Frequently Asked Questions

First step is to contact us to set up a discovery meeting.  We will send you a design questionaire. Putting your ideas on paper helps to organize thoughts and ideas in a way that can be efficiently communicated to the designer. Take this step seriously because it is designed to save you money. At the discovery meeting we will listen to you and discuss your goals.  An estimate and a timeline can then be crafted to suit your individual project.  For detailed information on project workflows, please visit Our Processes.

Because graphic design is a service industry, all work that we spend on the project must be paid in full, even if you decide not to use the designs we've created for you. All work that you have paid for is yours and original files will be released to you. However, you must have the design program in which it was created to open and alter your files.

Much of the costs depend on you.  Good communication along with the ability to make decisions and stick with them are the keys to keeping your costs low.  After discussing your goals at the discovery meeting, an estimate will be customized for your project.  We will do our best to stay within budget.  Because revisions are a necessary part of the process, limited revisions are built-in along the way (typically three).  However, should more revisions or changes in direction be made by the client, we will alert the client ahead of time that the hourly rate will be added to the estimate for the project to continue.  You can save a lot of money by thinking your project through ahead of time and explaining exactly what you want on your design questionnaire and at the discovery meeting.  We don’t want to discourage free artistic exploration of your ideas, but the possible variations on a design scheme really can be infinite.  So that there are no surprises, we state up front that all extra time spent exploring variations are counted as billable hours.  Most clients have an idea in mind which has to be effectively communicated to the designer up front.  If you say that you don’t really know what you like, but will know it when you see it, then your project is certain to be a costly one.

No project is too small. Our hourly rate is $85.00. We only bill on actual time and do not have a minimum fee like many other firms. Knowledge and experience makes us fast so you won't be paying for an inexperienced designer's learning curve.

Sure.  You can make secure payments with Paypal.  No account is necessary.  Anyone with an email address can send money online. Ask your designer for an invoice link.

The cost is based on time spent on the project and the amount of revisions or changes by the client. Logos with illustrations typically take longer than logos that are text only.  Logos average between $500-$1800. Typically the process takes three rounds of drafts and revisions (and this is assumed within the estimate).  In the first round, three to five logos are drafted and presented to the client.  The client selects one, and then more variations are drawn on that theme.  Then the client chooses final logo from that set to which minor changes are made to tweak to final result.  However, if more variations or changes of direction are desired by the client, we are happy to oblige; but the hourly rate will be applied to cover the additional time.

 

Sure, there are cheap internet logo services out there, but as with most things in life, when it come to design, you get what you pay for. If uniqueness and artistry customized to reach your specific audience is important to you, then we are the firm for you.

Market research shows that 90% of your customers will view your website before making the decision to contact you. The #1 reason that visitors will leave your website is poor design. Therefore, a stunning site will prove to have the best return on every dollar spent. As with most things in life, when it comes to web design, you get what you pay for. So be sure that you invest wisely. An estimate will be crafted for your project according to the complexity of your website.  Cost will vary according to the number of pages, data forms, flash animation, interactivity, audio, video, gallery, blog, and shopping cart capabilities.  Building your site is a one-time cost; web hosting and domain name renewal with an outside provider will be an annual cost which for most is about $100 per year. 

We give you choices in how to maintain your website.  If you are willing to learn, we offer software for making your own changes for greater control over your site content. This way, you can be update you site as often as you like.  Or, we will be glad to maintain your site and make changes for you at the hourly rate.  Here, we will charge a half-hour minimum and changes apply to photos and text only.  When the time comes for more major work such as changing out the overall design, then a new project estimate will be accessed.

The time frame depends on early client communication on the design questionnaire and discovery meeting, accounts kept in good standing, keeping changes and revisions to a limit, prompt answer to correspondences, and timely decisions and feedback to drafts and proofs.  The delivery date will also depend on our workload at the time.  We try our best not to promise a deadline on which we cannot deliver.  However, when the client delays in making decisions, responding to correspondences, or keeping up with payments, other projects can take your place on the roster.  So it is important to keep the flow of communication quick and open.  Rush projects depend on the feasibility of our schedule and are subject to extra charges.

Chemistry just happens or it doesn't. A designer who whole-heartedly believes in what you offer will naturally serve you best.  As a private business, we reserve the right to choose which projects to accept and which to decline.  Basically, we handle content rated G to PG-13 and don't get involved in work of a controversial nature.  If a conflict of interest arises, we will be glad to refer you to another designer better suited to your ideas, not out of judgment, but because you will be best served by a designer who passionately shares your views.

Printing is done through outside sources.  Preparing your files for print is a part of the process.  Printing prices can either be incorporated into your estimate, or we will be glad to prepare your work so that you can broker your own project with the printer of your choice.  When we handle the printing, we shop around for the best quality for the best price.  Local printers are employed as well as trusted services on-line.  Though there is often some minor trade-off in color because of many internet-based printing processes, they do fantastic work for the price and are dependable to deliver quickly. Each printer has their own individualized templates or specifications.  If you have your own printer, let us know in advance which company you prefer and we will prepare files to their specifications. Then we can give you a disk or upload the files so that you can take charge of your print process.  However, Spinks Creative cannot be responsible for mistakes or delays of a printer.

Absolutely!  We hope to have a long-standing relationship with you.  Once we have completed several successful projects together and you have continued to bring significant return business, we will gladly cut you a break on rates.

Spinks Creative's strength is in our creativity. We NEVER use templates. Only after getting to know you and hearing your goals will we begin to customize a unique design built from scratch that visually reinforces your message. If you are local (or out of town and willing to pay travel expenses), we go the extra mile, taking custom photography at your buisness location or event to integrate the experience of what you do into your website. We are a service to help you get the word out about what you do to a world who needs what you have to offer.  Market research shows that in our information-saturated world, you have only seconds to make the viewer take a second look.  Not only do we have skillful artistry in visual communication, we have experience in creating designs that sell.  Our designs also will inspire confidence with a professional presentation to attract your audience.  Good design is about good choices.  Choosing us will be your best choice to let the world know you're here.