Amateur Versus Professional
Posted on: August 25, 2016
Posted in: Before and After Graphic Design, Graphic Design
Enjoy the read? Share it!
By Richard G Lowe Jr, https://www.thewritingking.com
“If you think it is expensive to hire a graphic design professional, wait until you hire amateur.”
One of the primary skills of a professional graphic designer is the ability to listen and understand the needs of their customer, the message that is to be delivered, and the requirements of the marketplace. They understand that the ability to draw a picture or create a colorful diagram is only a small part of what needs to be delivered.
On the other hand, an amateur might be able to create beautiful art or pretty pictures and yet miss represent the message entirely. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or visually appealing graphics are if they don’t communicate to the audience or deliver the message properly.
One of the marks of an amateur is they want to jump right in and create something, sometimes only spending a few minutes with the customer. How can you know how to deliver a message, or even understand what the message is, without taking the time to truly understand what is needed.
Sometimes it might appear to be cheaper to go with the amateur approach. After all, amateurs usually charge far less per hour and may even get the job done more quickly, making it appear even less expensive.
Here is a recent example of my experience of Amateur versus Professional.
The Design Amateur
I recently hired a person from an online content mill to create a company logo. Content mills typically do not allow customers and consultants to talk directly; they must communicate through their messaging system. Because of this, I wrote a couple of paragraphs about my requirements, sent it off, and a day later received a graphic image. It was not what I needed, so we went back and forth three times. Finally, I accepted the design just to get it over with, and contracted with a professional graphic designer instead.
The Design Professional
After my poor experience, I selected, Laura’s Design Studio, and I talked for almost an hour, in person, about my requirements, then she produced a design that exactly communicated the message I wanted to deliver. Not only that, Laura sent me all of the files I needed for print and web, while the contractor from the content mill only sent me the web version, which would make the graphic look strange (pixelated) if it was used in print.
A Professional Designer Makes a Difference
As I found out, you get what you pay for, and when you pay for an amateur, you get an amateur job, which means you’re not going to be satisfied with the end result. The design probably will not match up with the requirements for the message that you want to deliver, and will not resonate well with your customers and audience.
This often results in a series of revisions in an attempt to make the product match the customer’s desires. The frustration level rises on both sides because the project is not completed in a timely matter. Not only will the amateur wind up charging more for these revisions (unless it’s a fixed price contract), but it will take longer and you will not likely be satisfied with the results.
In fact, you may even find yourself dropping the project entirely, eating the loss, and seeking out a professional to do it correctly.
Wouldn’t it be better to hire a professional who knows what they’re doing in the first place?
That’s how you get the job done on schedule, on budget, and delivering the right message to the correct audience. A professional graphic artist understands how to accomplish these objectives.
Laura Sayegh is the President and Chief Design Officer of Laura’s Design Studio.
Whether you are a start-up or established business, Laura’s Design Studio has the experience and talent to create messages that make an impact in your market.
Laura’s Design Studio is comprised of internal and external graphic designers, copywriters, and programmers who work collaboratively as a team to provide a one-stop resource for your marketing and advertising campaigns.
We believe in efficient creativity and providing an exceptional client experience. With Laura’s Design Studio, you get amazing results for all your Branding, Digital, and Print needs.
Are you ready to bring out the best in your brand?
Dream It, Design It, Do It!
#LaurasDesignStudio #DreamItDesignItDoIt