How to Select the Best Graphic Design Companies Ohio

Finding Graphic Design Companies Ohio

If you’re not familiar with graphic design, it can be challenging to know exactly what you’re looking for. What constitutes a good price? What qualities should you prioritize? What are realistic timelines? These questions might seem straightforward, but there’s often more nuance than you might expect. Every graphic design project is unique, so the key is to find an agency that best fits your specific needs. In this guide, we’ll explore 7 effective ways to find the best graphic design companies in Ohio that will work seamlessly with you.

Attract The Right Designers

It is crucial to provide enough background information to the talent you are attracting in order to ensure success. Include details about your company, the objectives of the project, and the specific qualifications you’re looking for in your creative brief. By describing deadlines and potential obstacles upfront in your graphic design job description, candidates will have a good understanding of the project and will know whether they can meet your expectations before submitting a proposal. Designers that can not realistically complete your requests will keep their distance, and those who are perhaps overqualified will do the same. It is important to find a designer who aligns with your vision in terms of time and finances. 

Know What Types of Skills to Look For

Before you begin reviewing proposals, you will find it extremely helpful to have a basic understanding of the design world and what type of skills are required. Will the candidate use stock images or take their own photographs? Will the majority of the artwork be created in Adobe Illustrator or Visual Studio? The interview process will run much more smoothly if these questions are prepared beforehand. Having this baseline knowledge will help you and your designer communicate with as few hitches as possible.

See How Candidates Think On Their Feet

You can also narrow down graphic design candidates by asking unexpected questions during the interview process. You could, for instance, ask applicants to critique a competitor’s design and explain how they would improve it. Answers themselves will give you an idea of a candidate’s capabilities, and the manner in which the answer is delivered will give you a sense of their creative process. Here, the purpose is to see how well each applicant handles the unknown and thinks on the fly.

Don’t Rely On Portfolios Alone

If you are looking for agency work, choosing graphic designers solely on their portfolios is not the best strategy. Instead, ask potential candidates what inspired their portfolio designs. This gives you an idea of how the designer works creatively, as well as how you can complement their inspiration if you decide to work together. Many times a designer’s portfolio will show work that clients specifically requested or pieces that they did strictly for their own creative enjoyment. In understanding the intention behind a designer’s work you are able to more clearly understand how you might be able to work with them. 

Consider a Trial Project to Start

Offering a small sample project that would only take a few hours to complete is a great way to narrow down your field of graphic design candidates quickly. As long as the task showcases the applicants’ talent, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a challenging one. Examples include designing a simple logo or touching up a prior project. Candidates should be compensated for the trial project.

Request a Short Video Chat Interview

Without being able to see someone’s expressions or read their body language, it can be difficult to get a sense of who they are. Rather than conducting interviews over the phone, you should use a video service like Zoom. You’ll get a better sense of the candidate, and they can tell stories about their previous experiences in a more creative way. Due to the fact that assignments involve sharing concepts in this way anyway, video conferencing is an excellent tool for getting a feel for what it will be like to work with each candidate.

Ask What Will Be Required from You

Of course, you are the one who needs graphic design services for your business. It is your responsibility to help your designer do his or her best. By understanding your designer’s needs, you can smooth out any bumps in the road. The needs can range from documentation to proofing concepts to time-sensitive tasks like briefings or feedback.  You can also discuss freedom, flexibility, and other virtue-based requirements with the designer so that you get the best results possible. 

Explain Your Brand and Target Audience Clearly

Your company knows exactly what it does and why it’s different from others, but your applicants aren’t as familiar with it as you are. It’s almost impossible for an artist to design anything if they don’t have a clear understanding of your business, your brand, and the audience you’re trying to reach. It’s always a good idea to ensure your final candidates have a deep understanding of your company’s brand and how it relates to consumers.

READ MORE: How do Design and Marketing Work Together?