“A picture speaks a thousand words”. Today’s consumer is bombarded with thousands of images by hundreds of companies every day. If you want your business to stand out, you can’t stay contented with a simple logo or website. You need a design that is eye-catching, sends a message to the customer and establishes your brand.

Freelance graphic designers can transform your company’s message or products into a cohesive visual design that will leave a memorable impression on your customer’s mind. But there are so many freelance visual graphic designers out there. How do you select the right one? Here are a few tips that will help you get a quality freelance graphic designer for your project.

Ask Around

The best way to find a good graphic designer is by securing the help of a recruiting agency, trusted word-of-mouth, or digging deep online. Get a recommendation from a person you know or look for other businesses whose graphic designs you find appealing and find out the creative person behind it.

There are several freelance job portals where you can find freelance graphic designers. You can post your requirement on such websites and wait for graphic designers to respond with their quote.

Ask for their Portfolio

When any graphic designer presents you with a quote, the first thing you need to do is ask for a designer portfolio that has work samples. Note the quality and degree of harmony of his/her work.

Select a designer who demonstrates stylistic and visual integrity and also pays great attention to detail. Find out if the designer has done work similar to your requirement. It is necessary that the designer understands the content, the purpose and knows how to ensure a great user experience.

Decide the Costs

Freelancers are generally less expensive than design agencies. But it is always a good practice to fix the budget for the project. Some freelance graphic designers in Los Angeles charge hourly while some charge fixed price for a project. If the project is complex, the freelancer might charge a higher price.

If you are not sure about your project complexity and approximate hours required to complete, you might settle for a fixed price. Whatever the case, ensure the compensation and the deliverable timeline is set before initiating the work.

Ask for a Potential List of Professional Affiliations

Select a designer who follows rules. Organizations like the American Graphics Institute of Arts require its member to follow some ethic and standards. Infringing on someone’s copyright or trademark can be embarrassing and might also lead to a costly lawsuit.

Get a Contract Ready

Legal rights to artwork differ. Most designers retain ownership rights and grant limited reproduction right to their clients. Always create a contract that clearly mentions about ownership rights. Once the logo or website design is completed, save all related files in a separate folder for future use.

Vitamin Talent is a creative staffing agency providing companies with the right talent and placing job-seeking candidates in the best positions like freelance graphic designers in Los Angeles or web developers in Boston, etc. For more information, visit VitaminTalent/What-we-do.