7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring a Branding Graphic Designer

Hiiii I’m a branding graphic designer approaching the end of my first year in business for myself (woo!), and I’ve learned a lot about the clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with. 

Some of them are first-time business owners (like me yay!) and others have been on their path for far longer. 

Some of them are brick-and-mortar shop owners, and others sell services and products online. 

What I found funny is that even though all of my clients have been so different, and come from such different industries, the levels of preparedness when they hired me showed nooo pattern. 

Some of the more seasoned entrepreneurs couldn’t answer basic branding questionnaire questions without my support, and some of the newbies knew their shit!

To save my future clients time, money, and meetings, I wrote this blog to help them figure out their goals, or at least be able to confidently say “I’ve given this some thought, and I still don’t know! :)” 

So if you’re a future potential client, this blog is for you! Here are some questions you can ask yourself before you embark on the exciting journey of hiring a branding graphic designer. <3

1. What are my brand goals rn?

And honestly, maybe your goal is to just look more vibey. Which imo is a completely valid goal. But let’s dig a little deeper while we’re at it.

Are you looking for more visibility? More sales? Better alignment? To look more gay? A light refresh or a total overhaul?

Knowing the answers to this question can cut sooo much back-and-forth between you and your designer. Having a clear, shared goal with your branding graphic designer will always yield better results. Trust meee.

2. Who am I trying to connect with?

Sorry not sorry, but if your answer is “everyone”, you’re not ready yet.

You have to know who you’re trying to talk to, and whose problems you’re aiming to solve with your biz.

Otherwise, if we’re talking to everyone, we’re talking to no one, and your branding won’t resonate and it won’t convert. :(

3. How do I want people to feel when they interact with my brand?

This question is either really fun or really overwhelming depending on how your brain works lol.

But the nice part is that because this is such a subjective question, it can be answered in so many different ways.

Words like “playful”, “refined”, “cozy”, or “queer” are a great start. But if you’re really feeling lost, try writing a mission statement.

I bet you can read between the lines of your “We are xyz, and we serve abc because 123” statement to find the feeling in there. 

4. Is my current branding consistent across platforms?

Definitely not a requirement to hire a designer, since they’ll help you out with this.

But it’s important to examine your starting point- does your website match the vibe of your socials?

Is your tone, logo, and visual style aligned, or do they all feel all over the place?

Being able to communicate your needs and expectations, in life in general lol, but also when it comes to cross-platform consistency, is suuuper important.

5. What’s working and what’s not? And what does ‘working’ even mean?

This can be a tough one.

Because sometimes, our own personal tastes rub up against what actually converts.

Sometimes you think something is working, but if it’s only working for you, and none of your customers, it’s not really working.

I unfortunately speak from experience lol oops. But we learn, and we pivot!

Be honest with yourself and your designer. It’s okay, it’s a safe space. <3

6. Do I have a clear story or message behind my brand?

If someone asked “what makes you different?” would your answer stand out, or sound like everyone else?

This one is haaard, especially if you find yourself in an oversaturated market.

And if you can’t answer this question yet, I encourage you to ~*look within*~.

A lot of the time, especially if you’re a solopreneur, the answer to the ‘what makes you different’ question is answered with anecdotes about who you are as a human, within and without your biz.

7. Am I ready to collaborate, give feedback, and trust the process?

Design, and any collaborative creative process, is a two-way street.

If you're hiring someone, it's not just about what you want, it’s also about letting an expert guide you.

So make sure that you LOVE the work of your new designer, and trust that their expertise will make your ideas even better. 

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

TLDR: Can you hire a graphic designer if all of the answers to these questions are “idk”?

I mean, yeah I guess, but if you want to save your money and time with info-gathering meetings, do your homework! 

If you’re anything like me, your business is your baby. Learning about it via deep introspection and analyzing your market will never be a bad thing. 

And when you are ready to start working with a designer, I hope you’ll fill out my contact form so we can start chatting about your exciting upcoming projects!! :)