There are also similar satirical scenarios of the above, such as http://www.vendorclientvideo.com/ which show the common misunderstandings in the creative world.

While I agree this is a typical scenario of the reality of the field and most of the inquiries I have as a freelance designer are from start-up businesses and non informed clients looking for low cost advertising and marketing solutions for their products and services. Most are unsure what they need or what will help their business and have only put aside a limited budget for their advertising and company identity. Little know the benefits of design and are happy to have any company image regardless of the implications.

But It’s hard to blame them when their are so many easy and cheap solutions and where free logos are available along with stock photos and ready made templates for stationary. Most clients won’t understand the nature of design and can’t find value in anything that can be created with readily available software and tools with such apparent ease. As such the asset of having a great logo, brand and image is overlooked and the designer becomes an merely an artworker who no longer provides design but just churns out unoriginal and drab non focused design for the lowest price.

When I quote for design work most clients are shocked at the price of logo design or cannot understand that level of detail that goes into the design of effective print material. Many ask for large reductions and explain “it won’t take long…” scenarios. I feel it’s not right to point the fingers of blame at the client for not knowing anything about the sector and costs. It’s not their job to be informed but the designer duty to help inform and explain the benefits of the service that graphic design offers. It’s important to establish a firm working relationship and trust with your client. Your job is twofold… help them sell their product or service and secondly, make them feel comfortable working with you.

In short we should be educating our clients as to the value of design, what our job entails, the difficulties of design and what processes/time scales are involved rather than making fun of them. Then we can expect to treated like professionals and prices involved.

Further information:

• The logo design process by Graphic-all Design.
• The value of logo design by Graphic-all Design.

I also offer reduced price business and marketing design packages. I’m hoping that these set prices will help prospective clients understand the ballpark figures involved.

I’m also linking clients with smaller budgets links to explore the ready-made and off the shelf design solutions that firms that Shutterstock and Logosinabox can offer.

They needed to re-brand a software program called Data Exchange and asked me develop a logo design with them. The final design that was developed is below.

More information about Data Exchange:

Data Exchange is an application to manage the Exchange of Data. DataExchange acts as a broker between Sources of data and a user to deliver data in a controlled uniform manner.

DataExchange is implemented as a J2EE Application executing in a Servlet container.As DataExchange is Internet facing access control is tightly controlled, DataExchange uses the Concept of an inbox that contains DataLinks – A link to data. This link to data can be accessed in a variety of ways. It allows users to access information over the internet, ensuring users only access their data and that no unauthorized disclosure of data takes place.

Program highlights include:

• Access is monitored
• Access is easy and intuitive
• Data can be easily managed

Concept designs

Below are some concepts the were created in the design process but not developed.

Today sees the launch of my new blog here on graphic-all-design.co.uk

As part of my interest in design I plan to write on a regular basis and hope to explore how good design can help all businesses. I will be posting articles mainly on the topics of:

• The value of good design
• Effective ideas for promotion
• How to use social media in business
• Logo design
• Web design and accessibility
• Branding and re-branding
•  Typography
•  Advertising
• Animation, motion graphic design and video editing

I also will be delving into some of the more theoretical aspects of design and hope to cover more in depth subjects, such as the nature of seeing based around the theories of Walter Benjamin and John Berger.

I’m also hoping to offer some freebies for other graphic designers as I have a lot of stock imagery that I created over the years or was never used in projects.

Other articles will feature in-depth analysis of some of my previous projects and ongoing projects, all of which you can read here and discuss and leave comments about on the blog. I will be analysing this years design of dislocation festival which I will be involved in for example.

I have made three previous posts so far on some business basics of how design can help grow your business and show a better professional nature. You can read them here:

• Why don’t you need a logo?
• 10 reasons your business needs a website.
• The benefits of working with a design freelancer.

You can subscribe to my RSS feed or my updates by email to keep up-to-date with my blog. I will also be posting updates via twitter.

Thanks and keep reading for some great content!

At this moment 80% of all UK businesses have a website.
Silicon.com reporting

There should not be any doubt in your mind that you need a website for you business, but here are some good reasons I have compiled:

(1) Your customers expect you to have one.

What would happen if people learn of your business name and then try to find out more about you on the web? If they cannot find your website they will start to search for a competitor that offers similar services or products. Your losing business just by not having a website.

(2) Open 24/7

Unlike a phone line or shopfront, a website is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It does the hard work, when you’re not working. People have the convenience to look at your website when they want to.

(3) A method of contact

Not all of us like to use the phone to talk to people, there also are many who can’t. Be it disability, working hours or even general shyness. A website offers a discrete and private way of displaying information the client needs. They may feel more confidant using email contact than the phone.

(4) It’s cheaper and faster.

