Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Budgeting for Design
A lot of designers think money is a main reason they win or lose a client's business.
They are often right. Pricing work properly is a skill acquired through practice. It takes a
keen instinct for what the marketplace will pay and what the design firm will need.
Howtheworkispricedisonlyonefactoringettingadesignjobfromaclient.Otherfac-
tors from the client's perspective include
•
Relevant Experience:
Hasthedesignerworkedonasimilarprojectinthepast?What
doesitlooklike?Whataretheresultsofthedesign?
•
Right Attitude:
Isthedesignerenthusiasticandeagertobeginworkontheproject?
•
Good Chemistry:
Doesitseemlikeagoodfit?Doesthedesigner“getus”?Dowelike
thedesignerasaperson?
•
Portfolio/Style:
Isthedesigner'sworkappealing?Doesithaveadiscerniblestylethat
mesheswithourneeds?Isthedesignercreativeenough?
•
Perceived Reliability:
Didthedesignershowupontime?Dowethinkwecantrustthe
designer?(Sincetheclientissometimesmeetingthedesignerforthefirsttime,this
isoftensubjective.)
•
A Referral:
Didsomeoneweknowandtrustreferthisdesignertous?Didthedesign-
ergetagoodrecommendation?
•
Luck:
Isthedesignerintherightplaceattherighttime?
It is arguable which comes first—creating a schedule or creating a budget. Sometimes a
client just tells the designer how much money they have for a particular project. Usually,
though, the client requests a price from the designer. The designer's compensation is
anessentialelementinadesigner-clientagreement.
Pricingiswhatyoutelltheclientitwillcostfortheproject.Thisincludesfees(your
compensation)andexpenses(reimbursableoutsidecostsforitemspurchasedforthe
project).Budgetingishowyouappropriateandmanagethesefeesandexpenses.In
this chapter, we'll look at money in both ways.
Herearesomekeyfactorstoconsiderwhenpricingadesignjob:
•
Scope of Work
Whatexactlyarewedoing?Whatservicesareweproviding?
Whatarethedeliverables?Inwhatformat?
•
Resources
Whowilldothework?Dowehavetosupplementourteamwithadditionaldesigners?
Withwhatskills?Howmuchdotheycost?Doweneedourseniororjuniordesigners
todothework?
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