If you have never seen it yourself, then you may have heard some scary stories about trying to find or work with a graphic designer. It can be difficult, time-consuming and frustrating to say the least, but in all fairness it is no different than any other profession. Think about how other people should feel when they have to work with some of your competitors.
You will want to check out some of the basics first - the essentials of any industry. Is your potential designer just in time to meet you? Do they treat your employees with respect or treat them with indifference? Do they do their homework before coming? Once you have identified the basics, your list of potential designers will probably be very small. Now you can start looking at some of the most straightforward things in our industry.
Introduction - Everything from the way the designer dresses to the way he or she inserts the sample will tell you something about it. Look at their clothes but avoid supporting your opinion on your fashion choices. Instead, look for details that will tell you how much effort they put into their appearance. Clean shoes are a good indicator of someone paying attention to detail. The cut nails are another. You will also want to consider whether the work presented in their portfolio is accurate. While these may seem like small details they will mean a lot in deciding to pay attention to the details that your designer will take on your project.
Preparation - Did your designer run all the way to the door of your office chasing his wind-blown papers in the parking lot or did you step confidently on your doorstep, carrying building materials? Did you come up with a pen and a notebook? This is important unless you want to spend more time later reminding them of the many things you have already told them. A designer who is not prepared for the first meeting will not do daily business differently.
Vision - Everyone has a different view of the world and given that those with the same vision will work better together. With that in mind, it is important to find a designer who shares your beliefs. Advertising for your multimillion-dollar SUV business will never achieve amazing results as long as you use a designer who believes that all companies are big bad things aimed at destroying the public with hot money. If your designer doesn't understand where you come from he won't be able to tell you your hopes.
Portfolio - This is an old story "size doesn't matter - it's how you use it!" If you consider designers you may lose if you hire a designer because of a small portfolio. A designer who comes in a 3-piece suit with a three-inch thick portfolio is not really for the job. Maybe a girl without a college degree and a nine-page portfolio of homework that suits you best. The most important thing really is quality. An all-inclusive designer may not be able to decide what to present and what not to present which may mean they will have the same problem in delivering a clear message to your audience.
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