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I am attaching something I got done last year for $50.00
Would you say its too low??
attached is original which I asked them to replicate and change little by changing the animals...what they came up with is much better than original.... the embroidery scan is the original and the artwork is the vector which they created for me
Different people charge different prices for their time. Some people value their time to create that graphic at $50, other people will charge more for the same graphic.
If you like the pricing of that artist, it may be good to keep using the same one.
I've found that people charging low prices for their work usually don't do it very long or very reliably.
As an artist and contractor there are some things you can look at...
First you need a non-compete agreement and/or non-disclosure agreement.... as a professional artist they would have this available... an artist is a profession and just like a doctor.... you get the practice you pay for. Many freelance artist are licensed for what they do.
I let them know my terms right off the bat so there is no confusion later on...
I charge $100/hr, 50% up front and 50% when completed. There is enough work out there and those rates and terms generally keep me working with other professionals. I have a good demo and portfolio, as well as established client list.
Then I get a general concept from the client for what they want, if they agree to my terms and sign the agreements. I have them sign the agreements because I am not about to work up a concept, then have them have someone else do it for cheaper... works for both parties.
Once we are on the same page with the concept, I quote them how many hours it will take based off the direction and my rates.
Once they agree, they send 50% up front and I get busy.
I send them a few concepts / sketches / storyboards for check off. You do this before you start putting in the main work so they (client) dont change thier mind 3/4 of the way through. Not saying they can't, but if they do it requires you to adjust the price. If you give them the chances to change stuff without charging, they will make a simple logo take 3 months and end up costing you.
Once they approve the concepts, I start on the final drafts. A few more approvals and changes are made.
Once the final product is made, I submit a low res, watermarked version and submit my invoice for the final 50% plus any additional charges.
Legally, as the artist, anything I create is owned by me, intellectual property, until I release it to my customer, therefor I am protected by law and contract.
Once they submit final payment, I send the final artwork, with release papers and thats about it.
Some artist ask for royalties and some dont. I dont really care I just want to get paid for my work.
To answer your question, you get what you pay for.
A good design, by a real artist could cost $1000's. They dont care if its going on a tshirt. Dont give them the schpeel of "oh you can get exposure" or "do this one cheap and I can give you more work".... those phrases are played out and dont work.
I can generally do a nice design/illustration for around $500-$750.... something really nice around $1500-$2000.
I am sure you can find up and coming designers for cheap, but the final product may not be what you are looking for.
It's all relative. Some designers charge by the hour and some by the piece. If you have a good relationship with your designer and you do a lot of work with them, they will work with you on price.
Of course if it is just a one time thing (logo design) then it will probably be more expensive.
I'm not a graphic designer but along the same line I'm an embroidery digitizer.
We get china and india offering cheap rates but again it has its downsides too.... guess those who understand the actual benefits of paying more for a high quality art know why they need to continue to do so.....
Most "agencies" will charge around $100/hr for general design rates. They are paying their employees between $17-$25/hr for a junior designer and $25-$40/hr for a senior designer (of course this is all relative to the area you live in, I live in NYC)
So, if you can find a freelancer that already works for an agency or has agency experience, you will get ad agency quality work at a fraction of the price. I personally wouldn't pay any designer $100/hr. Do research and do your homework and you will find what you are looking for.
Most "agencies" will charge around $100/hr for general design rates. They are paying their employees between $17-$25/hr for a junior designer and $25-$40/hr for a senior designer (of course this is all relative to the area you live in, I live in NYC)
So, if you can find a freelancer that already works for an agency or has agency experience, you will get ad agency quality work at a fraction of the price. I personally wouldn't pay any designer $100/hr. Do research and do your homework and you will find what you are looking for.
It all depends.... a designer / illustrator / artist are 3 different things. Most "real" designers dont work "for" agencies, they already freelance and do contract work. Agencies are the worst to work for. And you wont get Agency quality work because agencies have creative directors and account managers that help with the client side of tasks. And as a real licensed contractor, they (designer) are legal to work.
If you do some research on creative jobs, 75% of real artist / designers freelance. For the same reason as above. I wont work for less than $50 an hour at a job when I can do this full time at $100. Plus I do 3D animation, video production, and web design, such as a real designer / artist should be able to, these days.
As you said, you wouldnt pay a designer $100/hr, but you are probably not Nike either, as is some of the work I have done. Its really a catch 22.
My 1 hour of work is generally the same as 2-3 hours for other artists, which is another reason real designers / artist charge more. You see its not always about the price, but the quality and speed of the work as well. So you can pay some other guy $50/hr for 4 hours when I can do what he does in 1 hour. Therefor you got a better job done for half the price and time. I seen it over and over again. Many of my clients come to me after they have already went through this.
amv101 let's be honest for a second, companies like Nike or IBM or Microsoft don't hire freelance "Designers" "Artists" or "Illustrators", they more than likely will hire an agency or a brand manager to do the proper research to make adjustments to their brand or product. I have worked with (not for) many of the top agencies in NYC on various projects. They do have really good staff designers, artists, brand managers etc. . . . To this day I still work with agencies all across the country, so you can say I do have a finger on the pulse, from LA to Vegas to NYC.
My point is, don't knock agencies because like freelancers, they're not all bad. Everyone has their place. My thoughts are that most people on this forum can't afford to waste $100/hr on designers when your trying to launch a brand or product on a shoe string budget. So they will use the elance or guru freelancers and get a decent product but eventually they will need to go with a company or firm to take their brand or product to the next level. Maybe not, but id say 9 of 10 times that's what will happen. Who will do the retail ads? Who will do the media buying? Who will do the PR? Who's doing the integrated marketing campaign. Not a freelancer. That's all I am trying to say. It's too much for 1 freelancer to handle and do it well. We all have our expertise, but we not all experts in everything.
Well you kind of proved my point... you dont work "for" agencies, you work "with" agencies, as so do I. I have done Nike commercials, as a freelancer, through an agency. And sorry I know people that do highend design from 3D to complete editing, and what agencies do is find "designers". They cant pay enough to hire fulltime professionals. Most of the designers agencies staff just do basic layout and remixing of current designs.
I dont turn down any work, agency or a bum, as long as they agree to my terms.
And I guess my point is by spending $100/hr they are not "wasting" money on a professional designer.... you would be "wasting" money on someone who does it for a hobby.
As a t-shirt designer / clothing manufacturer / retailer / and professional graphic designer (on my 4th line, btw) Most t-shirt companies dont hire agencies to do the design for the shirts, they contract out artist for thier unique styles, and generally work with that artist for the majority of the life of the line. I attend MAGIC (had a booth or 2), ASR, POOL, and various other shows and talk directly with owners of popular clothing lines, as well as friends with a few of them.
Maybe if you are doing full on advertising compains which require direct marketing, point-of-sales reports, website tracking and so forth, you would hire an "advertising" agency.... but not to do a tshirt designs. Of course PR and media buying is too much for a freelancer to handle, and I dont know one that does it, thats why the agencies do that part and you get your designs from a "designer".
That is beyond the scope of this thread anyways... I was only saying, from a professional designers point of view, agencies blow goats!
Had nothing to do with all those other services they offer.
I work in a print shop as a an art director/designer; because I work in a print shop, I mostly end up doing pre-press work on other people's art. But when I am called to do some artwork for a client, we charge at a rate of $40/hr. That's about standard for the area (Omaha, NE). Some of the design studios might run you a little more than that. So yeah, it might be worth asking your screenprinter how much their art deparment charges...
Re: How much do you pay for designs? 
