Since every project can vary, most graphic designers won’t just list their rates on their website. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t just walk in a car dealership and ask how much it costs to buy a car. You would have to specify what model you’re looking for, whether you want a convertible, whether you want leather seats, and so on. Similarly, freelance graphic designers need to know all the information about the task before they can give you a price that’s fair to the scope of the project.
Therefore, after you’ve found a graphic designer with a portfolio you like, just send them an e-mail introducing yourself and giving an outline of the project. Include things like the time frame of when you’ll need it to be done and whether it’s web or print work. If you’re looking to get a website design, tell them how many pages you need, if you want a mobile website or app as well, whether they need to design the entire identity or if there’s already existing collateral for them to work with. It’s also incredibly helpful if you can provide examples of other designs you like and list the reasons why you like them. Graphic designers are visual people, so any visual inspiration you can give will help the vision in their head match the vision in yours.
Now onto the big thing: money. When hiring a graphic designer, you need to weight how much value the design will have for your product or company. If you’re a small, local business that already has a dedicated client base and you just need to update your logo, you will probably not pay a huge amount of money for that. However, if you’re a new start-up or a company with more complex graphic design needs, you should definitely consider a more ‘consistent’ budget. No matter the size of your company and the type of your graphic design needs, having a good design behind your product is a must. Here are some estimative rates for graphic design work:
- If we’re talking about hourly rates, most experienced freelance graphic designers charge between $65 and $150 per hour. Those graphic designers who are already famous in the industry charge an hourly rate that starts at $300. At the low end, newbies charge from $25 to $50 per hour.
- Project-based rates vary from designer to designer and from project to project. For example, a logo designing project is usually charged around $150 – $450 if the graphic designer uses standardized templates adapted for your specific business needs. A logo designed from scratch typically costs from $500 to $2,000. Business stationery created from a template is most often charged $150 to $250. If you want to hire a graphic designer to create a brand-new brochure, expect to pay somewhere from $300 to $600.
More important than rates, when hiring a graphic designer, you should choose someone who is really passionate about what they do. If you work with a passionate designer, they’ll be very willing to go with the ideas you have in mind. As they live and breathe design, they’ll be open-minded, results-driven, and eager to help you with anything in any direction you want to go.
Furthermore, pay attention to style. Every graphic designer has their own personal style and when opting for an expert, you want to go for the one whose style matches what will be the best representation for your brand.
Not to mention versatility and attention to details. If you need someone to help you with projects like designing a website or print materials, you definitely want a graphic designer who is versatile. Attention to details is very important as well because a graphic designer who pays close attention to ‘the little things’ will be able to help you choose the right colors, the right fonts, and have the keen eye that discerns the differences between apparently similar items.
The main aspect to keep in mind is that you should be respectful, realistic, and work with the graphic designer in order to come up with a product you’re both happy with. Remember that neither one of you has the upper hand. If you want the best results, the collaboration has to be an equal and positive partnership.
Written By: Delia Tugui November 25, 2018
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