Top 5 Questions to Ask A Graphic Designer

You might only need a graphic designer for a single project, but their work can affect your business for years to come. Those images and logos are the first things that make an impression on your clients. With that, this can influence the decision whether or not they want to use your services. For that reason, you need to find the best graphic designer for the job.

Why Is the Interview Process Important?

You want to hire someone that you can trust, and you want your project in capable hands. Plus, you need to know if the person has the experience and skills to meet your specific needs. Asking questions can help you gauge whether this graphic designer will exceed all of your expectations. It is crucial whether the designer fully understands your vision while still adding their own personal touch to the project. Let’s look at those top five questions that you need to ask a graphic designer.

5 – How Well Do You Work Under Pressure?

Graphic design can be a high-stress job, and you want to make sure the designer can live up to the task. Unfortunately, many outside forces can derail a project. With this question, you can see how the designer takes the appropriate steps to resolve any situation. You want to find a designer who can handle those issues and keep the project on task. This is the perfect opportunity to see if the designer has a vision that correlates to your own views.

This might also be the time to see if the designer can work within your budget. Monetary issues are often one of those things that can cause problems in a project. How does your graphic designer handle these changes? The last thing you want is to hire a designer who takes up your entire budget with unnecessary delays and problems.

4 – What Is Your Graphic Design Process?

You want to see if the graphic designer works under a tight deadline when you ask this question. In most cases, the designer will set aside time for revisions and other types of critiques. A great designer has a basic estimate about how long your project should take to complete but will remind you that those estimates can change from project to project.

You want to know what type of design software that the person uses for their projects. A professional designer should have experience with Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator. If you don’t know about these programs, get yourself a little familiarized with them. That can help you easily update or alter the graphics in the future. At the very least, a familiarity with the software can help you discuss the finer points with your designer.

You might want to ask about how the files are handled after the project is finished. In some cases, the designer hands over all the relevant files to the client, and they don’t keep a backup. However, many designers will have backups, and they could offer to make changes for a set amount of time. Before you hire someone for the job, you want them to outline what they will do with those project files.

3 – Can I See Your Portfolio?

A portfolio is an integral part of the interviewing process. With a few samples, you can decide whether the graphic designer is the ideal person for the project. Take some time to see if the designer has examples that can relate to your industry. You might want to take a few minutes to ask them about their thought process during a particular project. In many cases, the designer will list their favorite project first in their online portfolio. Ask them to explain the sample and why they chose specific projects for the portfolio.

Along with that, the portfolio should give you a chance to see how the designer stays up to date with current trends. You might want to ask the designer about how they keep up with the changing market. Some designers will read the latest graphic design magazines, while others check out a professional message board. Since technology is evolving, you want to find a designer who keeps ahead of the newest trend. A designer with an ever-expanding knowledge base is an excellent choice for any project.

2 – What Was the Most Interesting Project?

When a designer talks about other projects, there should be a sense of enthusiasm in their explanation. You don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have a passion for the job. With this question, you can find out what type of work interests the designer. Graphic design is a broad field, and you need to find a professional who has a passion that correlates with your project.

1 – Why Do You Want To Work for Us?

Finally, you want to see why this particular graphic designer wants to work for your company. Many companies have websites that can be easily researched. There is no reason why someone cannot come up with an excellent answer to this question. When listening to the response, you can determine if this individual is a good fit for the project. Your designer should be passionate about the job, and they should show some enthusiasm to have you as a client.

After you have asked these five vital questions, feel free to discuss anything else that may be important to the job. With a great interview, you can understand what this designer will bring to the project and whether their work can significantly impact your business.

Find the Right Graphic Design Team for Your Project

When you need suitable graphics for your business, you don’t want to leave the job to just anyone. At Hyland Graphic Design & Advertising, we can help you create the right visuals and advertising for your specific business. Our team understands the latest technology and keeps up with the recent trends. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at (484) 879-6145.