Frequently Asked Questions
•1. How much do you charge for designing logos?
•2. What does the cost include?
•3. Other designers are charging less than you. Can you match their price?
•4. How long will it take to complete the project?
•5. Can you start working on my design right away?
•6. What does your design process include?
•7. What do you send me in the initial logo ideas?
•8. What are the final file types you provide my logo in?
•9. Do you create style guides for the logos you design?
•10. Do you do some research for each project?
•11. Do you take client competition and their logos into consideration in your project?
•12. I'm in a different country from you. Can you still work with me?
•13. Is it possible to talk over the phone?
•14. Can you help with stationery printing?
•15. Will my new logo feature in your portfolio?
•16. What payment methods do you accept?
1. How much do you charge for designing logos?
This is probably the most asked question and an obvious one too. In most cases, more details of the actual design project is required prior to giving what might be close to an answer because every single design project is different just like your company will be different to other companies. It is safe to note that the reason a logo is needed is because you require your brand identity to be unique so chances are you'll want your logo to be different from other companies thus the quote would have to be tailored to your specific needs.
Many factors affect the price of a logo; a small company where the logo is accessible by one person and the usage is minimal would weigh differently to a large corporation where the usage is by a group of individuals thus requiring an exhaustive documentation.
2. What does the cost include?
The design cost is made up mainly of the time spent which can span from several weeks to months depending on the complexity of the project. As mentioned, each design project is different however, you can read about what happens in the Logo Design Process (LDP) or specifcally at one of the previous logos I've designed e.g. All About U.S.(AAU).
The cost also includes ideation and realisation of the completed logo in various formats ready for use across a wide range of media. The client will have full ownership of the logo.
3. Other designers are charging less than you. Can you match their price?
As it is necessary to choose the right designer, it is also necessary to choose the clients that respects my art.
I believe it is important that a client values the service I provide and this is a basis for conducting business. If anyone could design a logo that best suits an organisation, then it would make sense to use anyone however, that isn't the case. It is the case that not all logos are the same, similarly, not all organisations are the same.
Providing a deadline from the onset is almost impossible because with each design project being different, one cannot gauge how long it will take to complete.
At the start of the project, dates for showing initial design briefs can be provided however, until the intricate details for each project is known, a final deadline for the project cannot be provided. Please read the 'Business Proceedings' which is under the sectioned headed "Terms of Business" on the Legal Notices page to learn about the breakdown of projects unfold with DfMS.
5. Can you start working on my design right away?
This all depends on the amount of projects that is currently underway. It is imperative that I pay close attention to my current clients as ongoing projects is paramount. Like any industry that provides a service, taking on too much work at once will adversely affect the outcome and DfMS is not willing to compromise; after all, the nature of the business is not supplying commodities.
Send a quick email to see if DfMS can get started on your design project immediately.
6. What does your design process include?
You can read up on the logo design process (LDP); alternatively, you can read the LDP for previous logo projects such as All About U.S. (AAU).
7. What do you send me in the initial logo ideas?
For initial logo ideas, a low-resolution JPEG or PDF file is sent; the designs are shown over a page or two in varying colour formats typically in 100% black with white background or softer grey with a dark background and if a suiting colour is involved (either because of style or by request because your company has a distinctive colour scheme) this is included.
A low-resolution image is sent to allow for faster file transmission. The final version is supplied in full dpi resolution.
If required (as opposed to sending many versions on file), the images can be placed on the DfMS server for a limited duration during the project life cylce and the link is sent to the client to view (the link to the files on the DfMS server will be unique and only the client will have access to this link). Alerts are then sent to the client for Progress Update Viewings in such instances to see the progress at the given milestones. This can allow the client to make a comparison easily without having to search through many different emails for previous renditions.
8. What are the final file types you provide my logo in?
The most important file types your logo will be supplied in are *.ai (Adobe Illustrator) or *.eps (Encapsulated PostScript). The reason for this is that the logo will maintain its vector form to allow for scalability and for cad-cutting machines to recgnise the vector shapes that make up the logo.
