Last week, I dove into the specifics of why I believe it’s a sound investment to hire a professional designer for your design needs, but what exactly makes a good designer worth hiring? From freelancers to brick and mortar design houses, there are hundreds upon hundreds of designers you could hire, but that doesn’t mean you should. As a designer myself, here are a few of the top qualities I believe not only set apart a talented designer from the rest, but also distinguish the type of designer who can offer you a truly one-of-a-kind client experience!

Creativity

A talented designer is someone who is not creative in the work they produce, but also has the ability to devise creative solutions to your problems. Whether that looks like sharing your content in a unique way or designing graphics for you unlike anything else, a good designer is someone who is as creative as they are computer savvy.

Client-Centric Methodology

All the creativity in the world won’t do you any good as the client if your designer doesn’t have a client-centric business model! As the client, your designer should be listening to your needs, adapting his or her approach to meet your goals, and striving to provide you with the best work possible. Someone who responds negatively to constructive criticism or is pushing their own design agenda will not deliver work that you will love in the long run.

Expert Communicator

Aside from sheer artistic ability, it’s so important to seek out designers who are truly excellent communicators. Your designer isn’t just helping you choose a color palette or a font pairing, but they’re helping you visually share important information, values and messages with your ideal audience. With this in mind, don’t be afraid of the designer who asks you tough questions about your project and message, and be prepared to give them in-depth answers so they can help you share your content beautifully and powerfully.

Goal Setter

You need someone who can set goals, deadlines and make them happen! Detail-oriented designers have what it takes to finish projects on time and well. They can prioritize what aspects of a project need to happen sooner rather than later, and are analytically thinking of how they can make this entire process most productive for you.

Professional

Although designers are creative individuals, that doesn’t mean that your experience as the client should be anything less than professional! Your designer should be courteous, respectful and helpful; although, don’t be concerned if we want to get to know who you are as our clients. So much of our job involves creating artwork that authentically reflects your tastes and goals, and we’ll need to know a little bit about who you are and what you value in order to make that happen.

Responsive

The best designers are those who can roll with the punches graciously. Your constructive criticism won’t ruffle their feathers, and you can always expect a return phone call or email from them! They are wholly open to your ideas but are also willing to give you their professional opinion if that means accomplishing a project to the best of their ability. Great designers are responsive and dependable.

Good Fit

If you find a designer who fits all of these qualities and more, but they aren’t the best fit for your personal design aesthetic or project, then you run the risk of being disappointed with your final results. Just as every photographer has their own unique style of capturing moments and editing, graphic designers also have their own distinct aesthetic! If you love the aesthetic and portfolio of a specific designer but their personality seems to rub you the wrong way, don’t be afraid to keep looking for the perfect fit. It’s important that you love not only their design style, but also their client experience and professional demeanor.

What qualities do you look for in a design professional, friend? In your opinion, what makes a great designer worth hiring?