5 Things Every Graphic Designer Wishes Their Client Knew

things graphic design clients should know

Seasoned graphic designers can make their job seem so effortless to an outsider. A few strokes of the mouse and things go from mediocre to magnificent. However, even the best graphic designers are limited by time, patience and software capability. Remember these important truths when working with any graphic designer.

Photos and Artwork Can Sometimes Be Altered, But It Will Cost Extra.

A blurry photograph will still be blurry on the finished project. Low quality artwork and photographs can rarely be improved by a graphic designer, according to Photoshop Essentials. Give graphic designers the highest-resolution artwork and photos available.

Altering a photograph to remove people or objects is possible; however, it can be a time-consuming process that doubles the time it takes to complete your project. Recreating a background to fill that void can take a great deal of time to look authentic.

They Know Design.

You’re the customer, so your input is important. However, graphic designers are trained to know what looks good. Chances are that they’ve done hundreds of projects similar to yours. They’ve seen all of the issues that can arise. They know what text is too small to read. They understand how ink is applied differently to various weights of paper and how it affects the final design. Let the designer guide you to the best possible outcome.

It Takes Time To Create Something Truly Magnificent.

Graphic designers understand when you fall behind. Maybe your writer or photographer missed their deadline, or perhaps there was an illness. A good designer will do their best to complete your project on schedule, but don’t expect them to meet their deadline if you didn’t meet yours.

If you are looking for something different and exciting, it’s going to take longer than you anticipated. For instance, the graphic designer may have to spend time searching for artwork if you didn’t provide it. Designers also need time to work with the layout. They won’t always love their rough draft. If they have time, they will take another run at it.

You Should’ve Told Them What You Wanted From The Start.

There’s nothing more frustrating than completing a project right before you’re given the instructions. If the customer has expectations, they should be stated upfront. If you love script fonts or hate reverse text, tell the graphic designer before they get started. There’s no sense in wasting everyone’s time.

That Portable Document File (PDF) Cannot Be Easily Dissected And/Or Changed.

We know that you paid to have this flyer designed three years ago. Unfortunately, the PDF you’ve provided the graphic designer is not going to shrink proportionately into the new format. Complicating things even further is the fact that the PDF cannot be simply taken apart and rearranged. There’s a good possibility the entire thing will have to be rebuilt, which may increase the cost of the project.

Concluding Thoughts

The right designer can look at your files, listen to your ideas and give you an estimated time of delivery. To keep things on track, make certain to quickly respond to any questions you receive during the design process. Lastly, sit back and let a professional guide you through the entire process. You will surely be pleased if you follow these suggestions.

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