Tel : 0800 0431 298 |
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<< Back to Interviews Homepage Q: If someone is looking to commission design services should they try and secure a fixed fee for a contract or an hourly rate? What is the conventional way design works? A: Both are suitable - larger scale projects are normally charged on a fixed fee basis, perhaps with provisos for unforeseen circumstance. The hourly rate is usually used on small, short jobs that make it reasonable for both parties. Generally, we try to asses what is best for the client and so give them that as an option. Q: Can you define for me dreadful, really terrible graphic design? Do you see any branding at the moment out there that is bordering on the ridiculous or you think just won't work? A: I don't think there is such a thing s terrible design per se, more that design can be wholly inappropriate for the circumstance - design is a subjective matter and what works for some people will not work for others. For me, there is a correct solution and it is how we achieve that solution that matters. Q: Is there anything a client can do to help ensure the best solution from their side? A: Yes, give honest feedback, get involved, our clients come in all shapes and sizes - the ones that get the best result are the ones that respond honestly, this enables the result to be tailored to their field - of course we have a lot of input, but the best results come from working together. In this way informed decisions are made, which have real value within the project.
A: Very hard, and some clients do not realise that they have any! Even great customer service in a hard line industry can be a USP… It really helps to get the client to chat about their product or service - we then prod for more info, and can establish a strong angle from there. Q: You sometimes hear the phrase "Design by committee" in the world of design and it's usually not something that's seen as a positive thing. What is "design by committee? What are pros and cons of it from a design perspective? A: Design by committee is generally accepted to mean that there
are a large number of decision makers within a project, and that
each are on the same hierarchal or status level as the other - this
can mean that no-one takes ultimate control or responsibility for
the project on the client side, and strong design decisions can
get watered down in an attempt to appease the member of committee
that is least convinced by the chosen direction. Inevitably, the
end result is a lot weaker than if the committee elects a project
manager, who then distils opinion, focuses on the intended outcome
of the piece and accepts the challenge of the project and runs with
the responsibility. |
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