How to Find The Right Brand Designer For You
Finding the Right Designer Fit
As business owners, we can get so deep in the weeds of our own business that it can be hard to see above water and know if what you’re doing is actually working. Bringing someone in from outside of your business can be so helpful to contribute a new and fresh perspective, helping you achieve your goals and take your business to the next level.
When it comes to investing in a designer, just like any relationship, you want to make sure it’s the right fit. At a high-level, the process and output of branding and web design is personal to you. And likely, it will be one of the larger investments you make in your business.
In order to have the best experience and output possible, it’s important to make sure that the designer you pair up with is the optimal fit for you and your business. Finding the right designer to work with will not only help you accomplish your short-term goals, but will serve you in the long term.
When you’ve found the proper fit, this person can continue to be a strategic creative partner and brand advisor for you to tap on as your business continues to grow and evolve.
What to Look For
So, how exactly do you find the right designer for your business? What kind of things should you be looking for? I’m here to help and outline some of the key things I think you should look for when investing in a designer.
Lets dig in.
1. Like-Mindedness
Great minds think alike. While it is important to diversify the perspectives that we bring into our business overall, when hiring a designer, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for someone that shares similar values and priorities. By doing this, you ensure that your hire aligns with the things you deem most important, and doesn’t end up leaving you frustrated at the process.
→ FOR EXAMPLE: If communication is a huge priority for you, helping you feel secure and taken care of in a client relationship, then you’ll want to make sure to look for a designer that has excellent communication skills. You’ll be looking for someone with a prompt response time to their emails, are on time to their meetings, and well prepared in conversation. These things, seen early on in the process of vetting the right designer, will help you see whether or not this person values communication the way you do.
A layer deeper, if you have specific life values or points of view that are embedded into your business, it is totally fair to seek out someone that shares those values (think: lifestyle, industry, niche, etc). This will help ensure that the person you hire understands at a personal level what your business is about.
→ FOR EXAMPLE: If you have a sports-centered business, you might benefit from choosing a designer who has a background or interest in your specific industry over a designer who has no interest or insight in what it is you’re about. Finding a fit like this is not required, but it can help provide insight and understanding to the branding and web design process that you may not have otherwise.
When you have a creative partner that has experience or interest in your niche, they can work on your project from an informed place, keeping you in line with industry trends and the competitors in your space. Plus, having a creative partner that shares your business values or point of view can also mean having direct access to someone in your target market. Your hire will be able to give you relevant feedback, insights, and ideas in real time.
2. Enthusiasm
Attitude has the potential to make or break an experience, and as the service provider, it is their role to carry a positive attitude and the overall energy of a project. When you’re investing in your business, it should be an enjoyable process that leaves you feeling positive and energized. To achieve this, look for individuals who are enthusiastic about your project. You want to make sure that you’re jiving with that designer and that they are as excited about your business, if not more, than you are.
Let's face it, you're probably tired and ready to pass the creative torch to someone else. Someone who is ready to take your vision and translate it into a finished product. It takes someone with a real understanding and desire to understand to get to that point with you.
The reality of it is, if you're hiring somebody to take design and branding off your plate, you need to know that they're going to have the stamina, energy, and passion to do it — and do it right.
3. Design Style
As you begin to research designers to work with, be sure to spend time looking at their portfolio of work. A designer’s portfolio will be the most accurate reflection of the type of work that they do, their personal design style, and their creative preferences and leanings.
Everyone has their own design style. There are so many talented designers to sift through! Take the time to find the designer whose style resonates with you and where you want to take your brand. Really study their portfolio, get an idea of their personal style, and ask yourself: Is this the directionI want to take my business?
To ensure you’ll be happy with your finished product, seek out designers whose work you could see your own brand fitting into.
4. Industry Experience
As you seek out the right designer for your project, take a look at whether or not they have done other projects for your industry or niche. While it's not necessary to find someone exclusively catering to your line of work, it's important to look for someone with a general understanding of the requirements and standards of your industry.
→ FOR EXAMPLE: let’s say you are a business coach. You don’t necessarily have to hire a designer that has only worked on branding and websites for business coaches. However, it may be beneficial to see if they have worked on projects with other service-based businesses or solopreneurs.
Often, designers may showcase personal projects that demonstrate their skills even if they haven't worked on identical projects before. Take a close look at their portfolio to make sure the work they've done matches with your industry, or at least can translate to your niche and needs.
5. Follow Through
When interviewing and researching designers, oftentimes, you can get a feel for what it will be like to work with this person in the early stages of inquiring. One of the big items to look for is follow through.
If a designer promises you a proposal by Friday, but you haven’t heard from them weeks later, this might be an indication that a prompt timeline isn’t a priority or follow through is lacking.
This, in my opinion, has the potential to be a cause of friction in a client/designer relationship, especially for those who value organization and follow through. If timelines and communication are a big deal for you, I would potentially advise you to look for a different fit.
On the other hand, if they are prompt, responsive, get you proposals when they say they will, or update you if there's a change in the timeline, that's going to be a really good indication of what it's like to work with them.
If it's a positive experience on the front end, it's usually a good reflection of what you can expect in the client relationship.
In Summary:
Branding and web design can be a big investment for your business. Slow down and take your time to find the designer that is going to be the best fit for you and your business. When researching and meeting with designers, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Do they understand my business and industry at a high-level?
Do they have a positive demeanor and seem excited about my project?
Are they prompt and professional?
Do I align with their personal design style?
Do I see my brand fitting into their portfolio of work?
Asking these questions can help you get clear on your needs, priorities, and who will be the best fit for you and your business.
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Hi there, I’m Blake!
Branding expert, graphic designer, and your new (personal) cheerleader. With over a decade of experience building brands, my sweet spot is helping passionate entrepreneurs like you grow their business with confidence and clarity. Let’s work together →