Graphic Design FAQ

I often get asked the same questions via email, twitter or contact form and have decided to lay out a brief graphic design FAQ to hopefully answer some common questions.

• How much do you charge to create a logo?

This is the most common and yet one of the hardest to answer. I don’t work to set ‘rates’ since every project is different, with varying requirements of time, experimentation and depth. A similarity could be drawn to walking into a car salesroom and asking “How much for a car?” – there is no exact price, it depends on the project. Brand-identity design should be seen as an investment, as supposed to a purchase. A good one will last a lifetime, but a bad one will need rebranded much sooner. I have put together a little post on the cost of logo design within which you may get a better idea of the value of a logo.

• Can I get a logo designed for free?

Would you ask any other profession to work for free? How about your hairdresser? Or a plumber?

• All I need is a simple company logo design and my budget is £50.

“Simple” doesn’t mean easy. “Simple” is one of the aims with logo design which is much harder to achieve successfully than people think. If you mean ‘basic’ then you also may mean ‘generic’, which is not something I strive for in creating logos. “Budget” is also not the best way to describe the amount you have allocated for this investment. My lowest quotes tend to come in around £400-£500,  so please keep this in mind.

• Do I pay before or after?

I require a 50% deposit upfront before starting a project, with the remaining amount to be paid upon completion.

• What payment methods do you accept?

If you are within the UK, then a standard bank transfer is probably the best approach, alternatively PayPal can offer a safe route, although you have to pay fees for conversion. More detailed payment instructions will be included on the invoice.

• What is your hourly rate for Graphic Design?

I don’t charge by the hour for logo design, I charge by the project. This means you know exactly how much you will be paying from the start, with no spiraling costs or surprises as time progresses in the project.

• How do you create a logo? What is involved with the logo design process?

There’s a lot, so much that it gets it’s own page: http://inkbotdesign.com/2011/07/logo-design-process/

• What other services do you provide?

Again, this deserves a page of it’s own: Graphic Design Services

•  What information should I provide before I get a logo designed?

My Logo Design Questionnaire asks all the important questions I would ask if we were to sit down for a face to face interview. In terms of what information to provide, be as detailed as you can. Think of me as an investor – sell your product to me and describe everything assuming I have no prior knowledge of what it is you do.

• Can I get some logo samples before making a deposit?

Unfortunately not. The deposit shows that you are serious and professional, if you are unwilling to make a deposit I will have to turn the project down.

• Can you start immediately?

Yes I will be available to start immediately, unless I state otherwise in the quotation.

• My deadline is tomorrow, can you help?

Nope. You need to plan better.

• How long until I see some initial concepts?

From the initial deposit and answers to the questionnaire, it will usually take between 5 days to a week before presenting the initial logo options.

• How many changes / revisions can I ask for?

As many as it takes until you are happy. Many graphic designers restrict you to 3 or 5 revision cycles, but I am confident we will find something suitable to work from so it’s not an issue offering ‘unlimited’ developments.

• How long will the whole project take?

An average logo design project will last around 4 weeks. The amount of revisions and development will  be the main factor in the project duration, a client who picks one of the initial ideas straight up may get final files within a day or two.

• In what file formats will my logo be provided?

Everything is created in Adobe Illustrator (vector) format and final files can be sent in any format you require. The standard are .AI (Illustrator original file), .EPS / .PDF (for print), .JPEG / .PNG (for web and viewing). The .PNG’s will be set onto a transparent background to make web use easier and social media icons / favcions can be set upon request. If you require additional files in the future, I will be happy to oblige, or you can export from the .AI files. For more in depth details please see these logo design file formats.

• How many company logo design samples will I receive?

A minimum of 3 and maximum of 5. The point of these numbers is to show a variety of options, without overwhelming you with too many choices. It’s my job as the designer to choose what to present, there may be 30 other concepts, but you will see the strongest approaches for the brand.

• Who owns the rights to the logo?

Upon clearance of final payment, you own all the rights of the final files. I do reserve the right to show the logo design within my own portfolio – if that would be a problem I would appreciate this being discussed at the earliest possible contact.

• Can I make changes to the files?

Yes (upon final payment). I do recommend getting in touch with myself beforehand as I may be able to offer assistance, but the files are yours to do with what you wish.

• I live in a different country, will that be a problem with getting a logo designed?

Not at all. My clients come from all over the globe, the only requirement being internet access to receive the final files!

• Do you provide printing services?

No. I can prep files for print specific to your location or even printer, but I can’t physically print. This allows you to choose your own printer and save money on postage.

• Where can I see more of your work?

My portfolio is here: http://inkbotdesign.com/portfolio/ where you can see a range of recent projects.

• Do you work with contracts?

No, but I will happily sign an NDA if you have one.

• How do I hire you to create a logo?

You can email me at: stuart@inkbotdesign.com or fill in my quote request form (recommended) here: http://inkbotdesign.com/contact/request-a-quote/

• I am having a logo design contest, would you like to be in with a chance of winning?

This is the second dumbest question I think I’ve been asked. To quote http://antispec.com : “Spec(ulative) work is a cancer within the design industry and all designers need to understand their role in fighting it.” I support antispec.

• Do you use clipart when making logos?

This is the dumbest question I’ve ever been asked. Why would I invest in learning this profession, studying it for years at home, school and university only to open Microsoft Office and squeeze out a pixellated image of a stick figure playing the mandolin?

All my designs are 100% custom, unique pieces, created by myself.

Submit a question to the Graphic Design FAQ

If you have a question that’s not answered in the above FAQ, feel free to post it below and I will add it to the list – thank you!