Common Client Questions & Concerns Addressed
In the design industry, it’s pretty common that all designers get the same general questions thrown their way. It’s important to know the reasons why we, as designers, either have certain systems in place or maybe have a more thorough client experience that comes with a higher price point. Everyone has certain needs in their business. Hopefully some of these common questions paired with our responses will help you see where our mindset is at here at V&CO.
Here we go…
“Why do I have to fill out a questionnaire & create a Pinterest board?”
Questionnaires and mood boards are essential for any designer to obtain before starting the logo design process. It ensures we are on the same page and not wasting anyone’s time. You may know what you want because you’ve seen something similar before. But my goal is to dig deeper, find out your target audience, and make sure that something you like will also resonate with your brand and who you are trying to reach. It guarantees a happy client/designer relationship from the start! Filling out a questionnaire and creating a Pinterest board also help you put in writing what your business is, what your goals are, and who you are trying to reach. Most of my clients are grateful for the questionnaire as it helps them really take the time to get their mission and vision for their business written down. Same goes for the Pinterest board! By pinning visuals that represent your brand, you have a greater chance of having a clear vision for your business going forward.
“How long does the design process take?”
The timeline varies from project to project! I always tell my clients that I can only work as fast as you can provide your homework and feedback to me. So if you are slower with emails, content, and overall communication, the process will naturally be slower overall. But if you are responsive and quick to return all of your content and feedback, the process can actually be quite quick and smooth! I always do my best to work within your specific deadlines, so it’s always best to be upfront about your expectations on delivery dates. In turn, we will do our best to communicate with you if your deadlines are not feasible or are unrealistic for your project goals. We are big believers in clear communication for every project!
“I can’t afford to work with you. Can you just simplify your services for me?”
Ooof. This one hurts. Not because you cannot afford to proceed with a service or package — that’s understandable... it happens! But asking any designer to simplify their offerings for you is the equivalent of a “slap in the face”. Our services are priced based on the value of the package. There is likely years of development, refinement, education, and bills on bills for the subscriptions we pay to operate our design softwares for the business. We have overhead as a business owner, just like anyone else. Not to mention, simplifying the service can also result in less information, preparation, or guidelines for the designer. This can result in a poor outcome because the process is missing elements that are key to the success of the project. I’ll be honest, early in my business, I made the mistake of removing the questionnaire and mood board part of the process in order to get the package price down for a prospective client. But at the end of the day, it didn’t help anyone! I didn’t have the information I needed before we began, which resulted in a design the client wasn’t envisioning because it wasn’t communicated with me in the process. All this to say… no. Services cannot and should not be simplified. Think of it this way: would you ask the contractors and developers of your home to apply the cheapest quality materials at half the cost only to have it deteriorate quicker and more rapidly? That will just end up costing you more in the end! It’s always better to invest at the beginning in the full services that will last longer — same goes for branding.
“The logo I’ve attached is exactly what I want. Can you do the same just with my business name?”
I kid you not, I’ve received an email like this before. Sorry, that’s not how we roll over here. There may be designers who will do that for you, but not us! There is a difference between taking inspiration from branding you admire vs. outright copying it. And that’s just not our style. We pride ourselves on being intentional and original with our designs so that we can create branding that reflects you, your business, and most importantly, your audience! If this is the type of service you are looking for, we will not provide it for you.
I’ve learned the hard way over the past 6 years in business that there are boundaries like these that need to be set. It’s in the best interest of the client and the designer! I promise! :)
