Have you’ve been wanting to update your current site for a while, or has your business grown in a way that your current branding isn’t really putting your best foot forward like you know it should be?

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I’ve been in that situation before, and it’s something that I’ve helped many creatives take action on through my studio.  

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Finding the right designer for this next chapter in your business can be a bit of a process to go through, especially if it’s your first time working with someone in this capacity.

Here are a two questions to keep in mind as you’re making your designer shortlist or getting on consultation/discovery calls:

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How well do you think they can execute YOUR vision?

The number one goal of every brand and website designer is to step into our client’s shoes and design through their brand’s voice and personality. In addition to that, we’re able to balance design with functionality and cohesion.

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I, personally, have a strong opinion about designers having a “signature style” in their client work. I don’t believe that you should be able to immediately know who designed someone’s brand or website. To me, that means that the designer is putting their biases so heavily on the client that the client becomes just another copy of the designer.

Some people go to designers because they want to emulate that designer’s style. But what they’re trying to copy is something that was tailored to someone else’s business. 

What I don’t have an issue with is being able to see certain characteristics of the designer come through or pop up from project to project. 

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For instance, I loveeeee typography. So when designing for clients, I tend to lean towards setting large font sizes and making splashy headlines. However, not every client or project requires that sort of boldness or that sort of punch, and in those instances I won’t go so dramatic because it’s not representative of that brand’s personality.

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At the end of the day, I will always do what’s best for the client’s target audience, not my ego.

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And at the beginning of every project, we’ll spend a good chunk of time nailing down who your target audience is so we can speak directly to them via copywriting that speaks their language, and design that delights them.

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What do you think of the designer as a person and as an artist?

There’s a difference between hiring someone to perform some graphic design tasks vs hiring someone that’s going to put effort and attention into bringing to life how you want to communicate your brand’s unique perspective to the world.

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You’ll be working with this person on building an ecosystem for your brand that takes time, an attention to detail, and the ability to manage a lot of moving parts. You should find a way to get to know the personality of this person as a business owner and as an artist. Now no one is saying that you should stalk their personal social media accounts or invite them out to dinner, but do spend some time learning about them, what interests them, how they act, etc.

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Read their case studies to see how they approach projects, watch a few of their reels that seem more personal to get a sense of their personality and what matters to them in their business, work and personal life. 

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When they talk about their process, listen.

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Try to see how each step in that process contributes to the overall development and growth of the brand from the ground up. 

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At the end of the day, you’ll need to be able to trust that this person will be able to not just physically deliver on the items in the contract, but will do so in a way that will set you, your business, and your brand up for success right now AND in the future. 

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