What's the number one thing you look for when you're searching for the perfect branding professional?
Is it price?
Design style?
Their personality?
Your all's chemistry?
If you've been looking for a brand strategist or designer, you've probably realized that it can be a little overwhelming at times. Like a glass of wine, not every designer is going to fit your taste. You could have a perfectly good glass of merlot in front of you, but if you prefer chardonnay, it's not going to be a good match.
In the same way you can judge a wine by its color, smell, taste, and price, you can use these tips to determine if a designer is a good fit for you. I'm here to help you in your search with my 7 best tips on finding the perfect branding professional for your small business!
How to choose the right brand designer for your business
1. ESTABLISH YOUR BUDGET
I almost hesitate to put this on the list, but your budget does matter to an extent.
Before looking for a brand designer, you need to know how much you value brand design and are willing to invest in it. There are some graphic designers who will whip up a logo for $500, while others will charge $5k for brand identity design (but you get what you pay for). If a designer sends you a lowball price for the services you're asking for, then they don't value their own deliverables. Look for a designer that is confident in their prices and, in turn, shows you how valuable they are.
2. REVIEW THEIR DESIGN PORTFOLIO
You have to resonate with a designer's creative style if you want to work with them.
Take a look at their portfolio and see if there are any brand designs they've created that you like and admire. Choose some words that describe the brand design you want to achieve (e.g., clean, modern, minimal) then evaluate a designer's portfolio to see if any of their projects match your desired aesthetic.
3. EVALUATE THEIR SERVICES
Make sure the designer provides all of the services you need.
If you're looking for a one-stop-shop for your brand and website design, you'll want to make sure the designer offers both branding and web design services. If they provide a lot of different services as a single service provider, you can bet they aren't an expert in one of them. A jack of all trades means they're a master of none. You want to find a designer that specializes in the specific services you need—not everything and the kitchen sink.
4. FILL OUT A CONTACT FORM
A branding professional asks good questions.
Does the designer have a "contact form" or a "client application"? Each form type will ask different questions. Contact forms are usually short and sweet, whereas a "Client Application" (see mine for an example) will ask for detailed information about your business and goals. Client applications are usually the form of choice for professional brand identity designers who take their client work seriously.
5. IDENTIFY IF THERE'S CHEMISTRY
Aside from budget, services, etc., you need to see if there's good chemistry between you and the designer.
Get on a discovery call with a designer and treat it like a non-romantic (duh) first date. Read their body language and notice their tone (even if you're on Zoom) to see if you two have good chemistry. Here are some things to consider:
Are they talking more than they're listening?
Do they ask good questions?
Are they present on the call?
Do they seem excited about your business/project?
Are they stumbling over their words or confident when they answer questions?
6. FIND OUT IF THEY HAVE A WAITLIST
Sought after designers usually won't be able to work with you as soon as you submit your project request.
An expert brand identity designer will have a waitlist because there are so many people that want to work with them. It's not a deal-breaker if they don't have a waitlist, but at the very least, it's a good sign that they are a reputable, branding professional who has gained a following.
7. LOOK FOR added VALUE
Value comes in all shapes and sizes.
Ask about value on the call, such as the client experience, deliverables, and project management process. Think about asking the following questions on the Discovery Call:
Will you have client homework for me to complete?
How many different file formats will my brand designs come in?
Are you planning to give me the copyright to my brand design once it's complete?
Each of these questions provides additional value to your business.
I hope these little tips help you with your search for a professional brand identity designer. If you'd like to talk more about hiring me as your designer, fill out my Client Application! I would love to send you some more information and see if we'd be a good fit 🤓✨
