A creative graphic designer should do.

A creative graphic designer

A good graphic designer should do ….

Graphic design is very competitive. Your success depends on your skill and your skill depends on how much time and effort you put into getting good. I know designers who are very successful and I know designers who are waiting tables because they can't find a job. The difference is drive. If you are passionate and willing to continue to improve your skills you will be fine.

What qualities and skills should a good graphic designer have?

This is a great opportunity to see how a designer thinks of their profession. “To create great designs” is not enough. A good designer will be able to articulate how their designs communicate your brand’s vision and solve practical problems.

Real Estate Logo Design

How do you work with collaborators like copywriters, developers, and project managers? Tell me about the final hand-off process?

Great graphic designers are team players who ask questions and solicit feedback. A good candidate will feel comfortable collaborating with clients on a project. They should be able to recommend specific file types for review, source files, and deliverable s to make the final hand off as smooth as possible.

How do you incorporate feedback into your designs? What’s a time you received hard criticism for your work?

You want to make sure you’re selecting someone who can solve design problems, not create them. Great designers aren’t precious about their work, and mature designers appreciate and incorporate constructive feedback.

Describe your creative process. What are the major steps?

Every designer should have a detailed answer prepared for this. A good designer won’t just jump in and start designing. Great designers begin by trying to understand the problem they’re being asked to solve. Depending on the project, they might interview users or look through data to determine the best course of action. They should also allow for at least one round of substantive feedback and iteration before they submit their final designs.

What brands do you most admire and how do they influence your work?

This is a good opportunity to see whether a designer is abreast of current design trends and a good fit for your specific business needs. They should be able to articulate what makes a brand stand out, graphically speaking, whether that brand is directly related to your business or if it shares similar attributes.

Let’s say you’re designing a new logo for our company. What would it look like?

This question gives you an opportunity to observe a designer’s thought process first-hand and see how well they understand your company or product.

How do you meet tough deadlines? Tell me about a time you completed great work under pressure.

Good designers are thoughtful and thorough, but you also want to make sure they know how to prioritize and work well under time constraints.

Tell me about your experience working remotely. What do you feel is important to make sure the work gets done efficiently?

This question should give you some insight into a graphic designer’s work style. Mentioning the importance of regular communication, organization, and accountability are good signs.

What’s an example of a project where you disagreed with the client’s feedback and how did you handle it?

Good designers should be able to defend and support their work in a professional, respectful way. You want designers who believe enough in their work not to be steamrolled but also who won’t be difficult to work with or refuse to adapt.

Powerful Real Estate Logo Design

Let’s say someone tells you to design something without any context. What do you do?

Nobody likes it, but sometimes designers are asked to create something without a lot of context. A good designer can roll with the punches and find answers to their questions whether there’s a detailed creative brief or not.

Walk me through your portfolio. Which pieces are you most proud of, and why?

Every designer should be prepared to showcase their best work. Make sure you ask them to explain the problem each piece was meant to solve and how they accomplished that.

How do you measure the success of your designs?

A good designer should always be looking for feedback and opportunities to iterate. They should care about metrics like conversion rates, click-troughs, and user feedback even if they aren’t measured by them.