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Posts Tagged ‘graphic design’
Why Asking for Spec Work Should Be Off Limits
2/14/2012 11:30 AM By Artisan
When hiring a designer, people sometimes ask for work on spec. This means that the designer does a complete job but without a contract, and thus no guarantee of payment. While this might seem ideal to someone in the market for a designer, asking for work on spec should be off limits, and here’s why.
You Are Hiring a Professional
As stated by Banskt Designs, you are making the decision to hire a professional and the process is no different than hiring a professional in a different field. If you went to the dentist and asked for your first filling to be performed on spec, your dentist would send you out the door with your toothache intact. You trust that a dentist with the proper qualifications and references is going to do the job well. The same is true when you hire a creative professional. They do not do work for free.
Professionals Have a Portfolio for a Reason
Any designer worth his or her salt is going to have a strong portfolio. That portfolio should show you a variety of styles and ideas of what the designer can do. The best hiring advice you will find is to learn to use these portfolios. If a portfolio does not show you what you want to see, then you probably need to look for a different designer because chances are they cannot provide what you need. If the general style you see in the portfolio seem to match your vision and objective, then the designer is likely going to be a strong match.
Asking for Spec Work is Unethical
According to No-Spec.com, an organization dedicated to promoting education about the problem of spec work, asking a designer to work free of charge is ultimately unethical. It undermines the true value of the work performed by these professionals, and it causes designers to start undercharging themselves in order to try to be the lowest bidder and get the gig. In the end, this causes a drop in quality across the industry and everyone ends up suffering.
There are hiring solutions that protect you from shoddy work. This begins with doing your homework before offering a contract. Take the time to search for a professional who knows the industry. Study their portfolio to get an idea of individuals’ skills. Take the time to talk to the designer to see what ideas he or she might bring to the project. Then, design a contract that gives you options should the work be done poorly. By doing this, you can make a decision without resorting to asking for work done on spec.
Nicole H is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
What’s the Future of Graphic Design in Chicago, Elsewhere?
2/14/2012 10:54 AM By Artisan
Artists seeking freelance design work are finding it increasingly easy these days to find projects through such agencies as Artisan Talent, a Chicago creative talent agency that specializes in pairing uniquely gifted professionals with high-level job opportunities. However, with the state of graphic design so rapidly evolving in an era where more people are being reached via pocket-sized mobile devices, will a career in graphic design still be viable in the future?
The short answer to that question is: yes. The long answer requires us to take a look at developing trends in the face of declining print publications, including the growing market for electronic publications like e-books and online blogs. Today, you can still pay a visit to your local book megastore and find shelf upon shelf of printed publications bearing the creative works of graphic designers the world over. Tomorrow, however, may be a different story.
Of course, even if every bookstore on the face of the earth were to close down overnight and publication houses were to throw the giant “off” switch on their printing presses, there would still be a plethora of creative jobs in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and elsewhere to be snatched up by capable individuals. Here’s why you shouldn’t worry about the future of graphic design.
Brand logos are critical components of marketing that aren’t just limited to the physical print world, and freelance design work for everything from website logos to social media marketing logos will continue to proliferate.
Motion graphics will continue to play a much larger role in the overall scheme of graphic design as more and more companies move to the Internet and the social media sphere to popularize their brands through video ads.
Web design, a distinctly modern take on classic graphic design, will continue to play a critical role in the careers of designers as websites continue to evolve from being superfluous luxury items to absolute marketing necessities.
Traditional signage isn’t going anywhere. If anything, graphic designers will be asked to push their abilities to the limit and play with the public’s expectations, to create attractive and compelling designs that will try to compete for the attention of preoccupied customers more interested in its smart phones than the world around it.
Keeping yourself in the loop for exciting freelance opportunities in graphic design is as simple as registering with a Chicago creative talent agency that can connect you with high-profile and high-paying clients. Visit www.artisantalent.com to learn more.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Hiring Solutions: Freelance Graphic Designers for Rapid-Fire Marketing Projects
1/30/2012 1:50 PM By Vince Font
Do you work for a marketing company that needs to hire Graphic Designers for projects with an incredibly rapid turnaround time? The mere thought has been known to send hardened career marketing experts into tailspins of panic, especially considering the time and effort needed to launch a search to find qualified job candidates. If this story is starting to sound all too familiar, take a deep breath and relax. It can be done.
First, consider all of your options. Finding a freelance Graphic Designer or Production Artist might just be a far better solution than making a permanent hire. But will bringing in a freelancer—or freelancers, if your project requires nothing short of a small army—into the mix be cost effective? In a word, yes. Think about the following things you won’t have to worry about if you opt to hire Graphic Designers from the freelance market.
- No legal requirement to provide healthcare benefits. And fortunately for you, Artisan offers that option for its talent.
- Far less overhead costs, especially if the Graphic Designer in question can work remotely.
- Less need to provide training unless it is project or software specific. Most professional freelance Graphic Designers for hire are highly experienced, having worked in a variety of environments.
And if you work with a talent staffer like Artisan, where we’ve already taken care of everything from background checks to prior work history, you’ll have even less on your plate. Get a jumpstart on your marketing project by contacting us today.
