Graphic design is a collaborative process. Once you contact me about working on a design project with you, here is what you can expect:

Initial meeting

I like to meet with new clients, either in person if you’re local, or by phone or video conference. This introductory meeting takes 20-60 minutes, depending on the complexity of the project, and is totally free of charge. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other and ask questions.

I’ll ask you for both big-picture information, like:

• Who is your organization? What do you do? Who do you serve?

• Who is the audience for this design piece? How will you distribute it? How will people use it?

• What’s the feel that you want the design to have?

and nitty-gritty details, like:

• What’s the finished size and shape? How many pages? Will it be color or B&W?

• Where are you having it printed? What kind of paper do you want it printed on?

• Are there in-house branding guidelines for fonts and colors that I need to follow?

• What’s your timeline and deadlines?

• How will you share copy and images with me?

Cost estimate

Once I have the information from our initial meeting, I can provide you with an estimate of how much the project will cost. I can either bill you by the hour or set a flat fee for the entire project, whatever works best for your budget. For projects over $500, I ask that you sign a contract that I provide and pay a 25% deposit up front.

Contract & schedule

I’ll write up an overview of the project, including project specs, cost estimate, and the timeline that we agreed to. Depending on what your organization or business requires, I can provide this as either a formal contract or a simple recap email.

Drafts & revisions

Once I have copy and images from you, the work begins! I expect that you and I will go back and forth several times with revisions. Sometimes you need to see a piece laid out before you finally catch that typo. Fixing errors and polishing a piece is a good thing.

Working with a printer

You are welcome to get quotes and be the point of contact for your chosen printer, or I can handle printer pricing and communication for you as part of the project. I am always available to talk with the folks at your printer about file specs or other technical questions.

Proofreading, editing & photography

The best design cannot improve grammatical errors or blurry, low-resolution photographs. All written materials can benefit from a good editor, especially long-form pieces like curricula or books. I can recommend excellent freelance editors or photographers if you need support in those areas.