If I could just say, “You only need to charge this for this,” I would. Unfortunately it’s not that easy. I do however, have some nice little pointers for you to follow that will make the whole process much easier.

Now some people like to charge an hourly rate which is fine, but to me it’s not very effective business wise. It can overcomplicate things with the client later in the project, especially if you end up adding extra hours. I believe clients like to have a nice solid up front price from beginning to end with little to no changes. So if you like the hourly rate, but are still having trouble, try Freelance Switch’s hourly rate calculator for some guidance.

The Pricing Elements

For starters, you need to know what project you have. So after the brief is all filled out, you’ll need to assess how much work you will have. What is your time and effort worth to you for this project? If a client came to you for work, they obviously have some faith in your abilities, so don’t sell yourself short.

You’ll also want to figure out how much your experience is worth. If you just started, you don’t have much experience, so your cost will be lower in this area compared to someone with a few decades under their belt. If you are in high demand, you’ll really want to add a little more money. Let people know your worth.

The size of the business that came to you also matters. If they are a giant company like a fortune 500, then you will naturally charge a lot more than a small business.

The time it will take to finish a project is a big deal too. If you have a lot of time that’s good, but if the client wants something in a few days, you will probably want to charge more. This is because you will have to but off other projects just to focus on the one. You will also be putting all your efforts into the one so you can get everything done on time.

The Technicals

After you are done figuring out a cost, present it to the client. Don’t get negotiated down. If this is what you believe you’re time and efforts are worth, you shouldn’t feel like you need to change the cost.

No matter what, you should always accept some sort of down payment before you start a project. This is to make sure that the client is serious about the work, and that if something happens, your time was not wasted. Some designers take 50% of the total cost, but it’s really up to you. I divide my total cost into plans sort of like a lay-a-way.

One of the things I like to do is divide up the payments with the parts of the work I do. For example, I need the first payment to start the work, I need the second payment after approval of the sketches so I can start on revisions, and I will need the final payment to send final work and files. Whatever you work out is up to you, just make sure you get that first payment before you start anything.

It’s also a good idea to convert the cost if you client is in another country. That way if the value of money fluctuates from one place to another, the agreed upon price is solid.

Conclusion

In the end, the price still remains up to you, but at least now you have a little more insight. One thing you want to keep in mind is that you don’t want to under or over charge. If you under charge, the client may think your work is cheap and not worth it. On the other hand, if you over charge, a client may say something bad about your work versus costs. It’s really up to you though. With time and practice, you will find a solution that works for you, and that’s all that really matters.

Thinking About Non-Profits

If you are fresh from school or just getting started in the design world, taking on a pro bono project can really get you started in the world. By working for a non-profit, they will greatly appreciate your work and efforts, and you will be donating your services for a good cause. The best types of non-profits for you to aim at would be small to medium sized ones. The larger ones will have more than enough resources for all their design needs. All you have to do is search online or make some local phone calls to get started.

Making It Happen

Once you have a good idea of the places you want to try for, take time to contact them. It’s normally better to talk to them in person or by phone, but if you have to, try an email. This will give you a lot of practice as a designer, and you can get some first hand knowledge on how things work.

Design for them the way you would as if you were getting paid. You want to get a great experience out of this, so don’t think that just because you’re doing it for free should change that.

Conclusion

Having some pro bono work in your portfolio can get attention aimed at you if you never had any real work experience yet. You can also feel free to take risks with your design skills that you normally wouldn’t take, such as designing a web site if all you do is logos. This is a great way to grow as a designer without the pressure of wasting the clients money. After you are done you can proudly show off your work in your portfolio.

I know how hard naming can be. It took me 5 whole days after my son was born to name him, and I didn’t even give him any of the names I spent months writing down and thinking of. Naming is important to all of us. We want that perfect name right off the bat. Unfortunately it’s not that easy. For a proper name these days, it takes more than luck to get the perfect one. Let’s examine one of my favorite brands.