In the first instance with regards to scalability, this means if you want to make the logo bigger (or smaller), the quality of the logo does not depreciate which can happen with lossy image formats provided the dimensions ratios are kept. For example, scaling from 100px by 200px to 1000px by 2000px will not make the image appear pixelated; a word here which means to become grainy or 'blocky' around the edges which can be noticed with absolute image file formats such as JPEGS thus resembling something from a 1980's home computer.
In the second instance with regards to cad-cutting machines, some logos are designed with a varied form of application in mind such as being printed on uniforms or promotional T-shirts (please read the Services page). One of the methods this can be achieved is with vynil; the shape of the logo is etched out on the vynil and this can then be heat pressed into the garment.
9. Do you create style guides for the logos you design?
Style guides are useful regardless however, their usefulness are not absolute; if your logo will only be used by yourself or a very small group of people, they might not be needed. This is also dependent on the application of your logo. If your logo will be used by a wide range of people, you have a large organisation and many people will have access to its use and / or your logo will be applied to various formats, then a style guide will be useful.
Style guides can be range from a single page to a several page document in PDF format containing instructions on how to use it, colour codes in hexadecimal form, minimum reproduction size and isolation areas for maximum effect.
10. Do you do some research for each project?
Absolutely! Only upon understanding what is required can a project commence. Due to the fact that each project will be different, research will have to be carried out in the best results are to be achieved and the type of research will vary for each project.
11. Do you take client competition and their logos into consideration in your project?
Essentially, any competitive organisation would want to be best equipped with regards to its branding in order to get a chance at owning as much of the market share as possible; so strictly speaking, part of the process necessitates that the competition is evaluated.
It is common sense to see what mistakes others are making and therefore not reproduce it even if they are not the competition.
12. I'm in a different country from you. Can you still work with me?
Good news!!! Yes, DfMS can still work with you. The good thing about this industry is that most of the interaction can be done via the internet in one form or another which tends to be quicker if all things regarding the project are in accord; this however does not rule out face-to-face dealings.
13. Is it possible to talk over the phone?
Indeed! Once initial contact ha been made, it is customary for all clients to receive my mobile phone number.
Other alternatives do exist to speaking over the telephone such as Skype which is a VOIP System (Voice Over Internet Protocol), a popular and growing type of service. This can save phone bill costs especially if we are different countries since skype-to-skype calls are free. My skype username is dragonfly_ms.
14. Can you help with stationery printing?
Having previously worked in the commercial print industry, extensive experience has been gained and DfMS also has good relationships with printing firms.
Prior to designing any type of for-print-graphics, it is essential to be clear of the final use; the size it will be printed at, the type and texture of the media (paper, card, canvas etc) it will be printed on, whether the photos (if any) need to beretouched.
If your printed design will be on display, chances are that it might get 'handled'. For examples, menus, price lists etc. so many hands will touch it. In such instances, some sort of protection will be needed. One form of protection is lamination. The type of lamination can range from gloss finish to matte. If it will be displayed outdoors, then the choice of lamination will adversely affect visibility. Glares from the Sun will reflect on gloss lamination so matte lamination is best which acts as an opaque coating.
Original paper colour will affect the colours of your printed graphics as printing ink is transparent; chances are that bright white paper will show the colours as intended where as a yellowish white paper will reduce the vibrance of the colours.
It is also important to ensure it has been proof-read by several people (not just yourself). Consider whether it is a short-run print job or a long-run print job; shopping around is highly advised.
A draft copy is always good to print out once the design is finished to make sure all the page sequences are correct. If possible, I always advise clients to send a draft copy to the printers to ensure they understood your instructions to minimise any mistakes. It will be a shame to print a thousand copies of a brochure and the pages do not flow correctly.
15. Will my new logo feature in your portfolio?
Not all the logos designed are guaranteed to be showcased in the site portfolio as I reserve the right. As it stands, there are several design projects that are yet to be added to the site portfolio.
Due to the fact that each project is different, the process to document each individual project will vary.
16. What payment methods do you accept?
The different payment methods are as follows:
• Cash
• Bank Transfers
• Cheque
• PayPal
The currency is in GBP (Great British Pounds). Payments in other currencies will have to be converted into GBP.
Thank you for reading the answers above. If there are other questions that haven't been answered above, please send a message using the form on the contact page.