Things to Consider Before Hiring A Graphic Designer

When it comes to hiring a designer or illustrator, it can be tricky. There are so many freelancers out it can be overwhelming. Hiring the wrong freelancer could also cost you money and time. Which is why it's important to take your time choosing the best one for your specific needs.

If you are looking to hire a graphic designer for the first time, here are some things to consider.

1. Look at their portfolio

A designer's portfolio is how you will see what type of projects they've done in the past, their style, and their specialties. 'Graphic designer' is a broad term and includes a lot of different services. This is why it's important to look at their portfolio to see if they can get your specific job done. For example, there are some designer specializing in logo design, others in poster design and others in editorial design for publication.

So while you are looking through portfolios, consider the following

Do they have the style that I am looking for?
Have they done similar projects in the past?
What industries have they worked for?

2. Consider their services

Following up on the last point, you need to consider what services they offer because as previously mentioned, not all graphic designers do the same thing. Are you looking for a branding project, and an illustration project or for someone to do the layout of your publication? Whatever it is that you need, there will be someone who can help you out. Freelancers usually list their services so that you are aware of what they specialize in.

3. What's their price

A good designer isn't cheap. After all you are paying for a service and designing something takes time. You should evaluate the price of the different designers you have in mind and see which one is within your budget. More experienced designers tend to have higher prices. The price can also depend on how quickly you need it done, the scale of the illustration etc

4. Look at their reviews

A good way to see if the designer will be worth the money is by looking at reviews. They will give you a good idea of their work ethic including if they stick to deadlines and customer satisfaction.

If they are new to the platform eg Fiverr or Upwork and don't have any reviews, don't be scared to reach out. If you find someone who has a portfolio with the style you are looking for but doesn't have any reviews yet, it doesn't mean they won't do a good job. These are just some things to keep in mind.

5. Consider their technical skills

Consider what skills they have to see if they align with what you need. What does this mean? For example what software do they use? If you need something in vector format, you'll need someone who used Adobe Illustrator. Perhaps you need the design in a specific format. You need to make sure the designer you choose has the skills you need.

6. Their experience

Take a look at their experience. This could be freelance experience which can be viewed in their portfolio or it could be industry experience which you can often see on their website or LinkedIn profile. Knowing what kind of companies or individuals they have worked you before might help you decide if they are the right fit for your project.

7. Their personality

However, hiring a designer is not all about what skills and experience they have. Even though some projects are pretty fast and can be completed within s few days or weeks, some might take months. And you want to be sure you get on with the freelance you hire and that you have a good relationship. The easiest way to figure this out is by having a video call to dicuss the project. You will get the chance to ask all the questions you need and you will get a better idea of who they are as a person. It's also better to find someone who is truly passionate about your project because in the end you will get a better result.

8. Location and availability

Experienced designers quickly get booked up and might not be available when you need them. If you do have a specific designer in mind that you know is pretty popular, it's a good idea to book them in advance.

Another point to keep in mind which might not be relevant to everyone is the location. Some people prefer to hire designers within their city or country. However most freelancers acquire clients from around the world.

Conclusion

Hiring a freelance graphic designer doesn't have to be complicated. The first time might feel daunting but as long as you keep these things in mind and do plenty of research, you will find the freelancer that's a good fit for your project.

Do you need a graphic designer?

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Sofia Hadjiosif