There are companies out there that have catchy names, but few of us ponder why it is what it is. Take for instance Nike. Everyone knows who they are, and we can recognize their logo easy, but what about the name? Did you know that in 1968 Nike was actually incorporated as Blue Ribbon Sports? It was only in 1978 that they became Nike. Think about that name “Blue Ribbon Sports.” It’s like saying that everyone who wears their product are blue ribbon winners. It’s very straight forward, and you don’t need to think too much about it, but the name isn’t very catchy.

Now let’s look at the name Nike. Nike is a short 2 syllable word so it’s really easy to remember. Do you know the meaning behind the word? There’s no better place to look for athletics than Greece, where the Olympics was born. It’s a mystery how the Olympics all began, but legend has it that it was all started by Heracles and Zeus. We all know that the Olympics is a battle of strength, courage, wits, and determination, and who better to aid in your battles than Nike, the goddess of strength, speed and victory.

It all starts with Pallas, who was a titan associated with war, and Styx who was the goddess of the underworld river styx who personified the spirit of hatred. Now you put war and hatred together and they have 4 children, Zelus (Rivalry), Nike (Victory), Cratos (Strength) and Bia (Force). Nike was the goddess of strength, speed and victory. She awarded gods and goddesses around the battlefield with glory and fame. So wearing a Nike product is like being awarded with just that. Knowing this background story makes me want to buy Nike products even more, and I’m sure they want people to know the meaning of it.

Going back to the original name “Blue Ribbon Sports,” Nike never diverted from the original goal of their name. Everyone is a winner with Nike. Wearing the product itself makes you a winner. So if you ever wondered “what’s in a name,” there you have it. This is one of my favorite brand names for this exact reason. It means something. It’s not just a random name chosen out of a hat. They could have picked from several Greek gods or goddesses also. They went with Nike because she was what best represented their product.

Believe it or not, this is how Nike got their name. It was a way more complicated process than what I explained here though. It’s easy to figure out once you know the answer. Sort of like how you know a clever, cool logo design when you see it, but coming up with that design is a tough process.

So naming is pretty tough and it takes a bit of work, but hey, that’s one big part of branding. If you find a method that works for you, stick with it. Don’t be afraid to try something new, and go for the gold.

Here are some helpful tidbits on naming

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/startupbasics/namingyourbusiness/article21774.html
Identity Works: http://identityworks.com/tools/naming.htm

Logo Design Love is broken down into 3 parts, “The Importance of brand identity,” “The process of design,” and “Keep the fires burning,” totaling 11 chapters.

When you start reading the chapter: “The Importance of brand identity,” you start to realize that logos and brands are everywhere. Of course we all know they that, but David does a test to see just how many logos he finds when he wakes up in the morning. It’s really incredible how dominate brands are in everyday life. You’ll also be brought up to speed on what a logos purpose is.

Part 2, “The process of design,” will take you step by step through all of important steps in the design process. Some of us are quick to forget all the steps, or we just forget to take our time. This part will help you understand how to gather ideas and put them on paper, sort of like chapter 4 says, “laying the groundwork.” The most important thing you’ll want to read on is getting the brief right. There are several starter ideas here for you to build on, and David almost makes it too easy for us.

Pricing is also another important chapter (chapter 6) that most of us freelancers struggle with. Although a definite payment plan isn’t easy to come to, David will explain some trials and errors he went through to help you come to a plan of attack. It’s a very touch and go situation. If you charge too little, a client will think you’re cheap, too much and a client won’t come to you. It’s all in the book.

You can download chapter 7: From pencil to PDF for free here: http://www.logodesignlove.com/free-logo-design-love-book-chapter

Finally we close with “Keep the fires burning.” Freelancers, especially ones who work alone, can benefit from this chapter the most. Struggling with ideas and inspiration can be frustrating. Some of the advice seems so obvious, but with all that goes on, and the stresses of finishing a project, it seems like maybe we forget some of the most basic helpers. You’ll also get to read about some of David’s client experiences, like working with a bad client, and he even offers advice on working with family.

Logo Design Love is full of helpful advice from David Airey, and I loved reading about his personal experiences with clients and his own situations with work. So pick up this book if you’re still in school, freelancing or just want a refresher. It’s fresh and it was a book full of logo design love.

