Hiring a Web Designer

• Basic Qualifications Of Web Designers
• The Importance Of Samples
• Browser Compatibility
• Hiring A Designer: Freelance Or Employee?
• Evaluating A Web Designer

Basic Qualifications Of Web Designers

If you are looking to hire a Web designer, there are four major areas you will want to make sure they are able to handle. Web design skill comes in many forms, but if someone is not adept at the following skills, they may not be able to complete the job to your satisfaction:

1. Design. They must be able to take your ideas and come up with a coherent design or plan for the Website.
2. Create. They must be able to actually make that Website happen as described.
3. Test. They need to be able to test and tweak the Website to make sure that it is working properly.
4. Maintain. They must be able to update and maintain the Website.

The Importance Of Samples

When you are looking to hire a freelance Web designer, you'll want to make sure that they are able to deliver the best work possible. After all, you don't want to have someone working on your project that doesn't have the right type of experience. To avoid this issue, be sure to ask for examples of their work and check the results against your own needs.

How can you do this, specifically? First of all, be sure to communicate your vision for the Website clearly to the designer. Then, ask them for representative samples of their work. Take a good look at what they send you and see if it does indeed "fit" your vision. For example, if you state that you need a forum section, see if they send you something in this area that you can review. If you are looking for a Website with superior navigation, see what they provide as a sample.

If you don't get what you were looking for, the designer may not have the right type of experience--or just may not have been listening. Either way, it should be enough to give you pause when it comes to hiring them. Good Web designers should be able to send proper samples, and you'll want to find the one that is the right match for your company. You may also want to consider going through a talent agency such as Artisan--that way someone else takes care of the screening.

Browser Compatibility

Have you ever seen a Website that looks one way on one computer--and totally different on another? Browser compatibility is one of the most important features one can have. You'll want to have a consistent look, so that the Website is the same on any computer--with any browser. If you are looking to hire a freelance Web designer or a full time employee, make sure that they understand how to do this before you bring them aboard.

When you ask a potential designer about their Web design strategy, be sure to let them know that you want the Website to display well on all of the latest versions of the following browsers:

• Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Safari

Whether you are a designer looking for the next big project, or a company with a project in need of a designer, Artisan can help.

Hiring A Designer: Freelance Or Employee?

Do you need freelance Web designer help or are you looking to hire someone more permanent? This can be a difficult question to answer, and much depends on what your needs are in terms of Website design. If you ask yourself a number of basic questions it may help you to make the right choice. Here are a few to consider:

• Do you need regular updates to your Website or are you looking more for a one-time setup? If your Website will be fairly static, it is probably not necessary to bring someone in full-time. On the other hand, if you'll be adding content or changing it on a regular basis, it can be a great idea to have the same designer work on the Website.
• Can you afford to bring someone on-board? Independent contractors don't require benefits, and they must pay taxes on their own. On the other hand, it may be worthwhile to have a Web designer who is available whenever you need something. This should be considered carefully.
• Is there someone who works for you that could take care of minor maintenance? You might be able to hire a freelance Web designer for the initial setup and then have your employee update it with new information and photos. This is something that might be worth exploring.

Evaluating A Web Designer

When you are trying to connect with a freelance Website designer that can make your vision a reality, it can pay off to spend some time finding the right match. This is one of the most important details you can attend to. Your first step may be to take out an ad that says, "Freelance Web Designer Needed," but there are some overall guidelines you can use to see if a particular designer would work well for your project. Here are a few of them:

• Does the designer listen to you? When you are talking with a Web designer, you should feel as though they are trying to get a good picture of what your company is like and what you are looking for in a Website. If there is any doubt about this, you may want to keep searching.
• Do you like their approach to building a Website? If the style of a designer is very modern and you like classic, it might be a good idea to opt for someone who is a closer match. Also check to see if their quality level is up to your standards.
• Are they able to meet your timetable? If you have to get the Website up and running in two weeks and they can't start for five days, you are setting things up to fail. Make sure that you communicate your schedule and talk about their current workload and ability to make things happen according to your plan. It doesn't matter if you have a perfect fit if you can't get your Website live when you need it.