We don't typically make assumptions about people, but chances are you're a pretty resourceful person. You can figure things out. You can learn how to do things. You can fake it ‘til you make it—you are a small business owner, right? But, when it comes down to it, there are times where piecing something together (and hoping it doesn't look that way) isn't the right tact to take. Sometimes it's best to hire a professional to do the job and do it really well. And one of those times (that will probably come up more than a few) is when you need great graphics or a full brand. Today, then, we wanted to share our top tips to help you work with a professional graphic designer because it's an art in and of itself. Read on to see how you can build a great working relationship with one, get what you want without a ton of revisions, and save yourself form hacking your way through creative projects.
Tip #1 Find a designer who fits your brand vibe
Designers are talented people who are often creative chameleons, but that doesn't mean every graphic designer is the right designer for the project. Because, the reality is, designers have their specialties just like everyone else. Some are great at web design. Some specialize in branding.Some really like doing signage. Some love layouts. Some are modern and edgy…you get the idea. So, the best thing you can do is find and hire a graphic designer who isn't being asked to stretch too far outside of their zone of genius and intuitively gets what you're trying to do with your brand.
Tip #2 Be able to clearly communicate your needs and vision
As much as graphic designers can make magic, they are not in fact magicians who can read your mind. So, if you want to have a great working relationship with your graphic designer (and a stellar end product to boot),you need to be able to clearly communicate your goals, needs, and vision for the project. Not only does this help you get on the same page, but it also ensures your graphic designer is going in the right direction once they start working.
Pro-tip: When it comes to providing feedback to your designer, be as specific as possible. Open-ended feedback like, "Can you make it 'pop' more?" isn't actionable. Be clear about whether you want changes to colors, font types or sizes, placement or layout.
Tip #3 Give them what they need to do the job
When it comes to setting your graphic designer up for success, you need to give them the right tools. And, when it relates to your brand, those tools are your:
- Logo files (preferably in the original .ai or.psd file)
- Color codes
- Fonts
- Images (high-resolution, please!)
- Notes about how you prefer these assets get used (or not)
Enji makes it easy for you to organize all these things in our Brand Asset Library and send them off to your graphic designer! Simply upload your files and information to your Enji account and we'll start building out your brand style guide. From there, you can make changes or refinements as you need, and then quickly send a link so your designer can download everything from one place.
Want to give it a go so your next creative project goes smoother than the last? Start your free trial today!
