What is your design process?
Because great design starts by understanding your problems, we begin by asking questions. A lot of questions. We work to understand your self-image, goals, audience, competition, project parameters and desired outcomes. From this research we develop a Design Brief, which defines the strategy to guide the design process, and gets everyone focused on the needs and goals for the project. Only once we have the Design Brief completed do we actually begin designing your project. We present several options for your designs (typically three) and through several rounds of comments and edits we deliver the final design. From there we manage the production of the project to make sure that the final delivered product matches not only the design, but the original expectations as well.
Bottom-line: our goal is to create materials that influence your audience and further your mission, not look pretty in an awards annual. We use our understanding of strategic messaging and communication to do it. Couple that with a strong design sense, and the result is more than a good-looking design. It’s an effective one.
How much do you charge for (insert my project here)?
It depends on the project. One organization might need a small informational website that is just a few pages, while a large organization needs one that is 3000 pages with multiple templates. The same with a brochure, an annual report, etc. But our pricing is basically done in two ways:
Typically we charge projects on a per-project basis. We have experience doing many types of jobs . . . from print to interactive to signage, even PowerPoint projects. We base our fees off of the time we have tracked on past projects, therefore our estimates are really pretty accurate based on the scope of work presented to us. If the scope of the project changes, the client will be informed in advance of all additional fees or costs.
There is also the option to have us work on retainer. If you have a steady need for communications work from month to month, and require a long-term partner, this might be a good option for you. We will collectively determine a set number of hours that will fill your needs each month, and we will be available to guarantee your needs are met.
Can you do my logo for $300?
No. Logos are not just clip art. They are the personality of your brand, and the first item any of your customers will ever encounter on your materials. Whether it’s a website, tshirt, brochure, or business card, your logo has to speak volumes. Therefore careful thought and strategy should go into the creation of your logo. We do a full analysis of a client’s audience, goals, needs and etc before even thinking of the design itself to make sure that the mark embodies all that it needs to say. We also make sure it looks like none of your competitors, and advise you to work with getting your logo trademarked for protection. Therefore it costs quite a bit more than a few hundred dollars.
If all you want is cheap clip art and some type, please go elsewhere. Really. If you want to go the extra mile and create an identity that’s unique, contact us.
How about a simple website using a template, and changing the colors and fonts?
There are firms that will do this, and you may end up with a site that works for you, but it will look like several other sites with just a color or font shift. That’s not what we do. We create a custom site for every client. Which means that your site will never ever resemble any other site put out there on the web. It will use best web practices, the latest technology, and be custom to your needs. Not one site we’ve ever done looks like another client’s site.
If you just need something up on the web, go with an existing template and customize it a bit. If you want something unique and original, contact us.
Do you ever take on pro-bono or discounted work?
Yes! We give away a year’s worth of branding and design to a green/sustainable organization that can’t otherwise afford full services via our Annual Green Grant. If you are such an organization, please apply to our Grant. The Grant applications open each year around Labor Day, are due early November, and the winner announced each December. Sign up for our email newsletter to get the announcement when the next Grant is open. Past winners have included:
- 2009: RACHNA
- 2010: Barkwheats Organic Dog Biscuits
- 2011: Santa Barbara Channelkeepers
Do ever do spec (speculative) work?
Never. Professional design is about creating custom solutions, not cookie-cutter concepts that can be done quickly and without a full understanding of a client’s needs. If you are curious about learning why speculative work and crowd-sourcing are a bad idea for design, please visit the NO!SPEC website. They explain it best.
Do you do web development in house?
No, rather we partner with several developers who are specialists in their field. We handle the design and strategy for the client, and work cloesly with our developers to make sure the goals are met. Generally speaking the sites we work on are developed in either WordPress or Drupal, though we can work with other platforms as well.