How to Choose a Graphic Designer

When potential clients tell me that they’re not sure how to choose a graphic designer I ask them to first think about the message that they want to convey with their graphics.  Your corporate logo has to be easily recognized whether it’s reduced small enough to fit on a business card or the pocket of a T-shirt or enlarged big enough to fit on the side of a truck.  If you want to know how to choose a graphic designer you have to look for someone who knows a little bit more than just how to draw a cute little cartoon character.

Thanks in part to Nike and their famous ‘Swoosh’, more and more business owners are coming to understand the importance of branding their business.  You don’t even have to see Nike’s name on anything anymore.  All you need to see is their “Swoosh’.  It tells you their name, it lets you know the make athletic footwear and it tell you to ‘Just Do It’.  The Clydesdales are Budweiser’s way of branding their company.  A Clydesdale horse automatically brings to mind Budweiser Beer and a taste of the Old World.  So how did Nike and Budweiser come up with these wonderful images for branding their companies?  And more important, how do YOU choose a graphic designer if you’re not being backed by a multi-million dollar conglomerate?

When you search for graphic design in Birmingham you want someone experienced in creating an image that will tell the world everything they need to know about your company with just one look.  And you want it to be something they’ll remember.   The reason the FedEx logo is such a great design is because someone actually took the time to think about it, altered the fonts, and made the arrow appear between the E and the X.   You want to look for a designer who thinks like the FedEx designer.  Look for someone who not only understands you company’s mission statement but can also translate it into images.   So when you ask me how to choose a graphic designer my first answer is to look for someone who has more than just rudimentary Photoshop skills.  He also needs to know how to connect with people.