Graphic design does wonders for marketing efforts, but only if you manage to choose the right designers and take a smart approach to building trust with them.
According to FinancesOnline, almost 50% of SMBs believe that graphic design is a key driver to their success. Professional graphic designers can create masterpieces. However, without some collaboration on the part of a client, the effort may be futile.
Related post: How to Choose a Designer Whose Style Matches Your Own
How do you maintain a rewarding relationship with your graphic designer to achieve top-notch results?
Be as Open as Possible
If you want the designer to understand your needs, it’s important to be open about them. Make sure to communicate your requirements as clearly as possible. If you have questions, ask them. If you have limitations, talk about them.
As the experts are trying hard to meet your needs, don’t hesitate to give them some help. If you aren’t straightforward about the details, there is a possibility that the designer may not understand your needs correctly.
Trust the Professional Opinion
A graphic designer can point your attention to something you’ve missed or make suggestions about correcting your plans. Listening to what the designer has to say isn’t just the key to building trust with an expert, it can help you achieve excellent results. In short, try to be flexible. Don’t take suggestions as criticism.
Be Straightforward About Your Budget
Talking about the budget may be uncomfortable. But if you don’t share your financial abilities with the designer, they may make incorrect budget-related decisions along the way. Be clear about what you can and can’t spend. A professional designer can adjust the project to the size of your budget and explain what can be done considering the money you can spend.
Be Open to Communication
Professional designers love to ask questions. They know that it’s better to ask twice than to redo the project. That’s why you should be ready to communicate regularly. While questions may seem annoying sometimes, they are the key to successful collaboration and top-notch results.
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Provide Constructive Criticism
If you don’t like something a designer has done, always explain the reason. The phrase “I don’t like that purple font in the corner” doesn’t provide any constructive information. Consider explaining why you don’t like the color. Perhaps it stands out too much while you want to focus the potential client’s attention on something else. Or maybe you think that the size is wrong or the color is too bright. A lack of detailed explanation could lead to another unintentional mistake.
Share Examples
More often than not, a great idea for a design is inspired by someone else’s work. Don’t be hesitant about showing your graphic designer examples. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Saying “I want it to look like this, only somewhat different” and showing a picture is a much better option than saying “I want something that truly rocks! Please do something”. Providing examples of elements, colors and fonts you don’t like can also be helpful throughout this process.
Let Trust Prevail
Some clients are afraid that without proper supervision, a graphic designer will make mistakes. They insist on monitoring the process closely, thus making the designer’s job tougher.
Even though regular communication is the key to the success of a project, nagging could delay it substantially. After all, graphic design is a creative process. Allow the designer some freedom and room to maneuver. It’s bound to pay off.
Building trust with the graphic designer is one of the most important parts of any project. Once you “click” with your designer, amazing results are guaranteed. If you’re looking for professional graphic designers to help with your next project, contact the experts at Ironmark. We look forward to helping your next project!
