Communicating with Your Designer

I've been using an hourly rate for my business since I started, and using a time-based payment system means communication is key. Effective communication makes sure your time and money aren't wasted. After doing this a few years, here are my tips for communicating effectively with your graphic designer:

➡️ Find and send references to your designer. Show them color palettes, fonts, and design elements you like. This helps them get an idea of what you're visualizing. Pinterest and Behance are great places to find references. If you don't know where to start, ask your designer for keywords or searches they recommend.

➡️ Keep a record of communications to look back on. If you prefer one method of communication over another (ex. calls over email) make sure you tell your designer. If you prefer calls, one or both of you should be taking notes and should exchange follow-up emails summarizing the call.

➡️ Be honest with feedback. If you don't like something, bring it up quickly so it can be fixed in a timely manner. A good designer should be able to handle criticism while also using their expertise to guide you towards smart decisions.

➡️ Be specific with your feedback. Try to describe exactly what you do or don't like about a particular design: “The yellow is too bright” or “the design feels too plain” is more effective than “I just don't like it.” Even if you don't think you have the vocabulary to explain, try anyway! You can also send more references that demonstrate your idea.

➡️ Have your info ready. If your designer isn't helping with any copywriting, make sure the copy (text) for your project (like a flyer) is done or almost done before letting them get too far into a design. Having to repeatedly rearrange and redesign information with big changes can take time.

➡️ Add them to your contacts. Make sure your designer is a Gmail or text contact so you always get their messages. This shouldn't affect your bill but helps make sure the project as a whole is done in a timely manner.

➡️ Don't be ashamed to ask questions! If you don't understand a word or concept, let them know. It's common for people in other industries or who have never worked with creative to have questions. It will save time if everyone is on the same page.

Even if your designer doesn't use a time based system, using the above tips will help your projects go smoothly. Remember that effective communication is key!