12 Tips to Help You Find the Right Designer

According to Statista, the total number of web developers and designers reached approximately 178,900 in 2023. This number is expected to hit 205,000 by 2030. While there are many skilled and qualified designers worldwide, finding the right one for a specific project can still be challenging.

If you're hiring a graphic designer and worry you might overlook something important, we recommend the following steps:

• Define your needs. What type of professional relationship do you want with the artist? Will it be a one-time project or ongoing collaboration? Do you have enough budget to hire a designer as a full-time employee?
• Characterize your project. Do you need a comprehensive branding campaign for your startup, or are you just looking for someone to create a few print pieces? A project specification helps filter out high-quality candidates.

Pro tip: If you're unsure exactly what you need, it helps to list all the places where you'd like to advertise your business. This way, the specialist can better understand your requirements and create a tailored proposal.

If you're a startup owner wondering how to hire a graphic designer who can create fantastic promotional materials, the tips below are sure to appeal to you.

1. Personal Traits

Have you ever wondered why two designers with the same professional skills have completely different areas of work?

One earns a living performing routine tasks, while the other participates in creative projects and earns a decent income.

Do personal qualities influence professional success? What should a designer be like to land a high-paying position?

• Sociability. An artist constantly interacts with clients, team members, and prospects. They must easily establish rapport and maintain good relationships throughout the process.
• Curiosity. What is a Reuleaux triangle? Who is behind Mondrianism? What colors did Pantone release in 2020? New terms and styles in design appear every year, and a good designer should be curious about these innovations. To keep up with progress, specialists learn new techniques, attend webinars and workshops, and participate in unusual projects.
• Ability to handle criticism. No company is infallible, and design history has many failures. For example, Wolff Ollins was responsible for the 2012 Olympic Games logo, which many critics called "hideous" and an "artistic failure," and the general public was also unhappy. However, the agency survived the shame period and later proposed interesting concepts for future projects. Thanks to this approach to criticism, they weathered the difficult period and even found solid clients later, such as Uber.
• Observational power. Talented designers can find ideas for their creations in everyday objects. Of course, you can find many interesting ideas on Behance, but some are traceable across various branding campaigns. So if an artist can turn ordinary things into stunning promotional materials, they are sure to succeed. Additionally, attention to detail helps designers spot weaknesses in their work.
• Logic. Design is a bit like math. Typically, there's a problem that the designer must solve using logical means. For example, when developing a logo, you need to understand how to convey the company's idea, philosophy, and specialization in a single image. Moreover, the logo must be clear, recognizable, and suitable for various types of media.

2. Experience

When looking for a designer, you should pay attention to their experience. An experienced artist can turn a simple concept into something truly exciting and even rework your original idea in ways you never imagined.

Typically, people who have been designing for a long time work with clients from various niches and understand what works best for each field. Moreover, they easily combine creative graphic design ideas to produce completely unique results.

A person with solid design experience is more willing to take on complex tasks and perform them with maximum efficiency. Additionally, professionals value their clients and do their best for mutual benefit. Of course, you should ask the designer about their experience and what tasks they can handle.

Review the portfolio to determine the designer's style and skill, and how they compare to competitors. Unsurprisingly, the best artist will have more impressive skills than a beginner.

While work samples play an important role, we strongly recommend evaluating real-world experience. This includes the conditions under which the design was created, the designer's communication style, how the client and designer defined their roles, and the time and budget constraints. If both the portfolio and real-world experience satisfy you, you're very lucky.

To feel confident when hiring a graphic designer, it's best to choose someone with 2-5 years of experience in the field.

3. Portfolio

Every designer offering their services has a portfolio. By reviewing it, you can tell if the person meets your requirements.

If the portfolio is small or consists of similar works, you've likely found a beginner. If the portfolio is extensive, you should still check whether the designs presented match what you're looking for. For example, if you need a memorable logo for your brand and the designer's portfolio is all web design, it's better to continue searching. Or if you're in a high-tech industry and the designer focuses on retail clients, they may not understand your audience and fail to deliver the right materials.

