How to interview a Graphic Designer

We love design, we really do.
But over the years we have discovered what we truly love to do (and are pretty damn good at it to be honest) is to take a step back & instead create the stage for designers to shine.

The best way to find designers we work with is via our socials.
If we are happy to post their designs that we’ve printed, it’s like a personal recommendation from our Printery perfectionists!

But hold up a second – There’s so many designers out there - How do I choose the right one for me?

You want your invitations to be unique and one-of-a-kind, just like your wedding will be - so investing in custom stationery is the cherry on top for making your big day extra special. 

You’ve heard it before, but it really is so true: Your wedding invites are a sneak peek of what’s to come – so it’s really important to find the perfect designer.

Thanks to social media, it’s never been easier to find a graphic designer online.

But—yep, there’s a but— it’s not as simple as scrolling through an Instagram feed and double-tapping your favourites.
As irony would have it, it’s exactly the abundance of online graphic designers and design styles that poses a challenge. It can be a headache to filter through the noise and find the perfect one for you.

It’s a little bit like being at a perfume store: after smelling the first few scents, your nose is pretty much out of order.

So before you dive right in & begin your scrolling, start off by collecting and writing down your thoughts. These notes will be your equivalent of the fresh coffee beans at a perfume store—very handy when you need to reset your overloaded senses and refocus on what you need to achieve.

• What do you need? (For instance: save the date cards, wedding invitations, details/additional info cards, RSVP cards, personalised envelopes, menus, place cards, order of service books, thank you cards, etc) – consider that it may be more economical to arrange everything through the same designer at once - this will also give your entire suite a more consistent feel throughout.
  
  
• Do you have a specific vision in mind? What look or feel are you going for?
  Something minimalistic, simple & traditional, or perhaps something completely informal, whimsical & off the wall that stands apart from anything that anyone has ever seen before?
  
  
• What is your budget? (be honest!)
  You will inevitably come across designs that make your heart flutter but are beyond your price range – so it is good to be clear on this upfront before letting yourself get too enamoured.
  
  
• What is your desired timeline/deadline?

An extremely important part of the design process is that yours & your designer’s personalities mesh well, that they can communicate with you clearly & that they really understand your vision. You want to feel confident that your designer will follow through on their promise to create beautiful, unique invitations for your special day.

Some designers offer a phone or skype consultation or have a questionnaire that you can fill out so that they can gather details about you, your big day, & the vision for your invitations. Others may ask you to create a ‘vision board’ on Pinterest so that they can get a feel for the aesthetic that you appreciate – so it’s best to be prepared & do a bit of research before reaching out.

Most of all, it’s very important that you understand the designer’s process. Make sure you check how many rounds of revisions are included for the price – it’s easy to be enticed into going with the designer that is the cheapest – but more revisions can quickly amount to a much higher cost if they are not included in the price that you’re quoted.

It’s usually best to contact your designer at least 6 months in advance of your event (where possible) to avoid any rush fees or errors. Some designers may request more or less notice than this, but try to reach out as soon as possible when you are interested in a certain designer for your invitations, to ensure that they can fit you into their schedule & get your invitations done within your time frame.

Is there a designer you’ve come across who’s work & style you really love? If so - contact them directly. Avoid asking designers to copy another designer’s signature style. It is highly frowned upon in graphic design circles -imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery!

If there’s one last piece of important information we can impart on you, it’s this: be sure to proof read EVERYTHING!
A designer should take the onus in proofing of general body copy, however the responsibility to ensure details & spelling are perfect rests entirely with you.
It’s a good idea to have at least two sets of eyes on this job.
Most importantly: quadruple check the date & time!

GOOD LUCK!