Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you wanted to ask a designer, but felt awkward about… or not.
Budget and pricing
How much does it cost for this project?
It depends. Like with cars: do you want a Dacia, a Volkswagen, or a Tesla? Tell me what you have in mind and we’ll create a custom offer.
Is there room for negotiation? Can it be cheaper?
Sure, we can remove services you don’t need. In other words: want a whole cake for the price of a slice? It works — but without frosting and candles. Or, professionally speaking: we can adjust the project to your budget by reducing complexity, not quality.
Why does it cost so much? Isn’t it expensive?
Because good ideas don’t grow on trees, and talent doesn’t come bundled with a pencil. Behind it are experience, hours of work, and a few nerves of steel. It’s not expensive if you consider that good design sells. It’s an investment, not a cost. And it’s not just a “drawing” - it’s strategy, branding, and a lot of brainpower.
Can you give us a discount? We’re friends / we’ll give you more projects / we’ll promote you.
Friends are friends… but cheese costs money. I’d also love to pay my rent with “we’re good friends,” but it hasn’t worked yet. Friendship is priceless, but the invoice still comes. More projects? With pleasure — at the right price. Advertising? Great, but I pay with money, not likes.
Can you also do something for free, for your portfolio / exposure?
I already have a portfolio, and I don’t work for exposure - it’s cold out there 😅. But I can create something amazing, at a fair price.
Do we really need to sign a contract?
Yes. It’s like a seatbelt. You don’t notice it until you need it. Trust is good, and a contract helps keep it that way. We don’t sign it because we doubt each other, but to protect both sides.
Can we pay after delivery / in installments?
We can discuss flexible options, but we usually work with a deposit. Design is not cash on delivery.
Do you work pro bono or via barter?
Only if I get a vacation in Bali for three people or a crate of wine every month. Otherwise, I prefer card payment.
Time limits and time out of work
What is the turnaround time for this project.
I will give you a realistic time frame, I PR. I am a stickler for deadlines – do you run after them. In the design, "fast" is relative. For example, a logo that can last for 5 days. Or 5. if you change your mind, you often 😄
Can you deliver faster than the original?
Sure, with a "rush fee". I mean, if you want to jump the queue, add the spices to the emergency room on the table.
Can we move the deadline up earlier (no extra cost)?
If you were to wave a magic wand, yes. Otherwise, this thing is quick much it cost, that the time does not appear as if the brush in Photoshop.
You can give priority to the project? (I mean, let's get started right away and you'll work intensively on it.)
With a little of the "fast pass" to the financial, it can be. Otherwise, respect the order in which they entered the draft. As the line to the right.
Do you work evenings, weekends, or holidays, if you need it? It's okay to contact you then?
If only Santa's coming to town with the brief was clear. Otherwise, I'd prefer to have a personal life. I answer with my love in the time of the program.
If you give the project to you today, and you can have it ready for you tomorrow morning (in the morning)?
If only the other day I had dreamed of, and today, it came directly from the subconscious mind. For something more serious, there is a need of time.
The creative process
What is the design process? What are the steps to follow, and how does this work?
A Brief (and I describe in detail what you have), for research, concepts, reviews, scope of delivery, cup of coffee. A simple, clear and dark magic. And you're going to be a part of every stage of development.
What information do you need before we get started?
All of who you are: purpose, audience, style, what you like and what you don't. If you say, "I want some fun", we run the risk of speaking in different languages.
You can make a few more variations of the completely different just to see what it does?
Of course it is, but the design is not a buffet. It's better to say what preference you have.
They are included in the overhaul? How many rounds of changes can we make?
Yes, they are not included. But it's not infinite. Find the right balance between "the change is a little bit", and "I've got it in the end." We appreciate your perfectionism, but we have a system of inspection. Otherwise, we run the risk to get to the variant of 73.2 and I don't like the font.
We may request changes until you're completely satisfied. (Actually, revisions and unlimited.)
As a rule, 2-3. There wasn't much to get in the way, but not too little to limit it. How to get my head, don't roll the dice. Your contentment is very important, but so is my time. We've got a reasonable number of revisions. After that, we can't keep but, with the hourly rate.
If none of the options presented, we don't like it, you'll do more of us (no extra cost)?
We are striving to be like the first time. We will examine what isn't working and adjust it. But the all new I'm like a brand new menu item is charged separately and it comes to the "extras".
Can we get back to the original concept? I thought that was the best.
