Finding a graphic designer who’s a perfect match for your business can be a high-stakes scenario. The designs they produce represent your brand and will be the first thing your audience sees. In a sense, graphic designers are your brand's frontline warriors.
Choosing the wrong graphic designer for your business can mean poorly executed designs which leads to negative perceptions of your brand, and no business owner wants that. Not to mention the time wasted on hiring and onboarding.
With so many graphic design services available, knowing what to look for and how to navigate the process is essential. That’s where this trusty guide comes in. By giving you the must-know tips on how to find a graphic designer, we’ll break down everything you need to know in a digestible way.
This guide aims to help you find a graphic designer who not only meets your specific needs but also aligns with your brand’s vision, ensuring the right fit for you the first time around.
Factors to Consider When Looking for a Graphic Designer
There are more than 507,000 graphic designers employed globally, which may make your search to find the right designer seem endless. That could easily be the case if you start your search without any knowledge about the factors that come into play when looking for a graphic designer.
Below is a list of tips that you should consider before and during your mission to find graphic artists:
Tip 1: Find a List of Graphic Designers and Services
You can find a graphic designer or design service by searching for options online or using a list. Popular methods include:
- Facebook groups and communities
- Freelance websites, such as Upwork and Fiverr
- Listicles and comparison blogs
Each graphic designer on a freelance website will have a profile that includes reviews from other customers, which is a huge bonus. Listicles are beneficial as they often include research and data that compares options.
To get started quickly, check out our vetted list of the best graphic design services in 2024.
Tip 2: Determine Your Goals
The first step in finding a graphic designer is clearly defining your goals. To understand what your goals are, ask yourself the following questions:
- Who is your target market?
- What kind of project are you working on, and what are the design needs?
- How much time do you have?
For example, you want to start a sports hydration company. You would target sports enthusiasts. You might need a logo, website, color schemes, typography, and social media graphics to build a campaign. You have two weeks until you want to launch.
By answering these questions, you will better understand what to look for in your potential graphic designer. You can assess whether the agency or individual has worked with companies in the food and beverage department, if they offer all your design needs, and if they can complete your project in time.
Tip 3: Be Strict About Your Budget
Pricing structures for graphic design are not set in stone. What graphic designers charge can vary depending on their experience, location, and the complexity of your project.
Having a realistic budget to hire graphic designers is essential before you start your search. This will help you avoid wasting any time on designer services that are outside your financial capabilities.
This can also help you make a better judgment about the quality you can expect for the amount you can spend.
HOW TO FIND A GRAPHIC DESIGNER PRO TIP: If you are currently budgeting for graphic designers, you can get an in-depth understanding of how much graphic designers charge here.
Tip 4: Examine Their Portfolios
A designer's portfolio is an opportunity to see their creative abilities and styles. While designing agencies have incredible adaptability, you will almost always notice a pattern or get a sense of their aesthetics.
For example, if you give five agencies the same task, you are guaranteed to get five different designs. However, if you have seen their previous work, all five designs might have a similar aesthetic.
This can save you time when looking for a graphic designer, as you might feel that one portfolio matches the aesthetics that you like or resonates with your brand.
Tip 5: Look for Relevant Experiences
Most of these graphic designers will have very diverse portfolios. If you struggle to get a sense of their aesthetics, you can always find out if they have done relevant work. If you want to sell a specific product or service, then you could assess whether they have done jobs for companies in a similar field.
Design agencies that have worked in a similar field have already done research and have tested their abilities in that market. With their expertise, these agencies could produce higher-quality designs that speak to your target audience right off the bat.
Tip 6: Assess the Graphic Design Services Offered
After assessing your design needs you’ll want to find a service that offers everything you need covered. If you need a logo, website, color schemes, typography, and social media design, then the graphic design service you choose should offer all of these services.
Ensuring that the graphic design agency can provide all of your design needs would mean that you don’t have to use more than one agency to finish your projects. Saving you on costs and leading to a more unified branded image of your business.
PRO TIP: Check out these design services that can bring your creative visions to life.
Tip 7: Reach Out and Ask Questions
Once you have started to narrow your search, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask questions. This is an excellent opportunity to get a feel for their communication skills, professionalism, and attention to detail.
