Kelly Ashworth » be nice

How to be besties with your graphic designer

kelly — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:00:10 +0000

Graphic designers get lots of crazy requests, myself included. We often joke about them with our fellow designers while drinking copious amounts of coffee and wearing ironic t-shirts about typography.

But establishing a good working relationship with your graphic designer is muy importante. If you can effectively communicate with a designer, you will be more likely to finish on budget and on time. And it will be way funner.

I thought it might be helpful to come up with a few pointers to anyone in the market for a graphic designer. See my list of dos and don’ts below.

1. DON’T MAKE IT ABOUT MONEY

Beginning an email/phone call with “How much do you charge for xyz?” is a surefire sign that I am not the designer for you. You’re essentially saying, “I’m price shopping. I don’t place any value on your talents and expertise, I just want a good deal.” Tell me a little about your project. State your goals. If you have budget constraints (and let’s face it, we all do) let me know. And remember – not every designer out there is desperate for work – if you make it all about price, I may just choose not to work with you.

2. DON’T BE VAGUE

Requesting a quote for something really vague is frustrating. The more specific you can get, the easier my job is and the faster I can provide you with the answers you need.

Here’s what not to do: “Hi Kelly, I wanted to get a quote for wedding invitations. My colors are grey and blue. Would you provide me with a quote at your earliest convenience?”

Here’s what I like to see: “Hi Kelly, I’m getting married this December at XYZ Country Club. I’m having 80 guests and my color palate is grey and blue. I have attached a few images of an idea I had for my invitations. I will need an invitation, response card and map. I love letterpress, but I’m not sure I can afford it so I was hoping to see a price comparison if possible. My budget is roughly $XYZ.”

Yep, it’s going to take you a little bit longer to describe what it is that you want. But if you send me that first email, we are going to spend hours going back and forth hammering out the details so I can provide you with an accurate quote. Tell me who you are, what you’re doing, when your event or deadline is, how many pieces you’ll need and how much you have to spend. If you can show me some examples of things you like and/or dislike, all the better.

3. DON’T ASK ME TO WORK FOR NOTHING

I’ve heard it all. “If you do this for me, I promise I’ll bring more business your way.” “This will be great exposure for you.” “I’ll pay you when I have the money.” There are a few (and I stress FEW) exceptions to the rule as outlined in Jessica Hische’s brilliant flowchart. But otherwise, no. I love designing, but I also like to eat and wear the aforementioned ironic typography t-shirt. And I need money to pay for those things.

4. DO BE REALISTIC

I once had a client contact me for a rush project over a holiday. I said, “sure, my fee is $XYZ.” They said, “I will give you half that, and I need it in two days.” So basically, something that would normally takes at least two weeks to complete now needs to be done in two days and they wanted to give me half my normal rate. Obviously that didn’t fly. If you are tempted to negotiate a rate with your graphic designer, ask yourself this: “how would I feel if someone tried this on me?” Be realistic. Then give me a call.

5. DO PROOFREAD

YOU are the expert of your business/wedding/event/etc. I am the expert of strategizing and presenting it in a pleasing manner. If a name is misspelled, it is your responsibility to let me know. Many designers (myself included) have a proofreading clause in their contract. Proof everything carefully the first time.

6. DO BE OPEN TO MY EXPERT OPINION

Occasionally I’ll get a request from someone who needs a logo, and they claim to know exactly what they want. It goes something like this: “Hi Kelly, I just started a business selling widgets and need a logo for my website and business cards. I know exactly what I want, I just don’t have the software necessary to make the logo. I’d like to have a widget surrounded by hearts and rainbows and possibly a butterfly. I definitely want to incorporate Comic Sans in some way. How much would you charge me to do this?”

OK. I’m kidding a little. A LITTLE. But I do get these types of emails where the potential client claims to know exactly what they want and therefore expects a fee reduction. I’m sorry to say, it just doesn’t work that way. I put a lot of time and effort into designing. I do a lot of research, I ask a lot of questions. I sketch. I edit. And I only use Comic Sans if I’m trying to be ironic.

