sorry, busy day. i will send a canned message to everybody who responded later tonight.
regards,
steve
here is the e-mail sent out today. anybody who is interested can present a design to me.
"here's the situation:
i have started e-mailing and calling local companies here in the dfw
metroplex regarding web design/hosting. i need to make my business home
site (http://www.texascontractorratings.com/test/index.html) presentable as
soon as possible. i have the hosting plan in place, but need to decide on a
designer/artist.
i am sending this e-mail to a few of you who expressed interest in this
venture. i'd like for you to put something together for my site. i will
decide which design is best and best fits my needs in 1 week. at that
point, i will discuss a contract with the designer and hopefully start
making some money at this. :)
here's what i'm looking for: a business professional design/layout, nothing
too fancy (no flash, etc.), something that shows we know what we are doing,
but doesn't go over the top or look like a gaming site. go ahead and use
the content i have on the site already and present your finished product to
me however you choose.
i look forward to hearing from each of you. good luck and happy designing!
regards,
steve"
Warning! Newbies, if you are going to send a 'design' to this guy, make sure that it has a watermark (a very imposing one) and/or the file or layout is not at final resolution.
You should protect your work, what could stop him from showing the design to another designer that's cheaper -- or stealing the idea himself.
Understand that in the design world, I barely ever give mockups like this (or my company for that matter) in a paying environment. I will show you simple, rough layout ideas; if they choose to move forward, then contracts are leveled out.
It should not be this way -- you're essentially doing work and maybe not getting paid for it from someone you don't even know. Why should you have to wait around why he decides, after you spent all that talent and time?
This is obviously Steve's first time working with designers (if ever working with a professional firm); he would not have asked for submitted designs. This is not a bid for the Smithsonian, or the 9/11 Monument -- understand he can gauge your 'talents' by looking at previous creations. He should then pick that firm/designer based on their work -- you guys write up a contract based on an agreement that you will be billing for your mockup and initial designs. If he does not like them, you own the designs, and he either pays you for your time spent, or you can both agree to disregard the money. The point is to keep your work yours.
How many people will he show it too? How many will he send emails out who can view or copy it?
Don't spend 20 hours on a layout that could be copied, and you could never see recognition for it.
very good advice. i have no intention of wronging anybody here, but if watermarking or otherwise protecting your work makes you feel more comfortable, please feel free.
for what it's worth. i WILL NOT use any design presented in any form or fashion without the consent of the designer. my intentions are to put together a presentable business site and find a designer with whom i can work with on future projects.
regards,
steve
i am no longer in need of a graphic designer. thanks to all who responded.
regards,
steve
Even though I'm a newbie, I wanted to say that a designer should have their own portfolio or website for people to see examples of their work. A person seeking a designer can make a decision regarding who should be working for them based on those examples.
Obviously there may be questions regarding certain abilities, but still I tend to agree that you shouldn't just start doing a project example for a person regardless of that person's intentions.
Thanks for listening. :)
I agree -- and the same goes for print designers. Have a couple digital or physical copies, and don't let them keep it (unless they must) -- or you'll be missing all your nice work like I am:)