We can't. The designers don't throw anything away. However, you should know that it has been removed at the request of the customer 🙂
I don't know exactly what I want, you're free to create it, what do you think is the best?
Yes, but only if we realize that "free" doesn't mean a 7-revisions after that. You have to trust me, and I'll deliver something to my soul.
Can you give us an outline, or a concept of the trial before we decide if we can work together? (Possibly free of charge or without strings attached.)
I don't. We provide free samples for creative portfolio, I work purely speculative. You know where he is, tasting the ice cream.
Delivery and rights to
What's available, we will get to the end of the project.
You'll get everything you need, you should use your design files for the web, print, and share. Additionally, an "in frame". The source files are the secret formula: it provides you with the watch and on-demand.
Get the source file/editable. (ex. the Photoshop file .PSD or Photoshop .AI).
At your request, but it's a good idea to discuss this in advance. They are not a bonus, it's part of the job. And sometimes, they come with an extra charge.
We will hold the us rights to the copyright of the design to the final? We may use the free logo for your website and how is it that we want?
Yes, if you pay in full, and you got a deal on your rights, then you can put it on a t-shirt with bling, but you don't mention me 😝
The price includes the transfer of rights from the author? You have paid a separate license?
In general, it's contained. If you don't, I'll tell you clearly. A small paragraph, with no surprises.
We can also provide the building blocks used in the design? (+Fonts, stock images, icons, etc.).
Sure, if you are free, or we have a licence to be valid. If you do, I mean, you've got to make it legal. I don't hack, that you are not in the Caribbean.
You shall keep the project in your portfolio, or you have to go away for a while?
If you don't sign the non-disclosure, yes, I'm putting this in a portfolio with pride. If you have to keep it a secret, we can discuss the terms.
If, in the future, we want to modify our new design, it's in the right? We give it all we have to do this?
Well, sure, but with a caveat: for he that walketh in a file without knowing what it does threaten to "ruin the bread." Why don't you ask me to.
What guarantee do we have that the design was going to get the results you're looking for? We can assure you that you will have a strong impact/success?
If only I could guarantee you the success of it, I'd be a millionaire. I promise you the high quality, strategy, and creativity. The rest depends on you.
Style, originality and ethics
Do you have a design in the style of [the name of a famous brand or a competitor's]?
We could use the inspiration, but we can't do a simple copy / paste. No one wants to be a "chinese version" of the other.
Here we have an example of a design that you love. You can enjoy 1:1 to the us, it's just changing the name/logo?
Nope. That is plagiarism and you don't get in my services. I'll do you one better, but it's original.
I found this image/picture on Google, which I love. You can use the design for us?
If you have the permission of the author, yeah, yeah. If you don't... why don't we just play with the lawyers.
We can use the elements of the design to someone else? Come on, that there is no one...
Of course not. The original beats all. And it doesn't work on your stealth.
The use of templates, or make it from scratch. You can choose the template to make it cheaper?
We may use stencils, if your budget is thin. But I do prefer the design of the ground – that's how it feels like "you".
Can you make the design stand out more in the public eye? To be wow, but I don't know just exactly how...
Sure! But let's try to define the "wow" factor. Do you want the color, contrast, something is animated? Otherwise, you risk of "hit" in the wrong direction.
It's easy to see how, you ask, would anyone be able to do it... you can finish it faster/cheaper
If it was that easy, I'm not given. The design of the good, sounds easy. But it is actually in the back is work, not play.
Communications & Program
How will we communicate during the duration of the project. How often do we get an update?
We set beforehand: it can be a weekly e-mail or videocall. A clear, well-structured and with no surprises.
Can I call you back, or I'll give you the emails at anytime if you have any ideas or questions?
Always write on e-mail and call in during business hours. Not for nothing, but the ideas for this at 2 in the morning I write in the morning.
We update quite frequently, ideally every day, so we all know in every moment the stage. Is this possible?
We can do it for a reporting system is not clear. But if we just focus on daily updates, you won't have time to design, 😅
If you have an urgent need for something, I can't call you at night or during the weekend?
If it's a real emergency, yes. Otherwise, the night is for sleeping.
We work in the same office, document, and possibly to be near you when you're like, let's discuss it in person?
Only if you bring her some popcorn. I'm not kidding – I would prefer it to be working, focused, and then I'll show you the result. Confidence is the key. Plus, my office is everywhere, it's very rare you'll find me at the office.
Do you have a job or are you just a design? I do 100% of my project, right?
I am 100% committed to every project, as long as I'm working on it. It doesn't matter what I do, it's how you handle it.