If I don’t think your idea is going to work, I’m going to say so. That’s part of what you’re paying me for.

These tips are not meant to be the end-all, be-all. I’m sure I’ll think of more and will be sure to post them. If you are a graphic designer and have any to add, please do!

Fun with Stamps

kelly — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

It seems every year the United States Postal Service decides that they cannot possibly deliver anymore mail until they receive an additional two cents from the general public. This year is no exception, and the new rate of 44 cents is officially in effect. I am already mourning the loss of my beloved Charles and Ray Eames stamps that made my water bill infinitely more festive.

While you can always go out and buy Forever Stamps, I personally find them a tad snooze-worthy. Fortunately, just in time for the price increase, the USPS has released a few new designs. My feelings are mixed, take a look. What do you think?

Not gonna lie – I was pretty stoked when I saw the new Simpsons stamps. Pop art at it’s finest. Perhaps not apropos for fancy wedding invitations, but fun nonetheless.

I’m also quite fond of this new design in the Love line. King and Queen of Hearts stamps are so cool and unexpected. Really pretty.

And this is where the post office lost me. My parents always said that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, that I should keep my mouth shut. But I assure you, in this case, my silence is deafening.

Quick etiquette reminder for brides: you must MUST include postage on your RSVP cards. Whether they are tucked in a pretty envelope or you opt for groovy postcards, it’s imperative that you stamp each and every one. Most often you can get away with a standard .44 cent stamp, but if there is any question at all – have your friendly postal employee weigh it for you. Same goes for your invitations. NEVER assume you have enough postage. The line at the post office is worth the wait.

Wedding Save the Date Card Etiquette

kelly — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

I recently finished up some Save the Date cards for the cutest bride! Lindsey and Brandon will be tying the knot in the fall, and the bride-to-be wanted to incorporate some rustic charm with a monogram that was designed by a close friend.

In addition to some beautiful, swirly typography, Lindsey is working with a beautiful palate of greens and browns. Here’s a sampling of the Save the Date card:

A few tips for any bride considering sending out Save the Dates:

• Plan on sending Save the Dates anywhere from 6-9 months in advance. Allot more time if you are having a destination wedding. Guests will need to book flights and hotels and schedule vacation days well in advance.

• Consider creating a wedding website and listing it on your Save the Date cards. (I omitted Lindsey & Brandon’s to respect their privacy on this blog). There are loads of free site builders available, and if you want something super duper, consider ordering a custom site from my pal, Ryan Brannen.

A wedding website is a great way to share important information with guests. In addition to the obvious, (photos, ceremony and reception information) a wedding website is a sneaky, yet acceptable way of sharing your registry information. You’ll also want to list hotel information, directions or a general area map, as well as fun things to do for out-of-town guests.

• Unlike Wedding Invitations, Save the Dates can be more light hearted or casual. You may take this opportunity to do something to show your silly side, which is entirely OK. Many brides also use the Save the Date as a starting point to establish the look of the entire wedding. Also OK.

While Save the Date cards are by no means necessary to send, they do serve a purpose. And they are a perfect excuse to start early on your wedding stationery, which is always a winning argument in my book.

Music for your First Dance

kelly — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

When planning our wedding, one of the aspects I enjoyed most was selecting a song for our first dance. My husband and I love to have a few glasses of wine and search for songs on iTunes, (Warning: imbibing whilst searching for music may result in inadvertent Will Smith downloads) so for us choosing music was great fun.

However, I know for some brides this can be a difficult task. Many couples may already have a “song”, but you need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is it appropriate? If your song includes lyrics about having intercourse, I would say to move on and find something else. Immediately.

2. How long or short is the song? Do a test and dance to the song at home. If it’s over in 30 seconds, or if after 4 minutes you’re still dancing, keep looking.

