5 questions you should ask your graphic design agency
5 questions you should ask your graphic design agency
Your choice of design can make or break your brand’s marketing efforts. The right graphic designer can help you craft a powerful brand story, build your company’s identity, and encourage your customers to keep coming back.
That’s all carrot, no stick. (Our favourite kind of approach.)
That’s why it’s essential that you choose a design agency in NZ that is a good fit for your needs.
But with so many different designers hopping around out there, how do you possibly know which to choose?
Don’t worry. The bunnies here at White Rabbit have put together 5 simple questions to ask your graphic designer to find out if they’re the right match for you. It’s just like Tinder, except… not.
Let’s hop to it.
What work are you most proud of?
This is the question that will help you suss out who those designers really are.
The right agency should be excited to tell you about the work they’ve done. You want to see more of a passion for their craft than a rabbit has for hay.
Plus, this question sets up a great opportunity for you to see what they prioritise in the work they do.
After all, designers usually tailor their portfolio to meet your needs. By finding out what really drives them, you’ll be able to get a good insight into their process and whether it aligns with your needs.
One thing to remember is that design about problem-solving. That’s why, while they’re rabbiting on about how much they love the sans serif in the typography or whatever, you want to make sure they tell you what the client’s problem was and how their work helped solve it.
That’s how you’ll be able to see whether they’ll be able to do the same for you.
Have you worked in my field before?
If your agency’s got experience in your field, that’s going to mean that they’ve got an idea of what works and what doesn’t.
Translation: More efficient results, more quickly.
Working with experienced designers is also helpful if your business is a newer one and you’re going to need a little more guidance, or if you prefer a more hands-off process.
It’s also useful to ask your designers if they can show you examples of work for similar companies or industries. That’ll help you get an insight into the kind of results you can expect.
How long will it take and what will it cost?
You probably won’t be able to get an answer down to seconds or cents at such an early stage, but it’s still important to clarify the practicalities.
At the very least, you’re going to need a rough estimate of the project’s cost and timeline, especially if you’re paying by the hour.
That way, you’ll be able to weed out agencies that don’t fit within your budget. This is a really useful way to narrow down your options.
Be wary, however, of agencies promising suspiciously cheap services or fast timelines. If everybun else is saying your job will probably take three months, don’t trust the guy saying he’ll do it in one. You’re probably going to get cookie-cutter or poor quality results… or a missed deadline.
Not fun, bun.
What’s your process?
Good designers recognise that design is a problem-solving process. That’s why you need to find out how your agency plans to figure out the right solution for your brand’s needs.
This might be where red flags pop up that wouldn’t be obvious looking at a portfolio alone.
Plus, getting an insight into a designer’s process will help you see how involved you have to be.
That’s right! Design is an iterative and collaborative process. That means you can expect to be involved in some way or another, whether it’s choosing from different colour schemes or having lengthy meetings about options for your logo.
It’s good to find out how much your agency will expect of you at each stage of the process, so you can be sure you’re getting a working relationship you’re hoppy – er, happy – with.
What is good design to you?
This one might seem more philosophy than practical, but it’s one of the most important questions you’ll ask. That’s why you’re going to need to take a little jump down the rabbit hole, here, and dig deep when it comes to the answers.
If your designers tell you that good design is award-winning design, what awards do they mean? Are they going for something that looks picture-perfect? What about unusual, innovative design? Or do they mean design that isn’t so much form-focussed as functional? And which awards – something specific to your industry or theirs?
Do they think that great design is popular design? If so, who’s their audience? Is it something that works great for your customers or for design aficionados? Are they chasing trends, or going for more timeless appeal? How will they balance appealing to the crowd with meeting your brand’s unique needs?
Sounds like a lot to consider? Don’t worry. The key thing to focus on is that they love doing the kind of work you need done for businesses like yours.
Looking for a great graphic design agency? It’s time to follow the White Rabbit
Odds are your relationship with your graphic design agency will be a long-term one. Design’s necessary in so many parts of businesses, from your packaging, to your website, to your catalogues. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you and your designers are on the same (web)page.
Looking for the right agency might seem like a challenge, but these handy questions will make it much easier to find the right fit for your business.
Don’t know where to start your search? We have somebunny we can recommend.
White Rabbit is a leading Auckland graphic design agency offering an extensive range of branding, print, and digital design services. Our brilliant creative bunnies are all about generating awesome results that help your brand hop high above the competition.
Want to know more about us? Just get in touch with our burrow at 0800 WHITE RABBIT (0800 944 837)