Blog

October 1, 2018 by wiesra01

how i keep the design process transparent for my clients

When starting The Bramble Lab, I wanted to make sure I was bringing something new and refreshing to the table. I thought long and hard about every element of the designer-client relationship and brainstormed ways to make that relationship more transparent, the process more creative, and the end result more impactful.

In micro-analyzing the design process, I noticed a frequent weak spot in the communication that happens between graphic designers and their clients: designers feeling unclear of what imagery is guiding the client’s requests, while clients worry that they didn’t express their hopes for the end result clearly enough and wonder how far along the designer is on their project. A big reason for this grey area is due in part to the remote nature of the designer-client relationship.

Case in point: the majority of my clients find me through this website. I have several local clients whom I’ve been working with since the very beginning, but the majority of my clients are in other states (and countries!). This means that like most designers, I rarely meet my clients in person. So it’s my job as the designer to ensure that my clients are heard loud and clear – so I can get a clear understanding of what they’re asking for, and make sure they have a chance to ask all their questions and never wonder about the status of their project.

My solution? Every client receives a questionnaire and password-protected portal where they can see a timeline that I update along the way, check notes and mockups that I’ve uploaded, ask questions, and share thoughts. This portal maintains open communication between myself and my clients through the entire process – it’s our very own remote conference room.

This portal stays open for 30 days after the completion of our project together, so you can take your time getting familiar with your new design. I’m here to answer any questions you have along the way.

Ready to get your brand polished off with a new logo or branding material? Contact me here – I’ll send you my pricing and on-boarding questionnaire to get things rolling!

September 24, 2018 by wiesra01

How To Pick The Right Logo Designer For Your Business

Either you’re starting a new business or you’ve reached that milestone where it’s time to refresh an existing logo. Either way “get a new logo” is on your to-do list and now you’re faced with finding the right designer. The act of finding that designer can be the hardest part. Most businesses fall into two categories: they either 1) can’t find a designer that melds with their business’ aesthetic, or 2) are overwhelmed by the number of designers available and aren’t sure how to narrow it down to the right one.

No matter which category you fall into, this five-point checklist will help you hone in on the right designer for your business and start your partnership out on the right foot:

1) Does the designer’s portfolio show work that aligns with your style?

It’s true that a good designer is adaptable and can create work across a large spectrum of styles but every designer still has a preferred style, or specialty, that they excel in. By making sure that the designer creating your logo has a history of making logos with the same modern/classic/gothic/you-name-it flare that you’re looking for, you’re putting yourself in a good position to be beyond thrilled with the end product. This is a lot like asking a landscape artist to paint a portrait of you. Yes, they’ve undoubtedly painted portraits at some point in their training or profession and the outcome would be undoubtedly better than what your 15 year old nephew would produce, but it’s not going to compare to the work you’d get from an artist who specializes in portraitures.

2) How well does the designer communicate?

Most designers offer a free introductory consultation, so take advantage of it! These meetings tend to be held via video chat, email, live chat, or even in-person when applicable. No matter what the platform, you can use this opportunity to get a good read of the designer. Do they explain the process and answer your questions thoroughly? How will they communicate with you during the design process (email, website portal, live chat) and are you comfortable with that arrangement? Are they professional? Do you generally get along? You don’t need to become best friends with your designer, but you do need to be able to work together cohesively.

3) Does the designer have an organized client process?

You don’t want to become invested with a designer who’s going to take six months to complete what they said would take three weeks. Finding out if the designer has an outlined process to keep projects moving down the pipeline will help ensure that the designer is organized and isn’t going to lose track of your project. Designers with a clearly outlined process are much more likely to be organized and timely in their logo delivery dates.

4) What file formats does the designer guarantee to deliver?

It’s important to check that your designer is going to make your logo as a vector graphic, not bitmap, to ensure that your logo looks flawless whether it’s used on your website, social media, printed on t-shirts, or blown up on a banner (tip: vector art can scale to any size without losing quality, while bitmap/raster files become pixilated when resized). Once you’ve ensured that the designer is working in vector, you’ll need the product to be delivered in the right format to maintain that quality. As a rule of thumb your designer should at the very least provide the finished logo as either PDF, AI, or EPS files since these are all vector file types.

5) Does the designer have a contract?

Contracts are important for both parties involved in a logo design. For the graphic designer, contracts ensure that they get paid for their time. For you, the client, contracts ensure that you receive your deliverables in the formats and quality promised. Most designers include language in their contracts that protect both the designer and the client, so think of a contract as free peace of mind and insurance for everyone.

Ready to move forward with getting your business a new logo? You can find more information about my design process here, my portfolio here, and get in touch with me here. I can’t wait to learn more about your business and get started on a new logo for you!

May 10, 2017 by wiesra01

Let’s Get Started

From small local shops to big-name web publications, I work with you to design something you’re proud to have your name on.

Drop me a line here if you have questions or want to get started!