3. Does the DJ have the song? This may sound stupid, but I actually ran into this at my own wedding. Because I was planning from Arizona for a wedding in Michigan, I did not have the chance to meet many of my vendors until the actual wedding day. I filled out the DJ’s questionnaire and promptly returned it to him, assuming that all was well and my selections were available. Wrong. My DJ phoned the night of our rehearsal dinner to say that he didn’t have the song for our first dance, and we’d either have to select something else or bring him a disc. I realize now that my choice in DJ was probably not the best, but it’s worth mentioning so you don’t run into the same thing at the last minute.

If you’re still stumped, a sure fire way to find a great song is to look to The Standards. Standards, or music from the Great American Songbook, include music written between the 1920′s and ’60′s and is most often associated with Jazz, Broadway and Hollywood musicals. If you go to Amazon and search for “standards”, you’ll find a slew of options. You can also search for the songwriters themselves, including Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart to name a few. You’ll likely recognize the songs instantly. I’m listing some of my personal favorites here:

Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! $13.99 right here.

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, Vol. 2, $14.98 right here.

The Original Great American Songbook, $13.98 right here.

So grab your favorite adult beverage and enjoy! But please avoid any selections from “Big Willie Style”. I assume that goes without saying, but you just never know.

The B List Dilemma

kelly — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

One of the most contentious issues brides will face when planning their wedding is, without a doubt, putting together a guest list. Everyone will have a list of people they absolutely MUST invite…until you realize your intimate garden ceremony has just ballooned into a 400 person gala because your future mother-in-law just had to invite her book club, co-workers and orthodontist.

Many brides try to solve this problem by creating what they call an “A” and “B” list. The basic theory is that you send out invitations to your A-listers and as the responses come in and people respond in the negative, you’re good to send out an invitation to someone on your “B” list. This way you can still plan to invite loads of people and everyone is happy, right?

WRONG.

Unless you are a meticulous planner and have lots of time on your hands, please think twice before treading down this unpredictable path. I do anything I can to encourage my clients to stick with one list. For several reasons:

• You risk hurt feelings by doing a standby list. Guests who receive an invitation two weeks before the big day will likely know they weren’t at the forefront of your mind when you drew up your guest list. Don’t make them feel as though they’ve been picked last in gym class.

• You will go slightly insane trying to keep track of who has responded from the “A” list and who is next to get an invitation on your “B” list. It’s taxing enough with just one list, trust me.

• It might be painful, but sticking with one list will save you money in the long run. You can expect anywhere from 10 to 20% of invited guests to send regrets (more for destination weddings) anyway, so consider combining your “A” and “B” lists. Do the math, does your final head count still look manageable?

• If time management isn’t one of your strong suits, consider this bit of advice from ettiquette guru Anna Post: “If you must send out invitations in two stages, be discreet – guests must not ever know they weren’t your first choice. Mail the first set a minimum of three months before the wedding, and give those guests at least four weeks to reply. Make sure the second set also has at least four weeks to RSVP; this could push your timetable considerably, so plan carefully.”

You will spend an inordinate amount of time planning your special day. Eliminating the “B” list dilemma can make the process much easier to manage. And you’ll save money on Excedrin. Win win.

I Don’t Want Kids at My Wedding

kelly — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Given the current state of things, brides are being forced to cut back on just about everything when planning their wedding. Even when the economic outlook is bright and sunny, the subject of kids at the blessed event can prove to be a major buzz kill.

In this “be nice” post, I’ll tackle the issue from both the brides’ and guests’ perspective. Here goes.

If you’re the bride:

• resist the temptation to include “adults only” or “no children” on your save the date cards or invitations. It’s not nice. Simply include only the parents’ names on the envelope. This is also good information to share with your bridesmaids, mother and future in-laws. They can help you spread the word that you must be this big to ride this ride.

