What Should I Look for in a Web or Brand Designer?
Finding the right clients is essential for designers, just as much as finding a good designer is essential for clients. It might seem a bit counter-intuitive to publish an article about hiring a web design company when we’re wanting to be your go-to, but in fact, the perfect client / designer relationship should truly start from a place of compatibility.
At Bold August Design Studio our goal is to be your partner in web design. We want to work with you, and not for you. This means that a symbiotic relationship is important. Sometimes clients will reach out and we realize that we might not be the best fit, and that’s okay! If everyone in the world was the same, the world wouldn’t be as colorful or exciting. Personality types, communication styles, aesthetic, and even geography can all be a factor in finding the right match.
Below are the 5 things I think everyone, designers and clients alike, should look for when deciding whether or not they’re a good fit for each other:
Vision, Vision, Vision
Style Compatibility / Flexibility
Communication Style
Package Contents + Delivery
Kindness & Energy
1: Vision
On the side of clients and designers alike, vision is the most important thing to have on both sides. Nothing is more challenging than having a client who has no idea what their brand name is, who their demographic is, or what their goals as a company are. On the other hand, a designer should be providing education, exploration, and guidance to allow the client to arrive at that point naturally. On the designer’s end, their company should also have very clear vision and goals. Is it to solely work with a certain type of client? Any client? How big of projects do they take, and how small? Do they only sell courses? Do they have a certain style or values? If it’s not clear on a web designer’s site who their ideal client is, it could show a lack of vision on their part as well.
Not sure if you have vision, or how to name your company? Grab a copy of my “How to Name Your Business - Workbook & Guide!”
2. Style Compatibility and Flexibility
Let’s be honest: designs go into trend and then they leave. Five years ago, we did fifteen or so watercolor + script logos because that was the “in” thing. Now, our studio is getting requests for “simple, clean, black and white” logos. I believe in 5 years we’ll get those same people coming back and requesting something more colorful and what’s will be line with future trends.
The point of this trend story is that design changes constantly. Designers have to stay on their toes to stay relevant and design things that are on-trend and also original.
Clients should be looking at the design styles of the designers’ portfolios they’re interested in, but they should also be looking at the sites that AREN’T a part of the trend or their portfolio. Do those feel as strong as the sites that are within their style?
How a designer handles a site that is different from their style demonstrates their flexibility working with different brands.
Obviously a designer can design things similar to their own aesthetic. But how can they handle the brand or site that’s in your mind that’s waiting to come to fruition? If your design vibe is similar to theirs, that’s great! But if it’s not, that doesn’t mean they can’t be flexible when working with you.
3. Communication Style
Take a moment to think about how you best like to communicate. Is it via phone? Email? When you have spare time on the weekends? How many meetings is the right amount for a full project scope?
I considered making this #1, because for Bold August Design Studio communication is extraordinarily important. However, most people can work within a slight difference in communication style as long as they’re making that preference clear and being open about their strengths and weaknesses.
Ask your potential design team what’s included in your project. Most studios cap meetings, and that’s okay! It’s so that they can focus their time on working on your projects. Or, they’ll have a dedicated project manager that will help them with communication so that they can focus on the design work.
Here are the pros and cons of each communication style:
Emails
Pros: Emails are trackable! They’re easy to reference, for both designers and clients alike. Also, they allow you to focus your thoughts and edit them so that they’re understandable for both parties. After all, can you have a bulleted list in a phone call?
Cons: Not everyone is as comfortable with a keyboard, and sometimes tone can get lost or misunderstood.
Phone Calls
Pros: You can really get a sense of a person’s voice and tone and ask questions more clearly! They can also be faster for the client, but not always for the designer. A phone call also requires dedicated time.
Cons: They’re not trackable. Additionally, sometimes a party can feel very put on the spot with questions because they will feel pressured to answer immediately. Designers also will have to send recap emails or jot down notes, and will need to take prep time before and after the meeting, so they can sometimes take longer.
In-Person Meetings
Pros: In-person meetings are the best way to get to know a client! They can allow both parties to show materials, show a screen, sketch, or quickly get across concepts. If you’re not in the same location, a video call can often achieve the same feeling, so consider that!
Cons: Traveling to and from meetings can be tough for both parties. They take much longer and can derail a whole day. For video meetings, sometimes technology can mess up, and they can feel disjointed.
4. Package Contents + Delivery
Clients: you should be knowledgable about what you want in a website. How many pages do you think you’ll need? Are you prepared to write copy? Do you have the time to offer sufficient feedback for your designer? Are you a person that really loves to think through things and see several rounds of items, or are you a “I know when I see it” kind of person?
All of these answers will help you find the right package - and right designer - to fit your needs.
Once you’ve assessed, be sure to read the details in your potential web designer’s packages. How many revisions do you get? How many pages are included? Do you get any support after your site launches? Who’s writing the copy? Understanding where you align with packages is essential.
Consider delivery speed as well. When do you need your site to launch? What is the turnaround time for design?
Not every designer offers the same package. Some will have fewer revisions. Some will launch your site and then offer paid hourly support. Some provide strategy as well as design. These aren’t negatives or positives, they simply reflect the style of the designer! Be sure to understand what works for you.
Be sure to visit our Site Design Packages to see what we include!
5. Kindness & Energy
There’s a lot of negativity in the world. Everyone has experienced a mean boss, had a rude encounter with another person, or had an unsupportive relationship sometime in their life.
I don’t want to be one of those negative forces in life, and I don’t want my clients to be that for me, either. One of my 5 things to look for, for a designer and a client alike, is the willingness to enter a solid partnership, be respectful of boundaries, and be excited about completing the project together.
I feel excited and fortunate every single day that I am a healthy individual who can come to a piece of hardware and create magic for another person. When I create a logo and get positive feedback from a client, it makes me incredibly happy, and I get to feel that feeling pretty often!
If either party is losing energy, feeling lost, or suddenly disrespectful of a boundary, it removes the kindness from the equation. Web design is important for business but not at the loss of respect or for satisfaction in your life!
Be sure to decide on a timeline that will feel comfortable for both of you and decide what your boundaries are.
In short, when seeking a designer for your website or for your logo, consider these five things:
Vision, Vision, Vision
Style Compatibility / Flexibility
Communication Style
Package Contents + Delivery
Kindness & Energy
If all of these things are compatible, you’ve found the right designer!