You can buy the book at Amazon.com.

Trendy Trends

A lot of designers like to fall into the trends of logo designs.  You will see the same clean looks, or the same circle patterns. There’s swooshes, leaves, faces, hands, wings etc., and they all seems to follow the current trends. What we want to do is recognize a trend and then not follow it. Try to be unique and be your own individual. If you do a search for “logo trends” you will see what I mean.

Thinking Back

Think back to when you first took an interest in drawing or art. Almost all of us started out copying something someone else did. As we grew, we learned how to develop our own ideas, but still may have copied the same style. Then there was that point in time where we had our own style and way of doing things. When did we start copying styles again? I guess it’s natural for most people to do the popular thing. Throughout our lives, we  notice that if something gets positive attention, we want to do it too. To move from the follower to the leader, there are steps that need to be made.

Take Your Creativity Back

One of the steps that’s necessary to breaking through the pack is to just have fun. I mean really have fun! Make up a weird idea off the top of your head and just go to town. Think of it as your own little project. Think of a monster and add a story to it. Do your own thing without looking online at all. Maybe redraw something from your childhood, or recreative something you did when you first started out. Maybe even take a logo you don’t like and remake it in your own way. See how much creativity you can put into it now.

Stand Above

Look around at some of the great memorable brands. Just pick one like Apple, Nike, GE, Coke, etc. They are solid and memorable, and they are at least 10 years old. The goal of a logo is to make sure it can withstand time. If you follow a trend it just won’t. It will blend in with the crowd, and won’t stand out in anyone’s mind. Have you ever seen someone dressed so weird that you couldn’t get it out of your mind? That’s what you want to do with your designs. Since trends are trying with a valiant effort to take over in design, now should be easier than ever to stand above the rest. Be different, fresh and maybe a little daring.

Research

This may be like listening to a broken record, but research is really important. Like I’ve said before, the internet was made for this sort of thing, so dedicate maybe an hour a day to looking up the trends. See what’s popular and try to do better. Be clever and inventive with your ideas. With effective research and brainstorming, your idea will be as unique as possible.

Pace Yourself

A good time limit for most professional designers is 1 month or longer from the beginning of a project to end. This is because it takes time to research and communicate with one another. In the crowdsourcing world, most projects start at about 7 days, and can go to a month or longer depending on time extensions and price. You’ll want to find a good time frame for you. Don’t jump on a project you have little understanding in, and expect to get a good design out in 3 days. It’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Organize

Whether you’re getting started in this crowdsourcing thing, or you’re a seasoned pro, organization is key. If this is your first time trying out trying out crowdsourcing, it can be a little intimidating. There are a lot of things to look at. First find what you’d like to design for. Then browse through all of the projects, just skimming through them to find what you think you’d like. Get a good list going of the projects you’re interested in.

Understanding

When looking at projects, you have to get a good understanding of them. If the design is a logo for a law firm, and you think it’s boring, then don’t do it. You will not be able to immerse yourself into the project and design at your best when you force yourself. The best thing to do is read through the briefs until you find one that interests you. This is a benefit to crowdsourcing that the pro designers really don’t have. They normally don’t just pick and chose who they design for. They take what they get because of their professionalism and business standing.

Research

Once you’ve found a project you like, start to research it. Don’t assume you know everything about the place just based on what they tell you in the brief. Go above and beyond so you can prove your worth in this cutthroat field. If it’s too tough to wrap your mind around, then move on. Research the business and their competition. Look up designs in a similar field and get some ideas of what other people are doing.

Brainstorming and Sketches

I understand that it’s tempting to go right to the computer for work. There are just certain steps you should follow through with because it can free you mind. One thing I must recommend is David Airey’s book, Logo Design Love. You can read the free chapter from this link. It has some awesome information on how to get your ideas out. Please look at this. You really need to start with pen and paper. I know it can be hard if you’ve never done this step, but it is very much worth it. You write out ideas and their relation to each other. Then come up with some sketches, which is much faster than using the computer. Research other methods of coming up with ideas and find your own way.

