"How much does it cost to [fill in the blank]?"
There's no good answer to this question, unfortunately. Anything that is to be designed and produced is the answer to a problem and no two problems are exactly alike. Questions have to be asked in order to get the information to generate the proper response. First, we need to design the right piece that fits your problem and your budget—something that’s unique to your organization.
"How much does a logo cost?"
The answer to this can be found at the top of this page. A logo should never be rushed and should always embody the core nature of the business it represents.
"How much does printing cost?"
This question can only be answered by determining what it is that the printer has to produce. If we work together, I’ll write up a detailed specifications sheet so that the printer can give you a cost. It also pays to choose a printer as soon as possible so that they can make suggestions regarding the production of your job. Trust me, you’ll be thrilled if the printer lets you know that trimming the size of a piece by 1/8 of an inch or switching to an alternative paper can save you thousands in the end. I am more than happy to help you find a printer (yes, I've worked with a few). It may seem like a drag, but the benefits of you working directly with the printer means lower design costs and no mark-up for production.
"Doesn't recycled paper cost more?"
Like any product, it depends on the product that's been chosen. There’s an incredible range of recycled paper stock available out there. Whether the paper stock you choose is recycled or not has more to do with your sense of sustainability than anything else nowadays. If you're going to have a very large print run or the piece isn't heavily reliant on a non-recycled stock, it simply makes sense to go with recycled paper.
"How much does a web site cost?"
Seriously, re-read the first question.
"Can't you just make this look nice?"
Well, yes, I could, but, you'd be wasting an awful lot of training and experience to simply have an aesthetic make over. Why don't we discuss the root of your communication problem and see if we can't do more than dress things up? It's certainly possible that all you need is a surface re-design, but let's be sure!
"What do you think of my logo?"
I hate to answer a question with a question, but: what do you think of your logo? Does it exemplify the brand you've worked hard to cultivate? Does it faithfully represent the attributes of your company in a way that customers can recognize? Aesthetics are subjective and no two people are going to have the same "gut feeling" about a logo. The most important thing to convey with your logo is the message you intend to convey.
"What color should we use?"
Ah, this is a good one! Believe it or not, there's been much study into how we interpret color and what colors really mean to the most people. I like to think of color in simple terms: there are three primary colors and three secondary colors. All of the rest are variations on them. We'll take a look at several color combinations and what they mean for your brand to determine what works best.
"Isn't recycled paper duller and more difficult to print with?"
Nope, not at all. In fact, there are recycled papers out there that rival non-recycled paper in brightness and printability. The brightest, most printable, 100% recycled paper that I know of is a 97 on a scale that goes to 100.
"Good printing is done on coated paper. right?"
No, you should print it on good paper. This is one of the things that I can help with. The paper that you choose to produce your materials on should match your brand. It's essentially another vehicle to communicate your company's personality to the world.
"Can't you just put my brochure online?"
I could, but it’d be less than ideal. The first step for us to create your web site should be to sit down and figure out exactly what you want to get out of the site. Even if it’s essentially filled with content pulled from the brochure, the internet is a very different medium than printing. Materials should be designed with the delivery medium in mind.
"Why can't I just buy some software and do it all myself?"
A metaphor is the best answer for this question: I can buy wood and build a chair, but it will be years before I can do it at the level a skilled carpenter can achieve. I truly am a professional in my field. To be any less for my clients would be morally incorrect and a disservice to other professional designers out there making a living. I can bring a full suite of design service that goes beyond the mechanics of any layout application.
"Do you code web sites?"
I do not. There are a handful of people who've dedicated their lives to being the total package, but coding the back end of a web site is an entire profession on its own. My role in the design of a web site ranges from determining the navigational structure, customer experience, content consultation, and the graphic production.