This Creative Briefing Guide will help you get the most out of any graphic designer or creative team you might work with. Even though reasons like lack of time, shortage of information or the perception that graphic designers know as much about your business as you do, may discourage the idea of you putting time and effort into the briefing process, nevertheless, writing a complete and accurate brief is a great investment you can make towards the quality of the design product you will receive and consequently the potential of your business to succeed. Just follow the next 8 easy steps and make the most out of your money when hiring a creative professional.

What type of product are you aiming for? Is it a logo for your company? Is it a website’s layout? Is it your company’s stationary? Be specific on what the final products you require is.

The Company: This is where you tell the designer what your company is all about. You can start with the name and the reason why this name was chosen. List your products and/or services and share your corporate values and philosophy so that they can be incorporated in your final product. Try to add as much detail as possible so that we can create something that will accurately reflect your company’s characteristics.

Competitive advantage: It is important for the creative designer to know what makes you different from your competitors. If there is something that makes you stand out, you should definitely share it with him and his team, so he can make sure it is being communicated by the whole creative approach. You should also state which single word would best describe the benefits of your products or services. Read the rest of this page »

• What are some special skills or requirements you should have to pursue Graphic Arts?

According to statistics, pursuing graphic arts related professions is a decision often made by people who had some sort of creative childhood. Drawing skills are very helpful along with the ability to understand 3D space. High visuospatial intelligence is a common characteristic of graphic artists. Skills like steady drawing line and color matching are not a privilege of some talented people, but can be developed by anyone through hard work and commitment. Read the rest of this page »

Choosing a freelance graphic designer is not that easy as it may seem to be. Every month, hundreds of new graphic designers launch their career around the world, but how do you know who is going to be right for you? Some times even the best designers don’t suit your own style, so here are some thoughts that might help you out: Read the rest of this page »

Some times its quite hard to decide whether you’d better have a freelance graphic designer work on a project for you or a graphic design company instead. It is vital that you know some extra information about freelance designers as well as for design companies so you can easily choose which one is going to be the best choice for a specific task of yours. Read the rest of this page »

THE QUESTION

Good afternoon Mr. Zakar,

My name is Courtney Rose and I’m currently a visual communications student in my last year of school studying at Cazenovia College in Central New York. As a senior I am required to research individuals in my field and have always found your work to be incredibly sophisticated and inspiring. Read the rest of this page »