If we say that catchy content is the king in today’s digital marketing, we are undoubtedly undermining the significant role of an excellent graphic designer. In this article we share Eight Basics of Hiring the Right Graphic Design Agency.
Graphic design can make or break any business or company as this crucial aspect of marketing is the face brands put up to lure customers.
If a graphic designer does a poor job, your brand loses more than you can imagine. People usually do not even care to look twice at an online ad or a billboard that is not attractive.
Therefore, hiring a good graphic designing agency also requires the same effort that brands put into hiring top copywriters or SEO specialists.
If you are looking for a good graphic designing agency, you have landed at the right place. This article will guide you on hiring the right graphic design agency. So, let us dive in.
Table of Contents
Basics of Hiring the Right Graphic Design Agency
Experienced people in branding know how effective critical branding is in influencing consumers’ buying behavior. A simple survey of your friends or acquaintances will tell you how people usually buy a product because of its attractive packaging. Thus, the role of a graphic designer is more significant than ever.
1. Check Their Portfolio
Checking out design portfolios is essential in choosing the right graphic design agency. A graphic design portfolio is the first thing any design agency will present to you.
It is like a sneak peek into their work before you start working with them.
The portfolio will help you determine whether their work is the type you have been looking for or not. Analyzing the past designs and the companies or brands they have worked with is one of the primary indicators of a credible graphic design agency.
For instance, if you are hunting for a good logo designer, you can go through the portfolio, analyze their work, and check out the brands they have worked with.
Although it is good to support new talents, hiring logo designers with only a few logo designs in their portfolios is not always advisable.
2. Technical Skills
In this era of technological advancements, graphic designing heavily relies on various high-end technical software or tools.
Thus, another most pertinent aspect of hiring the right graphic design agency is to look into their technical skills.
Almost every experienced and credible graphic design agency should have knowledge and experience in using the following tools:
- Standard web design tools, including CSS and HTML
- Graphic designing software such as Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, Photoshop, etc.
- In-depth knowledge of typography and various typefaces
- Extensive knowledge of fundamental elements of design
- Thorough awareness and understanding of UI/UX, branding, and print design
3. Experienced in a Wide Range of Services
A graphic design agency that offers a wide array of services can be very beneficial for your brand. Good design agencies, have various campaigns under their belts and are experienced in traditional and digital marketing.
Graphic design agencies that provide a wide range of services can help you reach your visual goals. Such agencies have more in-depth knowledge of the designing tools, thus, delivering your desired goals.
This set of skills is a bonus for brands as they can offer much more than the company’s online branding.
It’s also wise to look at a design specialist that focuses on a certain area, such a logo design and brand identity design, you’ll find they offer a better process and final solution in their field of expertise.
4. Industry Experience
Industry experience is another essential aspect of hiring the right graphic design agency. It is vital to check which companies or businesses have worked with the agency you are considering.
Often, you come across some very talented graphic designers only to find out they have zero experience working in your industry.
For instance, if a graphic design agency has worked with kids’ brands only and designed campaigns for related products, it might not be very apt to design products targeted at adults.
All this is hidden in an in-depth analysis of the designer’s portfolio.
5. If Their Works Aligns with Your Project
Every branding project has a scope, which shapes the entirety of hiring the workforce for the project. For instance, if you want to create an all-new brand identity, you need to be sure if the graphic design agency you are considering can handle the project.
Brand identity projects entail much more than just changing the logos. It might involve redesigning the website, modifying the print materials, or redesigning the logos.
The most critical requirement in finalizing the agency is to check if the graphic design agency’s work aligns with your goals.
6. Check Reviews and References
Checking online reviews and ratings of various graphic design agencies is easy when working with freelancers. Most such websites require clients to leave reviews and rate the freelancers for their works.
So, if you are searching for graphic designers on such platforms, it is easy to find what other clients think of the said agency or freelancer.
Another helpful way to find out the past performance of any graphic design agency is to check Google reviews. According to statistics, nine out of ten potential customers check online reviews before buying any service or goods from the internet.
Moreover, professional design agencies also have testimonials on their site, entailing reviews and feedback from previous clients.
7. Communication Skills
Numerous instances during an ongoing project require constant communication between the client and the design agency. It is imperative to have people with good listening and comprehension skills on both sides of the deal.
Clients should be able to communicate all their needs and goals for the project. On the other hand, designers should also be well-versed in understanding the requirements.
Various issues need to be sorted out via discussions and brainstorming. Thus, another fundamental aspect of hiring the right graphic design agency is to gauge how professional they are in conducting sessions and discussion panels.
8. Pricing
Although it is a prominent aspect of choosing to finalize any business deal, gauging graphic design agencies on pricing is worth mentioning. Low-cost graphic designers might appear more appealing and suitable to fit into a budget. However, it is crucial to check their credibility and portfolio.
The graphic designers quoting low costs are likely newbies requiring more hand-holding and direction. Comparably, experienced graphic designers might quote more than novices, but they guarantee efficiency, professionalism, and effective communication skills to understand the project.
A cheap deal might appear a better option, but considering the lack of professionalism and experience, it can cost more than you saved. Thus, pricing has to be weighed against other factors mentioned above.
In Summation
Hiring a graphic design agency should be a thorough process as the agency is responsible for creating a visual image of your brand in the minds of the consumers.
The graphic design of your brand should well align with your goals and target audience, as people associate with the image profoundly.
An effective product design helps bridge the gap between the products and the needs of the potential customers. Your brand identity design and logo should tug at the target audience’s hearts so they feel the need to buy your goods or services.
Therefore, consider the above-mentioned essential points when hiring a graphic design agency.
Join The Logo Community
We hope these Eight Basics of Hiring the Right Graphic Design Agency have been helpful. If you would like more personal tips, advice, insights, and access to our community threads and other goodies, join me in our community. You can comment directly on posts and have a discussion.
*TIP – We use and recommend DesignCuts for all your fonts, mockups and design bundles.
Author Bio
Audrey Throne is a blogger living in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She also works for a Houston Graphic Design Agency as a content creator.