First, a client needs to do their homework on what type of designer they want and what that designer’s experience or credentials are. Do they only work with certain hosts or systems? There are many solutions for a website design. For example, one CMS or shopping cart isn’t right for all businesses. Next, the client must know their budget, realistic time frame and what their business model and goals are. Without a solid understanding of a client’s own business model and goals for the business, developing a website for that business can be challenging. The next most important thing is for a client to understand that the design firm they decide to hire is a professional business, the same as a law firm or architect. Designers (again firms large and small) have set hours they work by and they need to be respected. Also, these firms and studios have professional design contracts and have to be accepted by a client before they can do any work. Finally, don’t expect that a graphic, illustration, website or logo can be created in one day (or week) unless you are willing to pay a hefty fee.

Another main point to consider when hiring a designer is that most design firms won’t accept the request to do work or develop a design but only be paid if the client “likes it” or “accepts the design”. That scenario is considered speculation. Most design firms are strong NO!SPEC supporters. I’ll save the working on speculation post for another time, but you can read more about what it is at NO!SPEC.

If you’re not familiar with working with professional web or graphic designers, these are the typical steps that are taken by most design firms before you get to the actual design phase of a project.

1. You submit a request for quote from a design studio.
2. The designer responds with a proposal, outline of the project as well as a quoted price.
3. You either accept or don’t accept. Don’t leave the designer hanging; let them know even if you choose not to accept their quote.  Designers have schedules to keep and you’re not going to hurt anyone’s feelings for declining their proposal.
4. Feel free to negotiate the pricing (as long as you’ve read that designer’s terms about pricing).
5. When you accept a proposal, expect to be given a contract to sign. Read it thoroughly and ask questions.
6. Know exactly what you want when getting to this step, your designer can’t read your mind. Asking them to create hundreds of drafts in hopes that you might know what you want when you see it is very unrealistic.
7. Your designer will provide you with a brief about the steps they will take in completing your design project.
8. You must work with the designer by providing clear direction and decisions for your business website, illustration or graphics project to achieve optimum results.

You can also read a more in depth article from the AIGA to help you with your next design project – A Client’s Guide to Design: How to Get the Most out of the Process. This will help you understand the standard practices that most design firms (like Sweet Boutique Design) follow. You will learn about getting the most out of the process, finding the right designer, the design brief, budgeting and managing the process, AIGA standards of professional practice and more. This is a very informative article for anyone who is searching for a web designer, is currently a web designer or wants to become one.

Stephanie Fredrickson of Sweet Boutique Design, LLC. is a member of the AIGA – the professional association for design and adheres to their standards and practices for professional design and has been in business since 2007.

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