So how do you know when your graphic designer costs you financially and emotionally?

When a file is not prepared correctly… When you go to press and have your media material produced in prints, and find out that the file was built incorrectly, then that's the time when your graphic designer will cost you money.

Many pre-press operators have complained about having to correct graphic designers work. To have a file prepared incorrectly can have drastic financial and emotional consequences to the owner. The time needed to rectify the problem can cause major delays and additional expense. This is due to the graphic designer's understanding that his job is done when he produces the design that you require.

It is therefore necessary for a graphic designer to understand the basic principle of what you see on screen may not be the same when it comes off the press. A designer should know how to correctly build a bleed; check that the panels fold correctly; and that color separation is well understood. The list goes on an on. If these issues are not properly addressed, the customer will most likely pay for additional costs because a print house or service provider will definitely charge extra for fixing the problem.

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There are rules in catalog designs that should be followed. These rules are the foundation of what and what not to be done as you go about these prints. Like some rules, they can also be bended or broken depending upon the need and the process that it is being done. It is important therefore to know first why these rules are being done to be able to have a firm stand on why they should be broken. The main objective of rules is to give guidelines because these were effective ones for those who have been there already. Better to see if they will first before dumping them as ineffective.

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What are the company logos that you remember the most? As you are about to design your corporate identity, take a look around and notice the logos that are all around us. Most of the time, they are very simple icons. Sometimes they graphically represent exactly what the company does, but others are a simple mark that makes an impression. Here are some tips to help you get a memorable corporate identity of your own:

1) Find a Designer You Can Trust

First of all, you need to find someone that truly understands the importance of the creation and implementation of a company’s identity. Beware of a designer that says “Yeah, I do logo design.” A logo is only part of the package. In order for the logo to work, it needs a color scheme, fonts that complement it, and a complete ‘look and feel’ that ties all your communications together.

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