28 Feb 7 Things You Can Do to Get More from Your Graphic Designer
As many many of you know part of my background is owning a graphics design company.
If you are really looking to make a big splash in your marketing this year a close relationship with your graphic designer is essential to that process. There are a few things I think I can help you with to make your graphics process go much quicker.
1. Create an Event Calendar
One of the greatest things you can do for your graphic artists, is creating an event calendar. Now the always events that come up on the fly. But I am sure that there are annual events that you do, that you can give your graphic artist notice. Understand is that creativity works best when it has had some time to simmer. That being said, the longer you can give your graphic artist to think through and create a solution for you. The better off you will be. An event calendar doesn't have to be anything difficult. It can just be a Word document with a title of the month and then the three or four visits that you want to do right underneath that.
2. Take Professional High Resolution Pictures
With any project, the better the foundation the better the results. With graphics, our foundation starts with the pictures. I can't tell you how many great designs we've created have been killed by lackluster pictures. Not here a list of pictures every person needs to have.
- A good quality head-shot. Make sure you are fully framed, with no arms cut off
- A good quality all body shot. Same thing here to make sure that nothing on your body is cut off. Your graphic artist will
- a good quality action shot
- Try to have some done without a lot of background ie trees, flowery backdrops
- If you are wearing dark -- shoot on a lighter background -and vice versa --
The shots need to be high resolution JPEG's. These pictures need to be taken on at least eight to 12 megapixel camera with good lighting.
3. Put Them on Retainer
Your designer can be your best asset when preparing your brand and how that is portrayed to the greater arena. Have your designer allows you to have greater access to the creativity of the designer. The flip side is that if your designer has s steady income and steady flow of work from you, they can plan better and allocate more time to your project.
4. Stop Sending Stuff Last Minute
Self explanatory -- All I ever hear from some clients is I need this right away. This is not to say that there are some real time sensitive items, but for the most part you have known about your event, product launch, etc for a long time. Give your designer time to think and create his/her best for you.
5. Keep Your Changes Down to 3 changes.
Every time you send your design back to the board - your designer loses money. The more money your designer lose, the worst your product will get. This is the truth. Stop trying to design by committee. Make all of your changes at one time and again give your designer time to create.
6. Decide if you want an employee or a consultant.
Your graphic designer is a learned and trained professional. At least they should be. If they are not, you need to fire them right away. An employee is some one you tell what to do, and how to do it. A consultant is some one who has expertise in an area. You have to decide if you want someone to draw what you have in your mind or create. Those are two different things.
7. Remember your graphics person is a Professional - Stop micro designing.
This one is tied to number 6. STOP MICRO-DESIGNING. Designers want your input, but there is a line between input and you using your designers skills to work for your "inner designer". Designers understand that it is your product. But, you are hiring them for their expertise. Leverage their expertise. If you could do it yourself you would not need them.
Bonus: PAY ON TIME!!!!!!!
This is not an exhaustive list - but if you start here it will make life much easier -- Let me hear from my graphic designers out there -- What else can people do to better use your services? Comment below -