You’re scrambling to get that slew of emails answered, your phone keeps ringing and people just won’t stay out of your office. Although you have an open-door policy, it sure is hard to get to your own work. To add to that, your design department is overrun with design requests and every day you continue to fall behind in getting the design proofs out to your clients. You know the clients are getting impatient and you don’t want to lose their business, so you ask yourself “How am I going to get all this done? My design team is overwhelmed and it’s costing my company money!” 

Your phone rings. Again. You graciously answer and realize it’s your close friend who owns and operates his sign company. As you chat, he seems at ease, not stressed, and according to him, sales are up. You relay to him that you’re so busy you don’t know what to do but that your sales have dropped, blaming it on the bottleneck happening in your design department. Being the friend he is, he offers up his secret to a fluid design department, a freelance sign design team. Wow, why have I never thought of that you ask yourself? You immediately ask for their contact information and a wave of hope washes over you. Your friend continues to explain some of the main advantages of hiring a freelance design team which include: 

1. High-quality designs: A contract sign designer has the skills and expertise to create high-quality sign designs that are visually appealing and effective at conveying the intended message. They have a deep understanding of typography, color theory, and design principles, which they can leverage to create impactful signs that grab attention and communicate information. 

2. Cost-effectiveness: Contract sign designers typically work on a project-by-project basis, which can be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time designer. This is particularly beneficial for small sign companies with limited budgets, as they can still access professional design services without breaking the bank. 

3. Time-saving: Designing effective signs can be a time-consuming process, particularly if the designer lacks experience or expertise in this area. By hiring a contract sign designer, businesses can save time and ensure that their signs are completed in a timely manner. 

4. Customization: A contract sign designer can create signs that are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of a business or organization. They can work closely with the client to understand their requirements and create designs that align with their branding, messaging, and visual style. 

5. Consistency: A contract sign designer can help maintain consistency across all of a business's signs, ensuring that they all have a cohesive look and feel. This is

particularly important for businesses with multiple locations or franchises, as it helps to reinforce brand identity and promote a professional image. 

He then added, while in the search for a freelance designer or design team, here are a few questions to ask to make sure your finding the best fit for your sign design needs: 

1. Can you show me examples of your previous work in sign design?

2. How long have you been working as a sign designer and what inspired you to pursue this profession? 

3. Do you have any specialized skills or areas of expertise in sign design, such as working with particular materials or design software? 

4. How do you approach the design process, and what steps do you take to ensure that the final product meets the client's needs and expectations? 

5. How do you handle revisions or changes requested by the client during the design process? 

6. What is your pricing structure, and how do you calculate your fees for sign design projects? 

7. What is your estimated timeline for completing a sign design project, and how do you ensure that you deliver the project on time? 

8. Can you provide references from previous clients or businesses you have worked with in the past? 

9. How do you ensure that the sign design meets local zoning and building regulations? 

10. What is your availability and how often do you communicate with clients during the design process? 

After hanging up with your friend and digesting his incredible insight and wisdom, it became clear that hiring a contract sign design team could be a smart investment for your sign company and solve the design workflow problem while simultaneously boosting sales. 

Have you taken the pulse on your in-house design lately? It might be time for you to do just that and take a leap of faith! JED Graphics and Sign Design could be the team you need. Let’s chat and see if we are the right fit for you.