Recently we’re hearing more and more stories of companies having trouble with designers. They’re coming in from North Georgia to South Florida – including graphic and web designers that don’t communicate, don’t meet deadlines, don’t deliver what’s they’ve promised, and who bite off more than they can chew. All told, this kind of service not only gives our industry a bad rap, but it leaves businesses out in the cold as far as developing their marketing plan, promoting events, capturing timely opportunities, and so forth.
A detective always seeks out witnesses. Consider yourself Sherlock Holmes in search of a creative team. Start by asking other business owners for recommendations and references. When you see a business card you like, or an ad or website you find compelling, ask the owner who did the work. As a general rule, if they’ve had a good experience, you will too.
Second comes research. Don’t necessarily take a reference at face value. Start looking for clues inside the designer’s portfolio. Good design companies have a comprehensive portfolio of work on their website. Thoroughly review the portfolio for samples that have the same features you’re interested in (design style is important, but a good designer should be able to create a variety of looks). Features are super important because a company that designs a gorgeous static website may not have the programming capabilities to create a database driven Ecommerce site for you.
Here are our 10 Clues that point to a successfully completed design project:
