Guide:
How to choose the right graphic design company 

You want to take your business to the next level and decided that one of the more important things to do is to strengthen your corporate branding through professional design. How should you do it? Where can you start? Who should you do it with? These are just some fundamental questions that may be circling in your mind.

Choosing the right company to entrust with your graphic design project is a very important part of the branding process. However, if this is the first time you are doing it, the quest of finding a good match for you can feel a little intimidating.

To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a guide on how to choose the right design company to make your design and branding exercise a success!

Before you embark on your search for “The Designer”, you have to set goals and expectations. “Why do I need to do that?” you ask. Well, this way, you will know exactly what you want and will be able to clearly communicate your message in terms of a detailed and defined project scope to the designer. This will, in turn, allow them to assess whether they can actually meet your expectations.

For a start, you can outline the framework for your project by asking yourself the following questions:

• What is your budget?
• Is there a deadline you need the design by or are you a bit more flexible?
• What kind of design do you need and for what purpose?

Next, you have to get down to the specific details of your design project. If you are looking for someone to design your company logo, think about the message you would like your logo to convey to your customers and the kind of brand personality you want to build. Is your brand playful and bright or more serious and sophisticated? Would you like to incorporate any specific colors, fonts or symbols? If you want the designer to help you create eye-catching marketing material, clarify your target audience demographics and the kind of feeling you are looking to evoke in the people who view your advertisement.

It is also a good idea to start collecting designs you like, so as to provide the design company with an idea of the kind of style you prefer. However, in the end it is important to keep in mind that the design which works best for your business, might not appeal to your personal taste.

After having set your requirements and expectations, it is time to start looking for a design company.

Google is a very good place to start your search, but be sure to make your search terms very specific to avoid being overwhelmed by thousands of results. If you are looking for a graphic design company in Singapore for example, try searching for the terms ‘graphic design company Singapore’ or ‘design services Singapore’, in order to get more relevant results. Of course you can engage a company which is not based near you, however, meeting the designer face to face often makes for better collaboration.

Spend some time reading and researching the companies that come up in your Google search. Here are a few things to look out for:

• Does the website design look professional and visually appealing?
• Is the website up to date? This can be done through blog posts, new projects, client testimonials etc.
• Do they have a portfolio for you to look at?

Contact the companies that have attracted your attention with their existing portfolio and recent works. Picking up the phone is usually the easiest and quickest way to get an immediate response. However, writing an email works just as well – in the end, no answer is also an answer.

Make sure you clearly communicate the framework you have outlined for your project. Ask what the company can do for you within your budget and timeline and see if that matches your needs. In any case, use this initial conversation as an opportunity to gauge if you like their work style and if you can work with the company. Are they truly interested in what you are telling them about your project, do they make an effort to understand your expectations and get to know your business a little bit? If not, they are probably not the right fit for you.

After having talked to several design companies, take a step back and let it all sink in for a little while. Do not rush your decision, but also avoid dragging it out for too long, a couple days should be good enough for you to make up your mind.

And once you have chosen the right company to support your design needs, give them a call and get that project started! The rest is, like they say, history.