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Anyway, i wanted to see if anyone had some advice for me regarding this awesome internship/job i got! Not sure where else on the forum i could or should have posted this, but anyhoot...
so, here's the background info: i was hired by a woman to design a line of women's day/sleepwear strictly out of Modal (it hasn't really hit the market yet, but it's super duper soft and made out of reconsituted beechwood pulp). she used to be a buyer and has many, many contacts within the industry, and her husband's father owns a textile plant in Nepal. not only that, but i will be designing all of the sundries- hangtags, labels- pretty much doing all of the graphic design work as well.
she said she is willing to pay me pretty much however i want seeing as i'm doing just about everything. how do i go about setting a scale for payment/royalties? i'm doing more than strictly entry level graphic or clothing design, so i don't have anything to judge against. would it be wise to be paid hourly or salary plus a bonus, or just a straight cut?
For the amount of work you're doing, I would look into a salary or hourly type payment. That guarantees that you're getting paid for the work being done and might help keep you motiviated to keep doing the work.
A flat fee or a company share/royalties thing on top of that for exceeding expecations sounds like something worth negotiating as well If you like what you're doing, might make you feel less like an "employee" and more like "part of" this great line you're helping to build.
Compensation for the project as a whole may be the way to go, cut up in certian deliverables, with an amount stated at each deliverable. Plus a nice bonus if the line sells well. =)
Thou shalt start out cheap.
Thou shalt publish thy prices.
Thou shalt raise thy prices regularly and a little.
Thou shalt not lower thy prices.
Thou shalt not have one price for Sam and another for Joe.
Thou shalt not price by talent or time taken, but by size.
Thou shalt not easily discount thy prices.
Thou shalt lay control on thy agents and dealers.
Thou shalt deal with those who will honour thee.
Thou shalt end up expensive.
what do you say? If we follow these rules we must get millionares... after we're dead maybe.
i was hired by a woman to design a line of women's day/sleepwear strictly out of Modal (it hasn't really hit the market yet, but it's super duper soft and made out of reconsituted beechwood pulp).
So it's Rayon then?
Quote:
Originally Posted by zagadka
how do i go about setting a scale for payment/royalties? i'm doing more than strictly entry level graphic or clothing design, so i don't have anything to judge against.
Like you said, it's pretty much a unique job so it's hard to know.
I don't know if this will help, but this is one thing you could ask yourself:
It sounds like it'll be an enjoyable job, thoroughly worth taking. So forget about the job for a second, what you'd be doing, what should it pay, etc. and ask yourself this: At this stage in your life, thinking realistic but also a little idealistic, what amount of money do you wish to be earning? Irrespective of the job you are doing, what do you think you "should" be earning right now?
Now... would that figure make a good pay rate?
(obviously this way you run the risk of asking for too much, or being paid too little - but on the other hand you get the amount of money that you want, and if it's too much you can negotiate from there)
Quote:
Originally Posted by zagadka
would it be wise to be paid hourly or salary plus a bonus, or just a straight cut?
If it was me I'd go for salary plus a bonus; for you it gives you some financial security, with a chance to make a lot of money. For your boss it gives her the smallest reasonable outlay, and by definition if she needs to pay the bonuses she can afford them.
I'll go for a salary+bonus too like Lewis said but it depends if the employer will agree.
On the other hand you can do a lot of more money if you'll work freelance and have every design and work you'll do separate paid. But these is hard cause you cand stop geting jobs at any time so... no more money.
Risk is in anything but I'll choose salary again and work freelance with others if I'll have the time.
salary is probably the way i'll go. although you CAN make a lot of money up front by getting paid via lump sum, the taxes on it are outrageous (unless it can be divied up into incriments).
You really shouldn't worry about the tax stuff.....
....you have to pay them 1 way or another....even the grand sum of all the royalties...or the big bonus
If your worried about a huge tax....unless you've incorporated......you'll just have to claim it in addition to your other earnings either quarterly or annually.
Designer Royalties/ Pay Scale Advice? HELP! 
If you like what you're doing, might make you feel less like an "employee" and more like "part of" this great line you're helping to build.
what do you say? If we follow these rules we must get millionares... after we're dead maybe. 
