How to Differentiate a Professional Graphic Designer from an Imposter

Graphic design is the process of connecting color, images, texts, diagrams, photographs, symbols, and signs to communicate a particular visual message to an observer. Today, there are many online sources of graphic design services being offered to customers. All these different sources promise to deliver in their graphic design services and give the client value for their investment. Sadly though, this is not always the case. As much as they are professional graphic designers online, they are those who are inexperienced and incompetent in their work. How then can you differentiate between a professional graphic designer from an imposter? Whether you want to order a brochure design, logo design, or any other graphic design service, there are certain qualities you should look out for in a graphic designer to help you hire the right one.

1. Website information

When you are looking through a graphic designer company’s website, ensure that you do some reading. Find out if they have a resume, about page, or any other type of credential on the website. If the credentials are unavailable, then it’s time to search elsewhere. As much as testimonials and reviews may be important, try and stick to information that you can verify. Find out how many years of experience the graphic designer has had in his or her work. Even though you cannot disqualify young talent, it is better to stick to one who has had substantial experience in graphic design, thus having an upper hand in dealing with any related work. This is particularly important if you are looking for high-value service for your project. Also, find out where the designer got his or her education from and whether he or she even pursued graphic design in school. Self-taught graphic designers carry great risk to your investment and project.

2. Portfolio

The other thing to look at is the designer’s portfolio. Are his or her designs looking alike to each other? It could be that the design elements look different for different clients, but they are all arranged in the same style. If you find such designs, you are dealing with an imposter who is using visual tricks and gimmicks to impress potential clients. The portfolio of a professional graphic designer will speak for itself. It will clearly show off creativity and diversity. This is because a good graphic designer thinks spatially and has an artistic and creative vision.

3. Business goals

Find out if the graphic designer has any solid rules and goals in dealing with clients. The goals should be aimed towards meeting the clients’ business needs and having a good working relationship with them. To achieve this, a designer must have good communication skills when dealing with clients. They should be detailed in trying to understand what the client wants to achieve in their graphic design project. Beware of designers who promise to deliver at a very low price. If the asking price for the service is as low as $50, you will most probably be receiving a pre-made clip art or graphic with your business name simply stamped or embossed on it.

Joy Maiywa is a professional freelance writer and blogger. She has worked with clients from different fields including technology, education, health, and business and entrepreneurship. She has written for Degree Jungle, a resource for college students.