Many potential clients wonder if they're choosing the "right" designer. I've even had some potential clients come right out and ask "How do I know you're the right designer for me?"

On the surface it seems like an odd question, but it's definitely important. You're going to spend time, effort and money with your designer so you want to make sure they'll be a good fit for you and your business. 

Based on my experience speaking with potential clients, I've put together some tips to help you find the right designer for you...

Get clear about what you want (at least to start with)

Take the time to think about what exactly you would like a graphic designer to do for you.

Consider things like how many projects you'd like quoted, deadlines, short and long term requirements and previous material you've had designed (if any). How involved do you want the designer to be - have you got clear ideas about what you want, or are you happy to leave that completely up to the designer?

Knowing what you want and what else you might need helps you to to compare apples with apples from one designer to another.

Ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations

Personal recommendations definitely take some of the guess work out of Googling and Yellow Pages searches! If your friends and colleagues have graphic designers they work with, ask them about their experiences and if they would recommend their graphic designer to you.

Once you've got some names to shortlist, you can visit their websites and get a feel for whether you like their work and if they "feel" right for you. You can also ask your contacts what they like/dislike about their designer, how they work, how reliable they are etc. This information can sometimes be hard to determine for yourself, and a little "inside information" can help you make an informed decision.

Do you like their work?

This seems like a pretty obvious question, but over the years clients have come to me frustrated because they simply weren't happy with the designs the previous designer presented, no matter how many meetings and discussions they'd had.

When I ask if they liked the designer's portfolio, the answer is often "I didn't bother checking it out" or even "no, not really".

Most designers have their own style, the way they prefer to design when they have free reign. Some designers can be flexible - able to adapt to various styles when required. Others are very set in their own style, and can't/won't deviate.

Take the time to look through the portfolios of your shortlisted designers. Consider honestly whether you like what you see. If there isn't many examples in the portfolio, ask to see other designs. 

To put it simply, if you don't like the examples in the designer's portfolio, there's every chance you won't like the designs they do for you.

Find out how they work

It's important to ask questions of your potential designer before you engage them. How do they envisage working with you? What does their process entail? How long does a project normally take? What are their terms?

Ask if you can contact their clients for testimonials - a designer who has developed strong relationships will be happy for you to speak to other clients.

A good designer won't mind answering questions and will be happy to provide further information to you. It's just as important for us to determine how the relationship with you might progress and what you expect as a client. It has to be a good fit both ways.

Do you like them?

Make time to meet with with your shortlisted designers - in person, via Skype or even just over the phone. It's so much easier to find out if you like someone in a real live conversation rather than a string of emails or tweets.

Do you feel like you can work together? Do they "get" what you're about? Your designer is going to find out a bit about you and your business, do you think you can trust them? How does their attitude seem to you, does their personality clash with yours? What's your gut instinct - do you believe they can deliver?

All of these points are very important. If you don't get along with your graphic designer it's going to be hard to build a strong relationship with them. In my experience the most rewarding projects aren't always the biggest - they're actually the ones where I get along well with my clients, where we work well together to achieve the best outcome possible.

Do they do more than just design?

I think it's important to consider whether a designer has other talents, along with being a good graphic designer. Do they have experience in your industry, do they know about business, do they understand the psychology of your consumer? Can they do other things for your business outside of design, such as be a sounding board for other projects and decisions or for your business in general?

Some designers don't have much experience in business. Others are all about the "folio potential", losing sight of the commercial viability of the project.

Access to additional skills, experience and expertise can bring extra insight and success to your business - take the time to consider if this is important to you, and find out if they can deliver those extras.

Lastly, price.

The price argument is a tough one. You absolutely need to have a budget - every business does. But please, don't let your budget dictate who you decide to deal with.

If you go with the cheapest designer even though you don't like their work at all, it will always be a waste of your money - that I can guarantee!  

Choose to deal with a designer you like first, and be honest in discussing your budget with them. The right designer for you may not lower their price (and will unlikely price-match), but they will care enough to explore ways they can work with you.  

I like to think there's more than one way to skin a cat ... meaning there is always an option, a way to create a mutually beneficial arrangement. A good designer will be able to offer suggestions and alternatives if you're serious about investing in your design and marketing. You never know, you may find the right designer fits perfectly within your budget.

With these tips in mind, the search for the "right" designer shouldn't be stressful. It should be exciting!

It should invigorate you and fire up the passion you feel for your business. There's nothing I love more than sitting down with a potential client, finding out about their business and their plans for taking it to the next level. I love their excitement and their passion, and I love seeing if there's a way we can play together.

The right designer for you will feel the same way. They'll see more than just the dollars for your project; they'll see an opportunity to develop a long lasting, powerful relationship with you and your business.