So you think you might want to hire us. Great! We’re happy to help. But before we sign the contract, read down for five things to consider.
- Make sure you like our style. Designers come in an infinite variety of flavors, ours is just one. Some designers use heavily patterned backgrounds or have a gothic tone. Our style is colorful, modern, and streamlined. Take a look at our work first. Do you overall like the look of the work? Is there particular logo you are drawn to? If so, don’t be shy about sharing your preferences. The more we understand your preferences, the easier it will be for us to come to an understanding about the final solution. While the final solution should be independent of personal preference, the truth is: in the end you should love what you’ve paid for.
- Make sure you like the designer. The designer-client relationship is an intimate business bind: we are part company shrink, part corporate stylist, part business partner. Be ready to share your hopes and dreams, as well as the more mundane details of your business. The more we know, the better solution we’ll come to — maybe beyond what you imagined you even needed.
- Understand the scope of your project. Be clear about what you’re hiring us to do. Many projects begin as as “simple” website redesign but quickly snowball into a complete overhaul. A frank pre-proposal conversation about your hopes and dreams (see #2 above) can enable us to help you understand what the scope really needs to be in order for us to help you make the hopes and dreams a reality. Not that we’d ever complain about gaining the additional work, but the timeline and budget need to be adjusted to accommodate scope creep once it begins.
- Let’s talk money. Speaking of budget, know how much you can spend before we start. Do we need to do this project in phases? Are we being realistic with the scope? The last thing we want to do is run over your budget, so let’s determine what you need when, and how much you can spend over time.
- When in doubt, ask questions — lots of them. Don’t hesitate if you’re unclear about what’s included or what the process will be like. We’ll always do our best to get as specific as possible. Occasionally we have to throw the timeline out the window due to unforeseen circumstance, but in general we can clearly map the project out for you.
