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Fingerpaint Design FAQ

Before choosing a designer, we recommend you ask questions, lots of them. The decision shouldn’t be taken lightly, and to save you time, we have addressed some of the most Frequently Asked Questions we receive.

Should you have further questions, or require additional explanation, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

FAQs about hiring Fingerpaint Design

1. How much does “it” cost?
2. What does the cost include?
3. Designer “X” charges less than you. Can you match them?
4. How long will the project take to complete?
5. Can you start right away?
6. Why do ask what our budget is in the creative brief?
7. What exactly do I receive when you send the initial concepts?
8. What filetypes do you provide for logotypes and branding materials?
9. How much of your project research is based upon client competition?
10. You’re in a different country from me. Will this affect things?
11. Can we talk on the telephone?
12. How do you accept payment?
13. Will you feature my new project in your portfolio?
14. Can you recommend any other designers?

How much does “it” cost?

An obviously important question, but one that can’t be answered without details of your design project. Your company is different from every other, so it makes sense to tailor a quote to your individual needs.

Our pricing varies depending upon a large number of factors. Take the size of your company as an example. A small- to medium-sized enterprise might expect one or two initial ideas before finalising a design. On the other hand, a large multi-national might require an exhaustive documentation analysing the competition and exploring a wide range of design variations.

Comparing the design industry to any other is by no means exact, but the, “How much for a logo/website/brochure?” question is kind of like asking an estate agent, “How much for a house?”  [top]

What does the cost include?

The cost includes a significant amount of my time, which will span over weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the project. The cost also includes, as Jonathan Fields puts it, NOT be the first. You are paying for more than two decades perfecting our skills, thousands of design, tens of thousands of hours and tons of newbie mistakes avoided. You’re paying the value of the revenue generating asset we create specifically for your business.

A list of deliverables is included with each project proposal we submit.  [top]

Designer “X” charges less than you. Can you match them?

Design is not a commodity.

Just as you choose your designer, We also choose our clients, and only work with those who value the services we provide. Our satisfied client list is extensive, and you can read some testimonials on our site.

A commodity is anything for which there is demand, but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market. In other words, copper is copper. Rice is rice. Stereos, on the other hand, have many levels of quality. And, the better a stereo is, the more it will cost. The price of copper is universal, and fluctuates daily based on global supply and demand. — Wikipedia  [top]

How long will the project take to complete?

At the beginning of each project we will inform you of delivery timeframes, such as when to expect the initial ideas, and how long possible revisions may take. As each project is different, we wait until learning about your needs before providing a deadline. Depending upon complexity, design projects can last from a few weeks in length to upwards of six months.  [top]

Can you start right away?

It’s possible, but not likely. We have to pay close attention to our current clients, and their ongoing projects. Taking on too much work at once will adversely affect the outcome — something we won’t do.  [top]

Why do ask what our budget is in the creative brief?

In a creative business like web/graphic design or video production, pricing and budgets fall into a rather large “grey area”. We try to get away from that as much as possible at Fingerpaint, and be very upfront about general pricing guidelines. However, each project is unique, and with that comes a price that must be custom-fitted to the client’s needs. We are accountable to stick to that price in the future, so a great deal of thought and preparation has to go into it.

In an effort to create the ideal web site, print design or video, it is always among our first objectives to understand what the client is looking to spend. Is this our way of manipulating clients so we can charge as much as possible for as little work as possible? No! But still, many clients protect this information, as if it does not become clear eventually anyways.

Failure to communicate clearly about this kind of thing can result in losing a project, or either side not really getting what they bargained for. That’s why any creative company that has been doing this for a while is smart enough to work with you on an honest level with regards to budget.

If your budget is $10,000, then chances are that our proposal will be within that general range. Why? Because if you go to the jewelry store ready to spend $10,000, then you don’t want to leave with a product that costs half that. You want the very most for your dollar! And it is our job to give you the very most bang for your buck, in the form of a great quality product. Sometimes we can fit in all the specifications and be significantly cheaper, sometime not.

Despite popular belief, knowing your budget does not change our pricing whatsoever. It simply gives us an idea of what kind of product would suit you in the end.

Understanding money and budgets is simply part of the process when working with ANY creative company. Our promise is to be fair and upfront about pricing, but we will not do a proposal without understanding your expectations. It is only fair, and it is designed to help you. Then you can rest assured that the end result will be worth what you care to spend, and hopefully a great deal more, for years to come.  [top]

What exactly do I receive when you send the initial concepts?

Normally we send you a PDF file. If you have other presentation needs those can be addressed in the project proposal.  [top]

What filetypes do you provide for logotypes and branding materials?

Adobe Illustrator (.ai) or Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) are the main filetypes provided. The logo will be in vector format, which means it can be scaled to any size necessary without loss of quality. From either of these files, and with the proper software, you will be able to create any other filetype necessary (.jpg, .png, .gif, etc.). We are more than happy to help with specific file requests, and will answer questions if you’re in any way unsure.  [top]

How much of your project research is based upon client competition?

A great deal. Evaluating the competition is a necessary part of the process, and should be expected from any professional designer. Even though we research client competitors for every project, some clients choose not to have this stage documented and supplied, thus saving money.  [top]

You’re in a different country from me. Will this affect things?

The vast majority of our clients come from the US; however, this hasn’t adversely affected any of our design projects, and while we’d love to meet face-to-face, it can often save time to communicate only via email.  [top]

Can we talk on the telephone?

Absolutely - we are available between 9am and 5pm EST, from Monday to Friday (except during holidays). You can find our contact numbers here.  [top]

How do you accept payment?

With most design projects, I request a 50% down payment prior to scheduling the work. This is payable by a number of methods: via bank transfer, PayPal, or check. All details are included in your initial invoice, and the remaining 50% is payable upon completion of the project, prior to supply of the finalized artwork.  [top]

Will you feature my new project in your portfolio?

We reserve the right to showcase designs in our portfolio, but it’s not guaranteed yours will be included. At the time of writing, there are more than 15 new projects and several years of archived material waiting to be added to our site. Finding the time to post each design isn’t straightforward.  [top]

Can you recommend any other designers?

Absolutely! We have worked with a number of truly talented designer. If we are over-booked or your needs don't match our capabilities, we will be glad to suggest several top-notch designers.  [top]

 

Thanks for taking the time to read our FAQ. Should you have any questions of your own, by all means drop us a message using the contact form, or, if you haven’t already, why not take a look at our Portfolio of Selected Works.