All Posts, Graphic Design
Now that the lovey-dovey mood, which Valentine’s Day brings has come and went, I start wondering what can I do to catch the wanted client who is still passing me by. Do you ever wonder what makes a client choose one designer over another? There are some big lies out there on how to get a client, but there are some exciting facts that show what clients really want from a designer.
“Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth”. FDR
Lies, myths and false statements
It’s important to understand a few myths we as designers have come to believe about being hired by a client.
Clients only want experience
Designers (especially recently graduated) think they don’t have a chance to be hired by a client because they have no real experience. Don’t let this lie stop you from finding great clients who are looking for a young, fresh approach to their design process.
A lot of clients would prefer to hire someone they feel has a lot to learn, rather than, someone who is set in their stubborn ways.
Clients hire designers who have a great portfolio
Similar to the first lie, a lot of naive designers think that unless they have a vast portfolio, no client is going to hire them.
In fact, it’s the opposite. Choose a few really strong projects, highlight them effectively in a portfolio, and show them off with pride. If you do this right, a smart client will hire you.
Clients only hire cheap designers
Most designers feel like they have to have the best bargain in order for clients to hire them. The truth is, most clients are willing to pay a little more for quality designs. Most clients are also willing to pay more money for a designer who is easy and enjoyable to work with.
Find ways to add quality to your client/designer relationship and you won’t have to lower your prices in order to get hired.
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. Galileo Galilei
Facts, truths and real statements
Clients hire responsible and easy to work with designers
Clients are usually more interested in the working relationship they will have with you than almost anything else. If they can’t work with you, if you won’t listen to them, or if you’re rude, they won’t care how great your designs look; you’ll never get hired.
Make sure you present yourself as a responsible and agreeable person, that way you’ll be more likely to get hired.
Clients wants designers who are respectful
You can have your own opinion, but when you intentionally insult, degrade, or talk down to your clients, you’ll quickly have a one-way ticket to unemployment.
Clients look for designers who respect their opinions. Be respectful.
Clients look for designers with the skills needed to complete their project well
You may not be the best designer in the world, but your potential clients may not be looking for that. They are looking for someone who possesses the skills necessary to complete the job well and on time.
That doesn’t just include design skills or a fancy portfolio either. They are looking for someone with a good work ethic, a personable attitude, great project management skills, and superb people skills.
These are some lies and facts of what clients want from a designer. What are some other pointers that will guide us to reach more clients, effectively?
What other tips and pointers would you add to this list? If you were a client, what would you look for in a designer?
All Posts, Graphic Design
We are in February and my friends like to call it the “month of love”; I guess that’s why I feel like talking about KISS. My husband tries to use it all the time and lately I found myself applying KISS to most of my designs. You don’t know how to? It’s basic, just Keep It Simple S(weetheart)…naaaa, Keep It Simple Stupid!
As graphic designers we should apply this rule for many reasons, but the most important, is for our own mental health.
Let me show you why I love to KISS:
Communication
Graphic design is a form of creative communication and KISS is the key ingredient of communication. When you speak with fewer words, usually your point is more clearly addressed and when you design with fewer elements your message does not get lost by everything else going on.
The moment you have to explain your design to anyone, the whole purpose of creating it is lost.
Google
Google is a great example of KISS. As one of the biggest companies, they simply have a logo above their search box on a blank white page; as simple as it gets.
Being Different
There is plenty of advertising clutter out there and if you’re trying to stand out amidst all the colors, flashy images and more, then you need to do something different, you need to KISS.
KISS Sells
When everyone’s trying to be a pioneer, they are overlooking the primary reason for their designs and creativity – to sell. If your product doesn’t sell, an award winning design will get you nowhere. You can have the coolest business cards and the craziest letterheads, but if they don’t match your company’s image, it means nothing.
Since all of this is completely true and despite their apparent simplicity, effective graphic design is not created randomly or by chance. When designs are simple they are well created – they last indefinitely.
“Any fool can make things complicated, but it takes a genius to make things simple” E.F. Schumacher
In this month and for the rest of the year, how will you KISS?
Graphic Design
Graphic Design Trends for 2012
While there are key classic practices that should make your designs safe every year in terms of projection and content, you will not be able to guarantee its effectiveness if it stays static. The key to continuous success with your work, is for you to always develop them with the current trends in mind. In this special guide, we will go through some of the most important trends that you will want to include in your custom designs this New Year 2012. If you can integrate this properly enough, there should be little issues and more success.
Design trends for this year are bold and aim to grab audience attention.
Logos: Create streamlined logos and graphics – For 2012, all designers are upgrading their logos and graphics to more streamlined variations.
Simplicity rules: Simple designs are in right now, and the reason for that is, well… simple.
Type can be design: In the absence of complicated visuals, typography is playing a larger role in design. Those designers who know how to put typefaces to work to their best advantage will come out on top.
As we move together into a new year, we are promised some amazing advances in the world of technology and design. Evolving your brand through web design, print design and even architectural design are ways that you can stay ahead of the competition and encounter new demographics in your market.
Graphic Design
Graphic design is a field in constant change, both creatively and technically. It can be easy to get caught up in learning new technical skills, but it is just as important to focus improving and pushing the limits of our creativity.
As Designers we need to make a point to continue educating ourselves as much as possible and become more active in the field of design. Here are a few tips, exercises and practices that have help me continue learning, strengthen my creativity and become an all around better designer.
- Collect, collect, collect – Collect designs that inspires you. File them away and wait…they will turn into a great source of inspiration when needed. (if you cant’ take it home, use your phone and take tons of pictures)
- Read Graphic Design blogs – Take advantage of the web and search for Designer’s Blogs, they can be an easy source of information and update for every designer.
- Start a Design Blog – It makes you more aware of the Design Community and more accountable of your own work.
- Fake projects, why not? – If you find yourself with some downtime (hope is not much), create some fake projects. Develop a brand, create a logo, stationary and design marketing material for this brand. This will let your creativity run without limitations, It’s easy to get caught in a routine when clients dictate and your work is no longer “yours”.
- Do it again – What goes through your mind when you see your first designs? Exactly, that’s what I figured. Once in a while redo your old designs, analyze what you did wrong and experiment with your new knowledge.
Being a Graphic Designer is a work in process, if you are committed to your career and to develop your designing style you will be successful. It takes time, patience and lots of mistakes in order to improve your designing techniques.
What is your key to stimulate your creativity and improve your designs? Share in the comments below.
