a simple answer really, low barrier to entry.
No school requirement
No certifications or accreditation required
Most people already own a computer so capital investment is very low too. Even on ...
- 23.1k
42
votes
Accepted
Why is it that people are so surprised that graphics design can be hard?
I'm not a graphics designer, but I don't think the issue you're describing is in any way specific to graphics design. I think that if you look hard enough, you can find this is issue in any field -- I ...
- 617
31
votes
How do I talk to clients who are used to seeing ads for $5 logo designs?
I can make you a logo for 10$. For 10$ you buy me for about 10-15 minutes and it is perfectly possible to make a logo in that time. However, there are several reasons why you wouldn't want to buy that ...
- 57.6k
30
votes
Is it right to use the ideas of non-winning designers in a design contest?
Ethically and morally..... using any "contest" is merely taking advantage of designers.
Contest do nothing but take advantage of designers and give all the benefit to the person running the contest. ...
- 208k
27
votes
How can I do graphic design work for free?
😀 You hopefully realize you are asking many professionals, who make their living via design work, how you can charge nothing and essentially compete for the same clients. You gotta "read the ...
- 208k
26
votes
How to handle a request for handing over 6 years of working files?
Don't.
Unless specified in the original contracts of that 6-year body of work, you are not obliged to keep the original working files of past projects. That you do so is only for personal archiving. ...
- 25.1k
23
votes
Is “Graphist” a valid English word?
While there is a Wikipedia entry for "graphist" (given anyone can add or edit Wikipedia), I would state that it's not a valid English word, at least not American English.
It does not appear in the ...
- 208k
22
votes
Just how much information should you share with a former client?
I would let it go 100%.
Answer all their questions and put a deadline date after which you are no longer taking requests. I will gladly help with this information, but you need to take over ...
- 29.1k
21
votes
Do my potential customers need to understand the "meaning" of a logo, or just recognize it?
Your customers don't have to understand your name. Your customers don't have to understand your logo. Your customers do have to remember both. To make it easier to remember you'll typically make a ...
- 23.1k
20
votes
I already have LinkedIn, DeviantArt, Dribbble, and Behance. Do I need a personal website?
Before you put yourself through the trial that is creating your own website (and it is, just in the amount of time it takes), you have to ask yourself what reason you represent yourself online.
Do ...
- 737
20
votes
How can I practice my design skills in a more motivating and engaging way?
Finding work (as opposed to a job) is part of the motivation in (and reason for) creativity.
Any couch potato can think of a design job — a tee-shirt with four descriptive words that begin with the ...
- 5,041
19
votes
Will it hurt my career to work as a graphic designer in a startup for beauty and skin care?
Graphic designers work in all shapes and sizes of companies selling all types of product and services. There's no field which is not suited for a graphic designer if the company markets anything to ...
- 208k
18
votes
Accepted
What is this type of design called?
These type of illustrations are known as isometric illustrations, can design these easily on Adobe Illustrator with the help of Isometric grid, which can be downloaded here Isometric grid.
Isometric ...
- 196
17
votes
How can I do graphic design work for free?
Contact a nonprofit that does good work and offer to do volunteer graphic design for them.
- 4,180
16
votes
Why is it that people are so surprised that graphics design can be hard?
There are a couple of ways to approach this question: in relation to someone new to doing graphic design, and someone new to paying for it.
It's true, graphic design is easy to jump into - anyone ...
- 1,761
16
votes
Accepted
Just how much information should you share with a former client?
I wouldn't give them or any client really anything if its one of your sources.
"Thank you for your inquiry. My sources and vendors are part of the value I bring through my X years of experience. ...
- 23.1k
15
votes
Accepted
How to politely accept colleagues' critiques without implementing any/all of it?
cri•tique
noun
a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially
a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
verb
evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way.
"...
- 4,076
14
votes
Accepted
How to guide an employee to improve his graphic design ablilties?
So it seems to me like you've spotted someone who has great potential, but that potential is not currently fitting your needs completely and you need to partly delegate his training. I can understand ...
- 8,471
14
votes
How to handle a request for handing over 6 years of working files?
As a designer working on both sides of the fence I will only tell what we did when I was hired as in-company designer.
I revised all contracts with our outsource agencies. I omit the ones where we ...
- 3,194
14
votes
Accepted
How to deal with making design decisions
Picasso was touring an elementary school and viewing the artwork the children had on display. He was amazed at how good it all was.
He asked the teacher... "What are you teaching these children ...
- 208k
13
votes
Accepted
Is it ethical to make derivations (adaptations) of an external agency's work as an in-house designer?
In answer to your question about can you make derivative works from the source files provided by an external agency - it depends on how you purchase those "source" files. If you are paying for "work ...
- 161
13
votes
Why is it that people are so surprised that graphics design can be hard?
Because good design is 99% invisible.
So because they don't see it, they don't notice how hard it actually is.
- 231
13
votes
How to handle requests for revisions after final files have been submitted?
Any work requested after the project has finished, has been signed off on and final files have been delivered, is a new job. Charge accordingly. If it is a small revision, charge for an hours work. ...
- 40.4k
13
votes
How do I talk to clients who are used to seeing ads for $5 logo designs?
I have a blog and wanted a logo for some time. The difference for me was the $5 guy's portfolio looked like the 'stock logos' you fill in the words. I went with a pro who charged $150. He had an ...
13
votes
Accepted
How to reveal female symbol a little more in this design?
Ambiguity or unreadability is not always a bad thing in a logo. Being too literal can, at times, cause a design to suffer. It all inevitably comes down to how a mark is going to be used. An unreadable ...
- 208k
13
votes
How can I place the product on a social media post better?
I, personally, won't never rely on the lower left corner of an advertisement to convey anything. It's a dead zone, easily forgotten or overlooked by the viewer.
I, perhaps mistakenly, get the feeling ...
- 208k
12
votes
Accepted
Can I sell rejected logos to other clients?
As a freelancer you should (hopefully) only give away copyright for final, sold artwork, and keep any unsold alternatives/proposals/variations for yourself. In which case yes, you can sell these older,...
- 29.1k
11
votes
Why is it that people are so surprised that graphics design can be hard?
My opinion (as a part-time web developer with low-mid graphic skills):
People only see the result.
They know nothing about your thoughts and ideas.
Recreating graphic design is pretty easy (compared ...
- 300
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