Concept Copying

Inspiration is key, so try checking out some design sites. Crettica is a good place to start. The one thing you don’t want to do is start copying other people’s ideas. Even if you thought of an idea first, that doesn’t mean other people didn’t have the same thought. That’s why brainstorming is so important. You have to weed through those first initial thoughts and get right down to the essence of the design. Make it your own by adding your unique talent and ideas to it. You may be surprised to know that there are tons of logos and designs in the world, that were professionally don, that look similar to each other. It’s no biggy to be called a copy cat. Just say sorry, take it down, and try again. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Confrontations

This is bound to happen between creative minds that are all together. Pretend that crowdsourcing sites are like a business with a whole lot of employees. You should handle yourself professionally. If you have a problem with another designer, a private message is the only way this should be handled. If you can’t do a private message, then contact the site administrators if it’s a big issue. There is absolutely no reason to bring your problems with a designer to the public eye. What would that say to everyone? It doesn’t say that you can professionally handle certain situations. Just keep it between you and them, and if you have to say something to an admin, then do so.

Never Quit

Now if you’ve won any projects that’s great, but you can’t forget that this is an ongoing battle between you and other creative people. You can’t let your guard down even for a moment. You must make sure to study up on design when you can, and practice all the time. If you haven’t been to college for design, you’ll want to do all you can to be versed in it. Buy some books, get a mentor, team up with people you trust. Get that experience and do the best you can.

Here are a few tips on how to survive a situation like the one described above:

Keep Your Cool

One thing we all have to do is keep our cool. If you tell the client that their ideas are bad, they may just decide to hire someone else. Nobody who thinks they have a great idea, likes to be told it’s not great. Especially since this is their company and they ultimately have the final say in the design. There are a few ways you can let the client know that their idea isn’t the best, without jeopardizing all the hard work you do, so take a deep breath and try them out.

Show Them What You Mean

One simple way to let the client know their idea isn’t the best way, would be to show some logos and designs that weren’t successful with the same concept. You could also go ahead and do what they ask, and then tell them why it won’t work. For example, a lot of clients like to use cool swooshes in a design, but it’s so overused that they wouldn’t stand out in a crowd. Simply do what they request, then throw a bunch of logos you find with the same idea all around it. Tell the client to find their design within 5 seconds. Sort of like a logo I spy. Everyone learns through example.

Try To Reason With Them

Maybe the client should know just how experienced you are. Simply explain why something won’t work without being cocky about it. For some reason, people will assume that designers think they know everything, and can come off as snobby, so try to be polite. It can be a touchy situation, but try your best to let your view be known. If the client wants an overly complicated logo, let them know that the public needs to remember it in about 2 seconds. Another good thing to tell them is that if they can’t draw it from memory, or explain how it looks to another person, then it probably isn’t a good idea to go with that logo.

Will It Work In Print?

If a logo is too complicated or too detailed, it most likely will look bad in print. This is something the client must know. Sometimes work can be overwhelming for them too. They hired you because you know something they don’t, and they count on you to relay this information to them. So if they have you doing a logo that will not even look close to good in one color, or if there’s just too much going on, bring up how it could look in print. The same applies for sizing. If you shrink it to 1-inch, can you still recognize it?

If All Else Fails: Give it a Try

There are some cases where it might just be a good idea to try what the client likes. Actually, you should always give it a shot. No one person can hold the perfect idea all the time, so trying other ideas can expand your horizon. You would really come off as snobby if you’re not even willing to try other ideas. Who knows, the client may just teach you something you never knew.

In Conclusion

Even though you want to tell the client that their ideas aren’t so great, you should try them out anyway. If they are really bad ideas, be polite and explain why things won’t work. You want your logos to be simple, clear, and easy to remember, and by showing examples of why their idea won’t work can solidify your explanations.

If you’ve ever been on a team, you know it can be fun and encouraging. You have a collective of different minds with different thoughts and points of view. It’s almost like there’s no end to the ideas, and brainstorming flows effortlessly. So what do you do, when you have to go it alone? How can one mind come up with enough different ideas to actually brainstorm successfully?

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