Promising Job Growth for Graphic Designers in DC
9/28/2011 3:02 PM By Vince Font
Although the DC graphic design job market isn’t exactly predicted to explode into meteoric growth anytime in the near future, there’s good news in the here and now for job hunters looking for graphic design jobs in Washington. Employment opportunities for graphic designers nationwide is expected to grow 13 percent between now and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The basis for this estimation comes from the fact that the demand for talented graphic designers will continue to be fed by the growth of interactive media like business websites, the proliferation of mobile devices and the continued growth of social media. Experts agree that taking these key factors into consideration, the BLS’s meager 13 percent job growth prediction might be a conservative estimate. The fact is, there are now more cell phones on the planet than there are personal computers, and if the trend continues DC graphic design jobs – as well as graphic design opportunities elsewhere – will likely increase sharply.
So what does this mean for aspiring graphic design specialists on the job market in the nation’s capital? In short, it announces that now is the time to start focusing like that proverbial laser beam to put yourself in front of as many potential employers as possible. Aside from hiring a Washington DC resume company to imbue your portfolio with pizazz, pairing up with a high quality creative staffing agency will open doors to opportunities you might otherwise have strolled right past.
Putting Together a Portfolio to Get You Hired
9/21/2011 2:59 PM By Patrick Ogle
The first thing any job seeking freelance designer should worry about is his or her resume, which lists all of their design qualifications; shortly (very shortly) thereafter should be presenting an amazing portfolio. When a creative talent agency hires a freelancer, especially for any type of design job, they have to be sure the person has a portfolio that reflects the client’s business needs.
Graphic designer portfolios should contain your best work, both in print and digital form. With a physical portfolio you have to pare down what you bring with you. When putting together your online portfolio, you have more room to strut your stuff. Just remember, having only your best work up is better than posting all your work – quality over quantity. Just because a web portfolio can host more of your work doesn’t necessarily mean it should; put the focus on your most exemplary pieces.
You’ll find that all freelance job agencies are looking for different things within your portfolio, but one thing that will always turn them off is technical glitches in your online portfolio. If the functionality of your site is in question, why should a prospective employer assume you’ll do good for their site? This holds true even if the design job you are aiming for is not web. So if you’re constantly grappling with the functionality of the site on which your portfolio is published, consider switching to a simpler platform or eliminating the bells and whistles that are causing you headaches.
Once you have the site running smoothly, consider the importance of cohesive organization. The way your work is displayed should have some rhyme and reason to it. Don’t be afraid to use words to explain how you put together a particular piece and why you made critical design choices. If you don’t consider yourself a wordsmith, take a first stab at these explanations and have a friend with strong writing skills clean up your copy. This goes a long way towards showing what kind of designer you are.
Providing hiring managers and talent agencies with easy access to relevant samples of your work will yield you more jobs with shorter interview cycles. And always remember that, especially as a designer, attention to detail can get you hired just as quickly as inattention can get you fired.
What to Include in Your Graphic Design Portfolio
8/31/2011 1:41 PM By Patrick Ogle
When interviewing for a freelance design job with a creative talent agency, it’s usually best to have both a physical and an online portfolio available. But what specifically needs to be in graphic design portfolios? What will entice freelance job agencies or other companies to hire you as their freelancer? Specific items you choose to include will highlight your designer qualifications, but nothing speaks louder than samples of your work. Here are some examples of what you may want to include, if it’s in your repertoire, to show your versatility:
- Magazine ads
- Logo and identity design
- Any other printed material like posters or collateral
- Screenshots or pdfs of web-based work with hyperlinks to the active work if possible
Whenever you complete a project for a client, ask to keep some samples of your work for your physical portfolio. If you have worked on billboards or even large posters for events, always remember to take photographs of those items and save the original file. Take several photographs from multiple angles, even some close ups, to ensure you end up with a high quality image. The more options you have to choose from when creating your portfolio, the better.
Often when creating work for the web, designers assume their work will always be there. That isn’t necessarily the case. A company where you did your best work could go out of business and the website may no longer be readily accessible or the page with your work could be taken down. Make sure you get screenshots of your work so your experience is documented for future use.
And remember, always ask your client or employer before taking samples. Some might consider your work proprietary, and at the very least it is the respectful thing to do.
How to Hire the Best Designer for Your Project
8/10/2011 1:20 PM By Jeff OrloffA number of employers have reported being burned at least once when working with freelance designers. Either projects are not completed on time, budgets are exceeded or the quality of work doesn’t match expectations. While it may seem easy to blame the freelancer for such mishaps, more can be done on the part of the person looking to hire a graphic designer.
Look for experience that meets your requirements
One of the biggest mistakes made is to immediately jump at freelance designers with a great deal of experience because we feel safer with them. Instead of looking at the number of years they have been working or the number of projects, look at the type of work they have done. Does it apply to your project and needs?
Clearly describe your needs
Telling someone you want a logo isn’t going to be enough. Explain to potential designers exactly what you want and listen to possible feedback. Another thing that causes a rift between freelance designers and their clients is when the client continuously changes their mind. That is why most contracts only allow for two to three versions before it costs extra. You can really save a great deal of money, get better results and keep your designer happy if you are clear about what you want and stick to it throughout the course of the project.