Even ordering a brochure or making a phone call is a slow method of finding information compared to a website. With a well designed website potential clients and customers can find the information they need. No postage, no call time, just instant access.

(5) It’s the new Yellow Pages.

The older among us that worked before the age of the internet will remember the Yellow Pages. It was practically the place to turn to if you needed to find a business or service. It was essential that you had a listing. Nowadays the first place to look for something is the internet. With more than just a listing the customer can compare prices, services and find a more in-depth profile about your business.

(6 ) It gives you instant credibility.

A website showing the customer all about your business gives you credibility. If it’s presented in a clear readable and attractive manner it gives the customer trust. Which in turn makes them value your opinion and services. Using a mix of well written copy, good design and useful information will instantly create a great first impression.

(7) Better than any sales/services brochures

Although a small run of sales brochures maybe a cheaper solution than a well designed website. A sales brochure has; limited pages, a limited run and limited shelf life. A website has almost infinite possibility of ways to display information about your business.

(8) A website makes it easy for people to refer new customers to you

For many businesses, referrals are a crucial source of developing new clients. Having a website makes it easy to encourage referrals, as customers can simply send friends and business contacts to your site to view your services or products.

(9) A website increases the value of your advertising

Adding your website address to all marketing and advertising is a great way to introduce potential customers to your company even if they have not met you.

(10) Analyse the results.

A website can measure report and show data on how successful your marketing and advertising is using various software installed onto your website.

If you are interested in developing a website please get in contact.

Having run my own business for the last two years and have experience creating and developing design for small businesses and individuals, I often find it’s the case that clients have never worked with an individual before and normally are used to working with companies. Which is not at all rare since companies do seem more professional than an individual working from a office at home. Hopefully this post will explore some of the benefits of working with a one person business or the commonly known description “freelancer” in the design industry.

Before I start this article I would like to point out that it’s not me in the picture. The sun does not shine behind me and grumpy silhouettes do not stand behind me and cross their arms. I also never wear white shirts (I prefer brown, grey or black!) but as the metaphor represents I do work on my own, separately from a company and I do generally do the same job as a team of people.

The one person business is often regarded as the singular description “freelancer” which technically is not wrong, but does conjure up images of the lazy freelancer working from a bedroom and spending a lot of there supposedly working time watching daytime TV and not necessarily doing the 9-5 working ritual that the rest of country partakes in.
The truth of the matter is really that many professional freelancers that do work from a home office, probably put in more working hours than they would like to admit.
These professionals are not hard to spot, they would normally at least have a home office or working space, business cards, online/off-line portfolio, company brochure and list of services as well as references or testimonials, but always do your homework and find out as much as you can before hiring them for a project.
(you can request to look at any of the above via email!)

So why would or should you hire a “freelancer” to do the work of a larger design agency?

Price.

This probably the main reason you are considering hiring a freelancer.
Freelancers often have very low overheads and rarely rent their office space, pay substantial amounts for advertising and have a great deal of expenses attributed to there day to business. As such they won’t need as many clients and capital to profit from their business as a design angency would. With these lower operating costs they can offer a lower price on their services in order to appeal to the marketplace. Get a quote from me and see how much you could save.

A singular interpretation of the design brief.

While this does not sound like a benefit, the design brief is written so an understanding can be made between client and worker. Since there is just one interpretation of the brief and there should be little confusion to the outcome that could happen if multiple members of staff are working on your brief.

Expertise.

Often a freelancer will specialise in a particular area of design that they focus on, For example I have a long background into design for the music industry and for underground bands. While a design firm quite often offers a variety of knowledge of all types of design work they may not be experts in individual industries and sectors.

Better communication

No sales team to talk to, no receptionist to leave messages with, no account manager who then needs to talk to the designer and then the junior designer, all to deal with the changes to your project. When you call me or email me, the phone call or email goes to me and only me. I can answer queries quickly even when I’m away from my office. I can makes changes to design work without having to receive the information from another member of staff.

Customer service

As the only person in the company I am also responsible for all the billing, invoicing and quoting can answer all quiries. You can also phone or email me at anytime between 9AM and 10PM
seven days a week and expect to get a response. A design agency typically runs like normal workplace with 9-5 hours.

Personal Relationship

With one person handling your project, you will quickly find working with them a familiar experience. Although I like to be as professional as possible with my clients and focus on the project, I do not see any harm in learning more about your client beyond the job at hand. It makes me feel more relaxed doing the work as I feel I have a better understanding of their personal background and needs.

To conclude…

There are some good reasons why firms with large budgets and demanding needs might choose to use a Design Agency, but sole traders and small to medium sized businesses will generally find it to be much more beneficial (and cheaper) to use the services of a freelancer like myself.