A learner graphic designer?

[wayne]

Hi Guys

I don't want to come across as being miserable, especially as I think young/junior designers need encouraging and nurturing! But..

Boyden - It is against all industry design standards to do any form of work for free, even if you charged a nominal fee, it's better than nothing! And the sooner you get in to the habit of charging and setting rates, the better at negotiating budgets and costing projects you will be in the future.

Cupcakecreative - wow! they are very VERY low rates!! £35 for a logo - considering the logo will be used on all communications and marketing material for the company in the future, it will be the sum of their whole identity and the marque loyal customers and clients will associate themselves with as the company grows.. I think you need to increase your rates and boost your income!!

Good luck guys :-)

[chris_17]

Sure,

Business Card Design £20 (one side) £30 (2 sided)
Logo Design £55 (3 designs to choose from)
Logo Design £35 (one logo design)
A6 Flyers £25 (one sided) £35 (double sided)
A5 Flyer £30 (one sided) £40(double sided)
Web graphics from £15
Web design £75 (up to 5 pages) £15 per extra page

Michelle

You aren't being serious?

[rosscolfc]

the problem is that there are som many amateurs selling logos on line for £9.99 (or something silly) that as soon as you quote a small business £50+ for a logo they look at you like your crazy!

Some printers are even quoting that f you buy the "gold package" (or similar) ie 1000 letter heads, buis' cards etc they will design you a logo inclusive of the price!

People who have no Marketing, Branding or design experience don't see the importance of a good logo. thats why there are so many trades vans driving around with word clip art all over them!

I have done really contemporary typographic designs before only to be told "yer thats nice but can we have this picture of a builder next to it"! and the image is from clipart! :icon_Wall::icon_Wall::icon_cursing:

[chris_17]

I agree, don't get me wrong everyone has to start somewhere I've just started doing this, but I would like to think that the stuff I do is worth more than £75 per website, either the work people do are awful or they are underselling themselves significantly.

[wayne]

rosscolfc

that's why it's up to you as the professional to educate the client and take them on the journey with you, if you want to earn a reputation of a certain kind, then by all means carry on - if you want to earn serious money with a professional reputation, then you have to learn to pitch your design in the right way..

[wayne]

I just want to add.. there IS such a thing as a bad client..

If they really want nothing more than clip art for £35, I'd advise them to keep the money and do it themselves.. some things are just not worth the reputation.

[CupcakeCreative]

Firstly the original poster asked for help from a graphic designer - not a thread disputing my prices!
Secondly, Wayne, i find your comments kinda offensive and your private messages calling me a 'certain type of designer' suggests i am not a professional or my work would be inferior because of the cost!

I have got a portfolio of my work which people can see, clearly if they feel it's not up to scratch they wont use me, yet i still have a constant stream of work and have had to turn people away until september because i am so busy

I am not usually someone who lets comments bother her, most things go over my head but i think your posts and private messages regarding my prices are not really for you to judge, I posted to help people out, not for opinions on my prices

Plus, I am currently doing websites for a Young photographer guy, straight out of college, no money, how the hell is he meant to get a website done for thousands of pounds? He can't get business and make money unless he has a website but he can't afford to get a website until he has some business and makes money!! what's he meant to do? I've done projects for several people in this position.

Design from £20!

[wayne]

Ok before this gets out of hand, my comments weren't meant to upset anybody and it certainly wasn't a personal attack. As for my private messages, since they've been brought up, I assume I'm free to publish them openly..

#1

Hi Michelle

I've replied in the forum, but wanted to offer a private guide on some pricing - you're seriously missing out on some lucrative income!

It is usual to charge from £400 - £1,500 for a full website (around 5 pages) and up to £4,000 if working for a corporate client!

Similar prices apply for branding and logo design.

Consider this - if you went to freelance within an agency, you would be paid more than the full time, employed staff! Don't sell yourself short, do some research into pricing and get making some serious money!!

(And when you're rich, don't forget me!!)

All the best
Wayne.


#2

Thanks for the advice but i am fully aware of design prices - i work full time as a graphic designer for a company.

My freelance prices i choose to keep low, one, because i believe some of the prices designers charge are wayyy too high for the amount of time and work involved and two, because if all design prices were high loads of people wouldn't be able to afford to get anything done, especially new businesses with low budgets.

I would rather help people out than make a lot of money, i even do alot of work for people for free.

Michelle


#3

Fair enough.
I guess there's a market for certain types of designers.

....

Apart from there being a lack of maturity in your response, I was being serious, there is a market for a certain type of designer. and without prejudice maybe you do fit that profile? I also never once stated your work would be inferior.

I agree design isn't just about money - it's about.. well. design! unfortunately as idealistic as this may be, we all have to make a living and therefore earn money from design. Maybe I was just shocked at you pricing, and that's mainly because I feel it devalues the industry as a whole.

Like I said, it wasn't personal, I'm more interested in the debate rather than attack and conquer. I'm sure you've noticed I wasn't the only person to comment.

Cheers
Wayne.

[wayne]

Oh I may as well throw a spanner in the works..

Design for me is primarily about problem solving and doing what's best for the client. Sometimes they want to say something, other times sell something and there are many different ways to solve these problems. I don't necessarily think the problem solving includes clip art (unless you're being ironic). And it is true that more often than not - you do get what you pay for.

[CupcakeCreative]

to be honest wayne. your messages were just the last straw to make me bite, as all i ever get from this website is messages and comments going on about my prices, and how my work must be rubbish because it's cheap etc... so all that i have said was not all aimed at you, so for that i will apologise

i'm just sick of it, i come on here because i like helping people and i love to design, and it annoys me that people feel the need to send me comments like that all the time, in my opinion it's no one elses business! I am not de-valuing the industry, I am making the industry available to individuals and small businesses that it would otherwise not be available too.

I probably shouldn't have mentioned the private messages, but i don't think it was necessary or relevant to post it all, however i do stand by everything i said. I don't believe it's always true that 'you get what you pay for' and have many happy clients who i'm sure would agree!

There may have been a lack of maturity in my response but that's because i am constantly trying to defend my corner! there is only so much critisism you can take! and i just get really wound up having to constantly explain myself.

I have removed my personal circumstances from my previous post because it's really not relevant and my personal circumstances is just that.. personal.

You can read more about this in my post in the 'offers' section

Michelle