Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Graphic Design
1. How are you different from a design agency?
Unlike a design agency, a freelance designer like me works on a solo basis. Clients will enjoy the luxury of having direct contact with me rather than through an account executive who acts as the middleman between the client and the designer. While agencies may see the client as a number, I am able to dedicate more time and energy to the clients’ works as each client is valuable to me.
2. Are you cheaper than a design agency?
3. How are you different from other designers?
Different designers have different styles and level of experience. Some designers are more skilled in corporate design than others, have strong illustrative styles and some specialise their niche areas elsewhere. I specialise in below-the-line advertising with experience in various industries such as events, hospitality, music, retail, fashion, entertainment and branding. My experience in both working in the UK and Singapore has established me as being able to blend design to different cultures and settings. You can check out my portfolio to consider if my style is suitable for your needs.
4. Why should I hire you over a junior designer?
Junior designers can possess great portfolios but many lack the job experience in dealing with clients and can take a longer time in their execution in comparison to seasoned designers. If you are looking for someone who has years of experience, who knows what they are talking about and who can lead and art direct without you pulling your hair in frustration to help them do their job, I am definitely the key choice for you. If a cheap budget is what you are aiming for, you can seek interns or junior designers. But bear in mind that you get what you paid for.
5. Why is it that when I print out an image from the web, the colours look different?
Screen colours for electronic devices make use of RGB colours while print colours make use of CMYK. What you see on screen cannot be relied as the accurate projection of the colours on print as CMYK colour space excludes all the colours in the colour spectrum that RGB includes. If you are very particular on how your colours appear on print, I can offer Pantone colour presentations upon request, which will help you make the right choices for your printing needs.
6. Design is so easy that even a 5-year-old can do it. I also can, and I don't think a logo should cost more than $5.
This is one of the common misconceptions (Mmm…then why would you seek me in the first place? ). Take a logo for example – it is easy to judge at first sight that the logo is “easy to do”, that “even a 5-year-old can do it”. What you are looking at is the finished product. What you are not looking at is the process behind each logo, the countless of hours of research and sketches so as not to make your logo look the same as your competitors, and the multiple options and revisions requested in order to further perfect that logo. You’re not just paying for the product, but also the man-hours behind its creation. There are sites out there that over-promise that a logo can be done in a few minutes and even D.I.Y with their long list of selections of icons. What they do not tell you, is that because those icons are their copyright, you are only given a royalty-free pass to use them. Even if they give you the option to change certain colours of elements of that icon on their system, by law, you cannot claim or own copyright of your logo, neither are you allowed to trademark on that design. My logo design for each client is unique, carefully thought out and clients get to own the copyright of that logo on the condition of full payment. I will also carry you through the process of choosing your colours for print and digital, icon usage and a whole list of comprehensive solutions to your logo. (If a 5-year-old can do it, can I hire that 5-year-old?)
8. I paid for your design, therefore I have full copyright to it, right?
9. Do you accept projects from outside Singapore?
10. I am an overseas client. How do I pay you?
11. Do you offer printing services?
12. I am a design agency. Can I hire you on a freelance basis?
13. Are there any kinds of work you avoid?
General
1. Why do you not include your telephone number or address?
Simply to prevent spam and protect my privacy. Besides, the best thing about being a freelancer is that I get to work from anywhere around the world since my graphic design and writing services are virtual products. As for craft works, should you need to return a product (see return policy), get in touch with me and I will forward you the relevant address for returning.
2. Without a contact number, how can I contact you if I have an urgent request?
Simply message me through my contact form. In the current digital age we are living with all the available apps and cool smartphones, getting in touch has never been easier and faster. Rest assured that I am prompt with my replies.
3. Can I interview you?
Yes, provided you are credible in your reporting 🙂
Writing
1. Why don’t you charge by per-word basis?
Simple. Let’s say you buy a good meal, do you pay for its ingredients only or the labour only or both? Likewise, when I write, I factor in the man-hours of thought-process, ideas, key word research and a big dollop of editing and revising to write a smacking good article for you. The saying is true that you pay for what you get.
2. What is the process of your writing like?
3. Which areas of writing can you do?
My key speciality is in content writing. Upon request, I can also do advertorials, press releases or copy-writing. But my strongest point remains content writing.