Ok first off, I would never pay for a product I have never seen. You need to figure out a fair price and make an agreement that if and when you accept the design, then you have a price you have agreed upon. I believe an artist usually would charge hourly for the artwork, how many hours it took him to design it. It is hard to give you an idea of what it should cost as it really depends on the design and how much work went into it. I would ask what he usually charges and then compare to a couple other artists to see if you are getting a fair price, the fact that he is already making designs for you without a agreement seems kinda strange. Just my opinion though but I would not do work for someone unless they agreed to pay for my services.

Bobbie

 

Few good links.
gomedia pricing guide
pricing tutorial

 

Thanks for the links!

 

From a designers perspective...
I would ask if he charges by hour or if he has a flat rate. Personally, I always quote a job before I start so that both parties are on the same page. With new customers, I usually can trust payment upon completion however, it isn't uncommon for designers to ask for a percentage up front. To expect payment before the designs are even conceptualized though is silly and if this is how the conversation really went, I may reconsider using him if I were you. But I don't want to jump to conclusions because I wasn't there.


Enjoy the day

 

From a designers perspective...
I would ask if he charges by hour or if he has a flat rate. Personally, I always quote a job before I start so that both parties are on the same page. With new customers, I usually can trust payment upon completion however, it isn't uncommon for designers to ask for a percentage up front. To expect payment before the designs are even conceptualized though is silly and if this is how the conversation really went, I may reconsider using him if I were you. But I don't want to jump to conclusions because I wasn't there.


Enjoy the day

My bread and butter is logo design.It all depends on what you are looking for and how intricate the design.

 

I have paid $20 to $500+ for good art. I know many artists in the $500-$1500 range. Its all relative to the art6, artist and job at hand. My art usually falls in the $150-$300 range
Mine and the artists I mentioned above usually include separations with the art as well

 

what do you mean by separations?

 

Many graphic designers will charge something like 25% up front, 25% mid way after you've seen the work partially developed and then 50% at the end.

 

Apparel graphic design, textile design, graphic design | Trenzza Design Studio

This company charges:

· Text based logo: $199

· Text base logo with icon: $300


· Illustrative logo: $450

 

Apparel graphic design, textile design, graphic design | Trenzza Design Studio

This company charges:

·Text based logo: $199

·Text base logo with icon: $300


·Illustrative logo: $450

hi....can you post on here a jpeg of an illustrative logo example for which they charge $450.....

the charges you've mentioned....are they totally new creations of theirs or do you still need to give them some kind of sketch to work from & colours, etc, etc.

 

Here is an example of an illustrative logo they did:

Children's interactive mobile entertainment by The Furry Factory

 

Here is an example of an illustrative logo they did:

Children's interactive mobile entertainment by The Furry Factory

that link is for the homepage....i wanna see the actual illustration they made for $450

 

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.

 

good post amv....i know where you're coming from.

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.....

its true its not always about the price.....

 

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.

Did I mention Agencies suck? lol

 

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.

 

Fluid...I've seen your art...your under selling especially with seperations included!

 

Helpfull thread for me also, and i usualy like to charge flat prices somewhere between 70-100 $ for the final artwork.

 

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...

 

Hi everyone I am new to the forum and browsing the market and was wondering whether anybody knows if the price has changed any for designs?

 

I don't think many of us are in the type of market where we can re-sell a design that cost us $500, if you are then God bless you.
I once hired a designer on an hourly agreement and after she submitted a s****y first draft I asked for revisions. That seemed to tick her off and she dragged her feet on the revisions costing me twice the original estimate. I was in a bind and had no choice but to pay.
Now I only pay the artist the same way I get paid, for the final product.