Whether you have a small project or a large project, you need to make sure the creative resource you decide to work with has the knowledge, experience and professionalism needed to successfully take your project through completion.

There are seven steps in the process of finding the right designer for your project.

1. Put your project needs in writing
2. Establish your budget
3. Interview potential vendors
4. Request a quote or proposal
   
5. Review the quote or proposal
6. Check references
7. Have a written agreement
   

Put your project needs in writing

It is always best to put in writing what your project entails, no matter how small the project is.

Having your project requirements in writing will make it simple for you to email the requirements to potential vendors, and will help you to clarify and prioritize your project needs before you request a quote.

Calling several vendors and relaying your project over the phone will result in details getting lost and you will have project quotes that are not based on the same information.

If you have a large, complex project, consider creating a RFP (Request For Proposal).

Establish your budget

Determine what you are willing to spend on your project, even if you have no idea what the project will cost.

When initially talking to potential vendors, you need to be prepared to discuss what your budget is as not all vendors you will be interviewing will be able to complete your project for your established budget or your project may not be a good "fit" for a particular vendor.

Interview potential vendors

Take the time to speak to potential vendors so you can find out if the potential vendor communicates well and if they are professional or not. 

Find out how long they have been in business and what type of projects are their specialty and what their methodology is.

While getting the best price for your project is imortant, finding a reliable, professional resource will save you time and money in the long run.

Request a quote or proposal

After interviewing vendors, ask those that are a good fit for your project budget to provide a quote or a proposal.

If you have a simple project, a detailed quote should be sufficient. More complex projects will require a detailed proposal.

Proposals are also a good way to see if a potential vendor is paying attention and listening to your project needs or not.

Review the quote or proposal

Quotes and proposals can tell you a lot about a designer or a design firm. Proposals that don't address your project requirements or appear to be "boiler plate" or standardized will indicate a potential vendor who probably isn't that interested in you as a client and in getting the details right.

If you provided a detailed Request For Proposal (RFP), then you should expect a detailed proposal that addresses all of your requirements and concerns.

Sketchy quotes or proposals that do not address the specifics of your project should be avoided.

Check references

It is always a good idea to contact references given by a potential vendor. This is an opportunity for you to learn first-hand from other clients of a particular vendor what they are like to work with.

You will want to know before you start the project that the vendor you pick is not only creative and experienced, but that they are professional.

Be sure to ask how responsive the vendor is to emails and phone calls, and whether they meet project time lines and are responsive to problems or issues during a project.

Have a written agreement

You should always have some sort of written agreement between you and your vendor. Written agreements will spell out the project fees, who owns the project files after completion, proofing responsibilities, how additional changes and alterations are to be handled and many other project details.

Be sure to read all the "fine print" of the agreement or proposal so you will know where you stand in the event problems arise with the project or you need additional work on the project, so there are no surprises.

Summary

Vendor research and finding the right designer or design firm to work with is well worth the effort. Once you have found someone to work with and you get past your first project, you will have a resource you know and trust for future projects as well.

Are you looking for a creative, professional and experienced design company?

We would love to hear about your project and to have the opportunity to provide a proposal.

Please call 678-969-0448 or use the Contact Form to find out more about Design-First.