FAQs
Leave no questions unanswered...
IS A FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGNER BETTER THAN AN AGENCY?
I wouldn't say better - but we're definitely cheaper, just as talented and more efficient. (And easier to get a hold of) One of the things about being a freelancer having worked at ad agencies is how they work - which is bringing in the clients, hiring a sales team to talk to the client and then handing the work over to several in-house designers to create the work. Thats not before asking their writers to come up with their brilliant concepts. Once that ball is rolling, the ad agency continues the relationship with you, and bring in other clients and then promptly bill you $100 to $150 an hour or more for the creative work. Example: you request 10k for a logo, color scheme, typography, brand assets (marks patterns) but the agency tells you it will take 8 weeks - Why not hire a freelancer for 15 to get it done in 2?
WHY DO ARTISTS WORK FOR AD AGENCIES?
Because it's very hard to find clients yourself and it's steady job with benefits. The sales force gets paid more than the designers or the writers although in agency settings creatives are treated extremely well. The agency in general protects the designers and writers who will experience unpleasant pressure with deadlines and/or unhappy/ unreasonable clients. The reason designers begin to freelance is they feel they are insulted- and they are in many ways. For one thing a designer doesn't need a sales executive to speak to the client and doesn't feel a client should have to pay for that. A designer can speak with you directly - cut out the middle man - so to speak - and in effect, lower the cost and at the same time understand your brand and deliver what you need in a simple, and a lot less expensive way. Sometimes clients do pull work away from agencies and find a freelancer to do the job, while others feel an agency is needed.
WHY NOT USE UPWORK OR ANOTHER DESIGNER PLATFORM?
I have a thing or two to say about companies like Upwork. High fees. This disadvantage is more crucial for clients and businesses. As an Upwork client, you will need to pay a 20% tax for your first earnings and then a 10% fee for earnings that vary between $500 and $10,000. In addition, hiring a freelancer also comes with a high cost. I have a grudge with Upwork because it lets clients hire professional designers from all over the world - which bid on your job and they don't pay taxes for it unless they make over 20,000. Upwork to me, is just another cut from the pie which potentially hurts designers, and makes your contract a lot more expensive. It hurts many American designers because we can't compete with cheaper designers in India, China or the Philippines.
HOW MUCH DO I COST?
The budget it up to you. Yep, you heard me right. For a small company or a sole proprietor I charge a minimal fee, but I also have to be careful not to undersell myself. One of the reasons designers have their price is because a modern workstation can cost between $1,500 and $3,000 per unit, while a professional drawing tablet might add an additional $300 to $1,000. Creative Cloud which used to be a one time price is now ONLY RENTED for $52 per month for designers, and additional plug-ins that may increase this expense. In consideration, I charge what is fair in terms of my time, and the size of the project.The best way to alleviate any concerns about cost thought, is to speak with me. I always discuss budget - big or small (or even tiny) before starting any project, and I give my clients a clear agreement in writing. What is your project? Reach out to me and lets get started. Simply click below to inquire.
CAN I DO AS MUCH AS ANY AD AGENCY?
Yes and no. A graphic designer can present a new outstanding brand, but we aren't a marketing team. It really depends on the size and scope of the project you have, but given proper deadlines, I can meet rigorous standards for any project including websites. The good thing about Wix, Wordpress, GoDaddy and other website platforms out there, is — instead of hiring their teams (which is the new trend and quite expensive BTW) is I can take advantage of their templates, and then customize it to your needs. This way the site will only cost the client a minimal fee ($30-$80) a month, and you're off the hook for many of their other services. I can guide your visitors on their journey, creating meaningful first impressions, showcasing your products and services, and ultimately leading visitors to take action.