You can ask them questions about their processes, how long it takes them to complete jobs, and any other concerns you may have.
PRO TIP: Book a free 20-minute intro call to learn how Teamtown’s graphic design services can provide you with high-quality, reliable, and affordable design work.
Tip 8: See What Companies They Have Worked With in the Past
It’s always a good idea to hire graphic designers who have worked with reputable companies or brands in the past. Working with reputable companies means they have the ability to produce high-quality work and display a good level of professionalism.
This will also show their experience and abilities to work within specific brand guidelines and industries.
Tip 9: Compare Prices
It’s important to note that higher prices don’t necessarily mean better quality, and lower prices don't equate to bad work. When comparing prices, it’s more about trying to find a balance between quality and affordability.
It’s unnecessary to pay exorbitant prices when you don’t need to. This can leave some room on your budget to get more work done or allocate more of your budget to other areas of your business.
PRO TIP: Compare different design services and pricing structures to make an informed decision.
Tip 10: Start Small
If you are still indecisive about making a long-term commitment to your chosen graphic designer, you can always start with a smaller project first.
You can ask the graphic design agency to make you a logo. This could be inexpensive and give you the opportunity to see their work in motion. You will also be able to see how they pay attention to your request and their communication efforts.
If you are happy with the small project, you can be assured that the more significant projects will hopefully be the same.
Red Flags to Watch Out for When You Hire Graphic Designers
Knowing how to find a graphic designer is essential, but it’s equally important to know what graphic designers to avoid. There are many talented and professional graphic designers out there, but in your search, it’s essential to spot the red flags that could lead to a bad experience.
Here are some things to be wary of:
- Unrealistic Promises: Generally, things that seem too good to be true probably aren’t. It might be easy to get misled by grandiose promises or guarantees.
- Poor Communication: If you don’t receive clear answers to questions or late and uninformative replies, this could be a sign of poor communication.
- No Revisions: If design agencies don't offer revisions, this could be a sign of a problematic working relationship. A good designer should always be open to feedback and be willing to make adjustments.
- No Professionalism: Look for reviews that say things like missed deadlines, sloppy work, or don’t follow brand guidelines. This is a major red flag and should be avoided.
- Very Cheap Prices: If the design services are incredibly cheap compared to competitors, it might be a sign of fraud or lack of performance. It’s easy to be persuaded by affordable prices.
- Huge Discounts: If you stumble across advertisements with large discounts on services it would be advisable to do extended research on that company.
Short List of Affordable Graphic Designers
If you are on a tight budget, finding a graphic designer can become even more challenging. However, there are many new and exciting methods of pricing structures and many design agencies that have affordable pricing to cater to businesses in these positions.
Here’s a short list of the best quality for affordable graphic designers to shorten your search:
- Teamtown: Teamtown has taken an innovative approach to pricing and uses a subscription-based model. You pay a flat monthly fee that gives you a certain amount of design requests. You have access to an expert pool of designers working together to create your perfect designs.
- Upwork: This is a freelancing platform where you can post your job description and pricing. Freelancers will then apply for your job based on the job description and the price you are willing to pay.
- Ramotion: Focuses more on helping companies enhance their digital presence. They have worked with businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.
- HaloLab: HaloLab has created graphic designs across many different industries. They use cutting-edge technologies to help you stay ahead of the competition.
- Fiverr: This is another freelancing platform on which you can filter results based on your needs, such as budget, delivery times, and seller level. Check out portfolios and profiles to find your best fit.
Conclusion
It might feel as if the perfect match is like finding a needle in a haystack. But that’s not true. Use the tips mentioned above and up your knowledge on how to find a graphic designer.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to finding a graphic designer that meets your needs and aligns with your business's vision and values.
Before your search, take the time to determine your goals, and be strict about your budget.
When you are on your search, remember to examine portfolios, look for relevant experiences, assess the design services offered, and see what companies they have worked for in the past.
Once you have a short list, reach out, ask questions, and compare prices. This approach will help you in finding a graphic designer who is both talented and affordable.
Remember that if you still can’t make a decision to make long-term commitments, start with a small project first. Additionally, going with a design subscription service offered by Teamtown would be the ideal choice, as all plans come with a 15-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try our graphic design services risk-free!