In summary, define your needs, then check whether this specific candidate fits your project requirements. If you're planning to create a platform for virtual events, verify if the designer can handle such a versatile design.

4. Online Reviews

People looking for specific services often search for online reviews. This method applies whether you need a freelance designer or want to hire a designer working for a company.

Some firms turn to Andela reviews to find a designer that fully matches their company's strategy and goals.
For freelancers, most have profiles on Upwork, Guru, or Hubstaff Talent.

These platforms have a special section where former clients can rate the quality of the designs they received using stars. Additionally, they can add text describing the designer's strengths and weaknesses. This system is very simple.

If you're planning to contact a particular person and want more information, you can ask them for a link to their Freelancer, Dribbble, Portfolio, or social media accounts. If a specialist wants to establish a presence in the design field, they must have at least one such account. There you can find almost all the details that influence your decision.

5. Payment

Unsurprisingly, the money you can afford to spend is one of the most important factors to consider when looking for a designer. Whether you plan to hire a full-service web design agency with a team of professionals or an individual specialist, you need to show that you value their work but want prices within your means.

You should discuss all the nuances of pricing with the designer. Beginners may charge a lower price but require more active participation from you. If you don't mind spending time on various issues, go for it.

If you'd rather not be involved in the design process and want a quality result in a short time, it's better to go with a specialist. Experienced designers know how to organize work and set prices for their services.

Of course, lower rates are very advantageous, but in the long run, they may lead to higher costs. If you want a quality product, you must pay a reasonable price for it. We recommend avoiding overly low prices and very large discounts. Both offers indicate something is off.

6. Availability

If you're hiring a graphic artist in your region, you should arrange a one-on-one meeting to discuss all your requirements and unclear points. Additionally, you'll see if you're comfortable with this person, which is essential for productive collaboration.

The designer will be able to learn more about your company, target audience, industry, and competitors. By exchanging ideas, you'll understand whether you're on the same wavelength or should look for another specialist.

7. Expectations

Good designers think outside the box, so you only need to give them brief instructions and wait for results. However, if you have something specific in mind, you must voice your thoughts. It's frustrating when you have a clear vision for the future logo but your designer knows nothing about it. They then follow their intuition, present the logo, and see disappointment on your face.

You must shed light on all important aspects to avoid possible confusion and even additional costs. If the specialist asks you something, be sure to provide as many details as possible. Sometimes being verbose doesn't hurt. The key is to stay on topic and respond promptly.

8. Designer's Requirements

Even though you are the client hiring a graphic artist and paying for their services, treat the deal as a mutually beneficial process. This means you should do everything possible to help your designer.

In other words, you need to understand their needs related to documentation, deadlines, briefs, concept reviews, and so on. If you listen to each other from the start, your work will be pleasant and productive.

A designer is a person trying to meet your needs, so respect their freedom, flexibility, and individuality.

9. Test Project

If you can't choose between several graphic designers, give each of them the same test assignment and then evaluate the results. Choose something quick to execute, like a simple logo using a logomaker or a small design for a current project.

We also recommend selecting a test project directly related to your business so you can verify their competence. Keep in mind that even test tasks are paid.

10. Designer's Inspiration

Last but not least, consider the sources of inspiration the designer uses. Working in creative fields, people often face a lack of ideas or motivation, which can be a serious problem. You should ask the candidate about their favorite design books, blogs, and websites to ensure they won't abandon your project halfway.

Don't limit your search for a designer to just a specific set of skills. This is a person you will collaborate with, and nothing beats a personal conversation to understand them. Moreover, focusing on their sources of inspiration will give you a better sense of their style.

11. Understanding of Modern Technologies

If you want to stand out in a competitive market, you must stay up to date with the latest technologies. Professional designers often use Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Sketch, and similar software in their work. Anyone aiming to make a mark in this field must be proficient in modern techniques and tools.

If you are well-versed in web design, be sure to mention that in your resume. People interested in design services may also ask if you can create websites, and it would be a shame to answer "no." So it's better to spend some time on that.