What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your

Keep in mind that designers have different creative styles. Some designers are better with photos, some illustrations; some are edgy while others are soft and elegant. Ultimately you want to ask yourself, “Based on this designer’s portfolio, can she/he design in the style that I want and the quality and creativity that I am expecting?” If your answer is “no”, run like heck, if your answer is “yes”, you should hire them, right? Well, the answer is actually, “maybe”.

Looking at a designer’s portfolio is a good place to start your evaluation, but there are often (I mean almost always) concealed facts behind what you see. Not knowing the whole truth behind what you’re looking at can cost your company big time. The artist isn’t going to volunteer the information, so it’s your job to be informed and ask the right questions to uncover what you really need to know. I’ve gone through hundred’s of artist portfolios. I know what to look for, and more importantly, I know what insider questions to ask to make sure I can make out the Contenders from the Pretenders. Now I am going to share these insider questions with you so you can make an intelligent informed decision on whom to invest your hard earned money in:

Question 1:

Is all of the artwork in your portfolio designs for real companies?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Younger and or less experienced artists are instructed to fill up their portfolio however they can. Their portfolios often include factitious companies, school projects and artwork they came up in their spare time. So how can this hurt you? Remember that an essential skill designers must have is the ability to extrapolate real information from real business owners, then take that information and create something that’s personalized, effective and unique. If the artwork you are looking at is primarily from companies that don’t exist how will you know if the artist can really listen and understand the unique vision and strategy you have for your business?

Question 2:

How long did it take you to design this or these projects?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Design, when there are no time restrictions is easy. I once heard from a recording artist that “cutting the first album is easy, you have your whole life to put it together. The second album is tough, the record label only gives you 6 months.” If you’re in business you’ve got deadlines, so it’s critical that you know your designer is not only good but also fast and efficient. Artists adamantly complain about deadlines, here’s a tip, “If you don’t like or can’t handle deadlines, find another career”. If deadlines matter to you, speed kills, so make sure you choose a designer who can keep up with you.

Question 3:

What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your b

Looking at a designer’s portfolio is a good place to start your evaluation, but there are often (I mean almost always) concealed facts behind what you see. Not knowing the whole truth behind what you’re looking at can cost your company big time. The artist isn’t going to volunteer the information, so it’s your job to be informed and ask the right questions to uncover what you really need to know. I’ve gone through hundred’s of artist portfolios. I know what to look for, and more importantly, I know what insider questions to ask to make sure I can make out the Contenders from the Pretenders. Now I am going to share these insider questions with you so you can make an intelligent informed decision on whom to invest your hard earned money in:

Question 1:

Is all of the artwork in your portfolio designs for real companies?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Younger and or less experienced artists are instructed to fill up their portfolio however they can. Their portfolios often include factitious companies, school projects and artwork they came up in their spare time. So how can this hurt you? Remember that an essential skill designers must have is the ability to extrapolate real information from real business owners, then take that information and create something that’s personalized, effective and unique. If the artwork you are looking at is primarily from companies that don’t exist how will you know if the artist can really listen and understand the unique vision and strategy you have for your business?

Question 2:

How long did it take you to design this or these projects?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Design, when there are no time restrictions is easy. I once heard from a recording artist that “cutting the first album is easy, you have your whole life to put it together. The second album is tough, the record label only gives you 6 months.” If you’re in business you’ve got deadlines, so it’s critical that you know your designer is not only good but also fast and efficient. Artists adamantly complain about deadlines, here’s a tip, “If you don’t like or can’t handle deadlines, find another career”. If deadlines matter to you, speed kills, so make sure you choose a designer who can keep up with you.

Question 3:

What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your

Question 1:

Is all of the artwork in your portfolio designs for real companies?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Younger and or less experienced artists are instructed to fill up their portfolio however they can. Their portfolios often include factitious companies, school projects and artwork they came up in their spare time. So how can this hurt you? Remember that an essential skill designers must have is the ability to extrapolate real information from real business owners, then take that information and create something that’s personalized, effective and unique. If the artwork you are looking at is primarily from companies that don’t exist how will you know if the artist can really listen and understand the unique vision and strategy you have for your business?

Question 2:

How long did it take you to design this or these projects?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Design, when there are no time restrictions is easy. I once heard from a recording artist that “cutting the first album is easy, you have your whole life to put it together. The second album is tough, the record label only gives you 6 months.” If you’re in business you’ve got deadlines, so it’s critical that you know your designer is not only good but also fast and efficient. Artists adamantly complain about deadlines, here’s a tip, “If you don’t like or can’t handle deadlines, find another career”. If deadlines matter to you, speed kills, so make sure you choose a designer who can keep up with you.

Question 3:

What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your

Question 2:

How long did it take you to design this or these projects?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

Design, when there are no time restrictions is easy. I once heard from a recording artist that “cutting the first album is easy, you have your whole life to put it together. The second album is tough, the record label only gives you 6 months.” If you’re in business you’ve got deadlines, so it’s critical that you know your designer is not only good but also fast and efficient. Artists adamantly complain about deadlines, here’s a tip, “If you don’t like or can’t handle deadlines, find another career”. If deadlines matter to you, speed kills, so make sure you choose a designer who can keep up with you.

Question 3:

What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your

What results did the company get from what you’ve designed?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This one is huge, so make sure you ask it! Most artists (I mean almost all of them) don’t evaluate the success of their project based on results, rather if the project looks good. If you’re a business owner you’re going to be spending hard-earned money on this person, so you’d better get more than just a good-looking project. Ask the artist point blank, “Other than looking nice, how do your projects help companies?” If the artist doesn’t know this tells you that she/he isn’t interested in getting results, just designing something that looks cool. Whether it’s a sales flyer, brochure, business card, or web site, if it’s just interesting or cool, this isn’t going to benefit your business. Only work with designers that evaluate the success of the project based on the positive reaction and the results they help you achieve.

Question 4:

Did the clients that you designed these projects for hire you again?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

This is a good one too. When you buy a new car, sure, you want to make sure the car looks and operates terrifically but you also want to inquire that the customer service is exceptional as well. Working with your designer should be easy, convenient and enjoyable, so you want to make sure you choose someone who is good natured and helpful. Knowing how many and what percentage of clients come back on a regular basis to work with a designer will give you insight on how easy she/he is to work with.

Question 5:

Did the client(s) provide a testimonial?

What You Need to Learn from Your Question:

A follow up to question 4, question 5 will indicate if the artist really did an outstanding job on the designs that you see. Who better to hear about quality and service than past clients? Having a client go out of their way to write or record a testimonial is a good indication the artist has gone above and beyond what was expected in either creativity, results or service. Look for an artist with a good number of credible, verifiable testimonials.

This list isn’t comprehensive by any measure, but asking just these 5 questions will save you a world of headache and good deal of time and money. Designers like most people are hard-working, honest people, but it’s ultimately your responsibility to make sure you’re making sensible decisions about where to invest your money. Trust your instinct, ask intelligent questions and invest your money wisely.