Be willing to pay for results
One complaint among many freelancers is that clients often balk at their rates. The truth is, if you want to hire a professional you are going to have to pay for their quality and experience. If you want a job done as cheaply and quickly as possible then be prepared to be disappointed with the end result.
Of course no one expects the client to be the only one working at forming a healthy professional relationship, but when they do put forth that effort they are often rewarded with not only an outstanding product but a partner they can count on for future projects.
Revamp Your Resume to Impress Freelance Hiring Managers
8/9/2011 1:33 PM By Jeff Orloff
As companies scale back on permanent staff, more look to hire freelance designers and writers to handle their design, development and communication needs. However, just because there is more work in these fields does not mean it is easier to find employment. Conversely, because there are more freelancers applying for these jobs it makes the competition even stiffer.
Since your resume is one of the first things a hiring manager or client will see, take some time to give your CV a bit of a makeover so that you can feel confident it stands out among the rest.
Update your skills
If your resume notes Image Ready, Front Page or Write! as software that you are familiar with or Cold Fusion as part of your web site development skills, you should consider updating your skill set. People like to see that you understand legacy tools, but they also want to know you have evolved with the times and can master current programs.
Make sure to reflect your latest work
If you haven’t touched up your resume for some time then you may need to revisit it to update any projects you have worked on recently. While you’re at it, make sure that when describing the project you describe actionable outcomes that showcase your strengths.
Give your resume a youthful look
Experience is definitely a good thing to show in a resume, but you don’t need to go all the way back to the paper route you had as a kid. Find a cutoff point for your experience and keep it relevant to the job or assignment at hand. If you feel the need to list older jobs, add an Additional Experience section to your resume. Many people will not read anything beyond a third page.
When you have revamped your resume to make it reflect your current abilities, take the time to read over it for any grammatical errors or formatting issues. This is your first shot to prove your professionalism, so do it right!
Why Hiring a Freelance Designer Can Help Your Project Succeed
8/2/2011 2:46 PM By William PirragliaMany small businesses would never consider hiring a full-time designer for their company. However, some growing businesses find the need to turn to designers more frequently and begin to question whether they should hire someone full time or if bringing in a freelancer is a better choice. These reasons strongly support turning to freelance designers as a solution.
Flexible staffing
When you hire a permanent employee for design work you are locked into that individual’s skill set. So while they may be an outstanding graphic designer, their web design skills may not be as strong. Using freelance designers allows you to match an individual’s strong points to your different projects.
A fresh perspective
Salaried employees make decisions based on what is best for their careers and are sometimes afraid to be honest for fear of losing a job or promotion. Freelance workers can bring not only honesty without fear of backlash, but they also bring with them new ideas and experiences that can help drive a project forward.
Focus on the project
Freelance designers know that you are their client and if they want repeat business or recommendations, they need to remain focused 100% on the project they are working on. Unfortunately for salaried employees, they are often given a multitude of different projects to work on simultaneously so they cannot dedicate their time entirely to one over another.
Cost savings
Business success depends on capital resources. Salaries are usually one of the greatest expenses that a business has to contend with. However, by using freelance talent you can pay the market price for quality workers while still saving money that can be used to grow your business.
Five Qualities to Look for when Hiring a Freelance Designer
8/1/2011 4:22 PM By Jeff Orloff
Whether you are looking to hire someone on a freelance salary or on a per-project basis, you want to make sure you have the right designer for the job. While there are many questions that you can ask during the hiring process – unless you already know what kind of answers you want to hear – you may be going into this stage somewhat blindly.
When interviewing freelancers, be on the lookout for the following five qualities to help ensure you get the best candidate for the job or project.
#1 Talent
The best way to weed out applicants that certainly won’t work out is to gauge their talent. This may seem obvious, but it can be easy to be swayed by someone’s charm or professional connections. Looking over their work, you need to ask yourself, Can this freelance designer get the job done the way I want? If the answer is no, send a polite regret notice and continue searching.
#2 Experience
The second thing to look for is experience. Not just general experience, but experience in the project for which you are hiring. Also, it is important that they have experience in the technologies you will be working with so there are no compatibility issues. It’s also worth mentioning that the number of years is not always indicative of ability, so when interviewing a candidate, ask questions pertaining to depth of experience.
#3 Engagement
Do you get the feeling that you are just another job for the freelancer? If so, then move on to the next name on your list because he or she might not put the effort in their work you deserve. Look for someone who cares about your project and takes a general interest in what you are trying to accomplish.
#4 Flexibility
Your freelance designer should do what it takes to work with you and your schedule, within reason. Make sure that the freelancers you hire are flexible when it comes to deadlines, as well, meaning they respect them but also don’t moan if an assignment is pushed back.
#5 Dependability
Lastly, you want to hire a freelance designer that you know is dependable. He or she should meet deadlines, deliver work as promised and respond to communications in a timely manner. If this last quality is uncertain, then you may be left with a product you are disappointed with and a bad taste in your mouth.
