Ask your network
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get the information you need. Your friends, colleagues and business acquaintances will have recommendations for you, and will be honest about their experiences with graphic designers. Feel free to ask more in-depth questions, as this will help later when you are determining exactly what your expectations for your designer are.
Portfolio
When looking at a potential design firm’s portfolio, look beyond the work. A few key questions:
- What kind of clients are they working with?
- Do they have experience in the type of design you need?
- Do you need a graphic designer, or a web designer or programmer?
Ask another designer
Designers generally have a completely different network than most business owners. If you work with a website designer and you need a new logo, ask them for a recommendation. This is also a great option if you’re not positive about what you need – a designer will likely be able to pinpoint it.
Do you have more to add, including what has worked for you in the past? Let us know in the comments!