Graphic Design is a very popular career choice right now. In addition to colleges and universities pumping out fresh, young design graduates every year, the number of self-taught designers is steadily increasing.

With all these people entering the graphic design arena, deciding who to give your projects to can be a daunting task. So how do you - the consumer - know if you’re getting an experienced, professional graphic designer?

First, a professional graphic designer will have a portfolio of past work, either on their website, as an electronic file they can email you, or an actual book with hardcopies they can bring when they meet with you.

Second (and this is the big one, in my opinion), the designer will require a contract before any work is even started. The contract helps to protect both the designer and the client, as well as establishing the payment terms and production schedule, and determines who owns the rights to the final product - all of which are commonly left out by those with less experience.

Third, when providing an estimate, the designer should ALWAYS include research time in their production schedule. An experienced, professional designer researches your company and your competition to determine the best visual solution for you, ensuring a custom, one-of-a-kind, and effective piece.

Fourth, the designer should show an understanding and proper use of the general rules of good design, which include:

• Typography (ie. Keeping fonts to a minimum, using appropriate typefaces for headlines, titles and body text, etc.)
• Using a grid system when designing a layout
• Maintaining a text hierarchy that makes sense (ie. making certain the most important text gets prominent placement; creating a flow of text that allows the eye to flow naturally throughout the piece)
• Using images and boxes/borders appropriately
• Good use of white space

This one can be tough, especially if the consumer doesn’t know the general rules themselves. So asking the designer to explain WHY a certain piece works will help you determine if they have a good understanding of the principals of design.

Fifth, when asked, the designer can provide letters of reference from past clients, with examples of actual results garnered by the piece designed (logo, brochure, direct mail piece, etc.)

Additional signs may include industry awards, or being a member of a design-related organization. While I don’t suggest you use either of these signs alone, when combined with several of the signs listed above, I think these, too, can be a good indication that you’re working with an experienced graphic design professional.

If the designer you are looking to hire has won awards, this is a good sign. Generally, it shows that the designer has demonstrated a good use of graphic design principals, and after having been judged by industry experts, was found to provide the best solution for the project. You should keep in mind, however, that many competitions are open to students of any age, as well as long-time design professionals. So I do recommend asking about a portfolio and their use of contracts, before using awards as your deciding factor.

At the time of this posting, two of the major design-related organizations include GAG (the Graphic Artists Guild) and AIGA (the American Institute of Graphic Arts). While both of these are widely recognized among the design community, the truth is, anyone willing to pay the annual dues can be a member. So again, this is not a factor I recommend using by itself as a deciding factor.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for an organization that has done some of the screening for you, Creative Latitude is a worldwide community that does not charge dues, and membership is selective and based on specific criteria (listed here.)

Hopefully, after reading this, you are more prepared to meet with, and interview, a graphic designer for your next design project, and can feel more certain that you’ll be hiring a bonafide, experienced graphic design professional.