As a Graphic Designer myself, I’ll be the first to admit – we’re fussy! We have strong opinions and are perfectionists to the very core! So I could totally understand how tempting the thought of revenge would be…
Here are 8 handy hints should you ever want to completely dismantle a Graphic Designer and destroy their self esteem!!
These have all happened to me at some point or another, and whilst it is incredibly frustrating at the time, I can look back now and have a bit of a laugh!
1. Send your images in Microsoft Word / Microsoft Publisher format
Seeing MS Word and Publisher file attachments in our e-mails make us want to pull our hair out – mainly when they have been used to send images and logos.
Placing images in a Microsoft program to send them creates additional work for us as we have to go through and save out all of the individual files again. AND Microsoft programs have the annoying tendency to reduce the quality of the photos substantially!
2. Send low-resolution images
So often we are asked ‘I have this image, it’s not very big, but can you Photoshop it to make it bigger?’
A low-resolution image cannot be increased in size without becoming pixelated and looking horrible. Always send a high-resolution file or the original photo.
If your image is being used for print material or you require is to be largely displayed on the screen – send us the original photo (at least 1MB in size)
3. Tell us you don’t like “white space”
As designers we do not like this phrase. “White space” is strategically placed in a design for a reason. Our eye is naturally inclined to work its way around a page/screen in a logical order – it just happens instinctively. “White space” is placed in carefully thought out areas so that the eye knows which direction to move. If there is too much happening on the page then the eye gets overwhelmed and loses interest quickly.
Feel free to voice your concerns – but make sure you ask us ‘why?’ first.
4. Tell us to make the logo bigger
Bigger isn’t always better. The logo should be prominent – but it isn’t the main artwork. The logo is strategically placed so that the viewer will know exactly where to find it, regardless of the size.
Again, feel free to voice your concerns – but make sure you ask us ‘why?’ first.
5. Expect us to know what you like
We are designers, not psychics – everyone has different taste, and every designer has a different style. You will not get what you want unless you tell us what that is.
Come to us with a plan, there is no point in coming to us and saying ‘I want a logo’ without having spent some time considering your thoughts and ideas. These can come from simply spending some time having a look at other designs – what you do (and just as importantly what DON’T you) like about them. And how do these ideas relate to your business?
6. Expect unlimited revisions
There is a limit to how much we can revise our work based on the brief and feedback you have given us. That is why it pays to be very specific about the changes you want to begin with. Constantly changing your mind tells us that you are indecisive and aren’t sold on the design to begin with.
7. Use vague instructions
‘Jazz it up a bit”, “There’s no oomph”, “Can you make it pop?” – These phrases don’t give us any direction at all.
Try to be specific in how you want us to create what is lacking.
8. Insist that we use fonts inappropriate for the project
As designers we understand that the choice of font can make or break a design, which is why we ask a lot of questions about the background of your business to understand what it is that you do and who your target market is. We then find appropriate fonts that suit the design based on that information. So please don’t tell us to use Comic Sans or Helvetica – we know what we are looking for!
Being a Graphic Designer can be an incredibly high stress profession as we strive to meet the needs and wants of our clients so that they are 100% happy and satisfied… but all within a very tight deadline. With multiple projects on the go at once, there is that struggle to keep an open mind and to apply unique and fresh thinking to each individual project.
Careful planning and consideration is taken with every decision or mark we make on the page to make sure that we are capturing your business in the best possible light.