Ask a Graphic Designer anything

137 Questions

Last Answer on September 13, 2021

What is your favorite color to use

Asked by Damion almost 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . To be honest I do not have a favourite color for use in design. At the end of the day it is all down to the color relevant to the design/client preference. Designers should not really have a favourite as is could restrict their color choice when creating a logo etc. Creative people should be open to all colors ...hope this answers your question ...well almost!

246 Votes

Are you average priced, cheap, or expensive?

Asked by Carrie almost 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . In general my prices are average ...but if you put it into context, I am cheap for the experience I have. I should charge loads more than I do but clients nowadays want everything on a budget ...brand and marketing agencies can get away with charging high prices as they get all the big corporate companies, but most freelance designers have to keep their prices low ...I do not go to the cheap level though but my clients get a good price for the quality of work they receive.

245 Votes

So you wanna be a Graphic Designer?

Check our Jobstr's career page for salary information, educational requirements, suggested reading and more!

Do you ever design anything graphic

Asked by Question maker over 4 years ago

????? Not sure I understand your question ...I am a "Graphic Designer" .... so that is what I do!!

245 Votes

How do you deal with bad customers?

Asked by Jane almost 5 years ago

Depends on what you mean by bad! If a client contacts me that I do not know I always do a Google search on them to get a rough idea on their background. I usually can work out by what I read to what sort of client they are going to be and deal with them accordingly from the beginning. If I know their history of paying on time is bad I make sure I get more than 50% and do not give actual artwork til final payment is made. I am always polite with all clients even the bad ones. If I struggle getting a decent brief from them I send them a list of questions to answer which usually does the job. If a client starts to make many, many changes on a job already quoted for I have to tell them that I need to charge extra per hour (this is always pointed out before I start the job anyway). This usually makes them get the job approved quicker. I have a regular client that I know will knock down the price I give every single time ...and it is always the same amount he wants dropping. So, unknown to him, I always add that amount to the quote I give him and when he asks for the discount it ends up being the price I was going to charge anyway ...lol.

244 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Sommelier

Do you occasionally get a little turned off by wine snobbery?

Personal Stylist & Life Coach

What's the difference between a life coach and a therapist?

Bodybuilder

What kind of “primping” is required for competitions?

Are the Jobstr guys still doing anything on this site or is it a abandoned project? I sent them a email and they said they read everything and NOTHING. I am worried once the last of you who actually still answer regularly once their gone this site is dead

Asked by Donnie almost 5 years ago

To be honest I do not know. I have been on this site for over 8 years now and my questions only come in now and again ...but over the last few days I have had quite a few. I answer all the questions I get... but am unaware if any others are not answering their questions anymore as I never ask questions myself. Hope it all keeps going strong.

244 Votes

So do y’all charge by the hour or more project to protect? Or is there another way you do it? Or will you just do it for me free ????

Asked by Bxbdb almost 5 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . I used to charge per hour but most clients like to know the final cost before they commit to using me. So I always charge per project now ...I give a client a price based on the brief they supply but also tell they that if the brief drastically changes I will add extra costs ...so they have to agree to this before I start. I take 50% deposit on all jobs plus only supply low res watermarked images of the designs for approval and only give the final hi res version once the balance has been paid. I never take a deposit off of my regular loyal clients as I have had them for years and can guarantee payment from them. As for doing jobs for free ...NO, I never do anything for free or at a discount. I have bills to pay like everyone else and all my clients get charged the same amount depending on the job. Graphic design is an investment in a company. When starting up (or well established) all companies should have a marketing budget. I have some clients say that they have just spent loads on office furniture, computers, etc, etc so do not have a lot for their logo, marketing etc and come to me with a begging bowl ....well, that is not my problem. They are the ones in control of their companies spending and should work this into the budget before spending it all. At the end of the day people start up businesses to make money right? ...so why should I offer my services next to nothing so they can be the ones making the money. I work for myself and I am in a business to make money too.... graphic design is not my hobby, it is my career and has been for 40 years. If they want cheap either do it themselves or get an inexperienced wannabe designer sitting at home in their bedroom with no outgoing expenses ...then they will see they will get what they pay for. I get all sorts of offers to get me to design for free ...mainly promises of regular work once they make money ...or telling everyone how good I am so giving me loads of exposure... well, when I first became freelance I thought that was a good idea and accepted clients like this ...but guess how many of them turned into regular clients ...a big fat ZERO. Plus their companies did not last long as they did not plan their monthly marketing budget ...they just spent money on irrelevant fancy things forgetting that the most important thing is branding and marketing as that is what gets them the work. So after all that I guess you know my answer to you asking for something for free ....NO ...lol

243 Votes

Do you ever listen to music while you work???

Asked by Nsnsn over 4 years ago

UPDATE...I have now written a guide to becoming a graphic designer. It is available as Kindle or in print ...check it out here... AMAZON LINK . Sometimes, not always, depends on my mood on that day. If have to design something cool and funky I may listen to upbeat music ...if I have to design something more laid back and classical I listen to relaxing music ...it gets my mind in the right mood for the theme of the design. Hope this answers your question.

242 Votes