• if you decide on a “no kids allowed” policy, stick to it. It may be awkward to field the “why can’t I bring my child?” questions, but it will be much worse to cave in. If you bend the rule for one guest, there will surely be hell to pay when your other guests find out on wedding day.

• consider offering a babysitting service for any out-of-town guests who have no choice but to bring their kids. If this won’t fit within the confines of your budget, you’ll need to accept the fact that some of your guests won’t attend.

If you’re a guest:

• pay attention to your wedding invitation. If the envelope is addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith” and not “Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, Mady, Cara, Aaden, Alexis, Joel, Collin, Leah and Hannah”, you’ll need to leave the little ones at home.

• don’t give the bride and groom grief about not including children in the celebration. Put yourself in their position and understand that weddings are extremely expensive and that it was most likely a budgetary decision.

• enjoy your night off. And bring some cake home for the kids. Sugar is your ally.

Assigned Seating for Wedding Guests

kelly — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:01:00 +0000

I recently had a bride tell me that she wouldn’t need escort cards or a seating chart for her wedding guests because she wanted everyone to get to know one another and mingle. Which in theory sounds great, but in actuality can be a recipe for disaster.

Before you flood me with “but I did it and it worked out fine!” emails, please allow me to preface this by saying: MOST of the time, free-for-all seating is not the best idea. Sometimes it works. But most often it doesn’t.

In truth, most guests follow the herd mentality. They WANT to be told where to sit. Arriving at a reception sans escort cards can be chaotic. They will expect a seating assignment of some sort, so this unexpected turn of events can catch them off guard.

With assigned seating, your reception will run smoothly and you’ll have one less thing to fret about. And chances are, your guests will be mingling during your cocktail hour anyway.

Martha has a sweet new feature on her site where you can create and organize the seating arrangements for your reception (why couldn’t this have been around when I got married?) which makes the whole task of assigned seating infinitely easier. Use it. You (and your guests) will be so glad you did.

{seating chart from Farrah & Andy’s wedding, designed by yours truly.}

Drive Your Map

kelly — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Maps and directions cards have become a critical piece of the wedding invitation puzzle as of late, especially here in Arizona where a large percentage of the weddings are destination oriented. Lots of out-of-towners coming in to experience the lovely weather, great shopping and dining and of course, your ridiculously amazing wedding!

To make things easier on your guests, I suggest that my clients drive the route they provide to ensure accuracy. This must be done before signing off on your final proofs and sending to the printer. This is especially important if your ceremony and reception are being held at two different locations. Because there is nothing worse than being a stranger in a strange land, no?

{ pictured above: Map for Anita & Steven’s January ’08 wedding }

Meal Choice for Weddings

kelly — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:01:00 +0000

This “be nice” post is for once not about brides behaving badly. It’s more about giving yourself a break and maintaining your sanity. Specifically when it comes to feeding your wedding guests.

Whenever I meet with a new client, I always make sure to ask if they will be offering guests a choice of entrée on their response cards. And if they say yes, I go into a rage and berate them mercilessly. Just kidding. But I will take the time to explain why I think this isn’t the best idea.

Literally all of the wedding planners I have worked with cringe at the mere mention of meal choice for weddings. And here’s why:

• By making guests choose their dinner a month out, they will undoubtedly change their preference the day of the event. “I recently became vegetarian and can’t eat the steak” or “I picked chicken, but that pasta looks really good” are very common.

• By offering a variety of dishes, you now become responsible for keeping track of who gets what. So in addition to obsessing over seat assignments, you now need to make sure that the wait staff gets wind of who wants what. It’s about as fun as it sounds.

• Many venues and caterers offer options for “dual entrées” so if your Aunt won’t eat anything that had parents, chances are she’ll eat the vegetarian pasta conveniently located on the same plate. My husband and I chose a chicken and shrimp dual entrée for our wedding, and it worked out great. You’ll never please 100% of your guests. But with the dual entrée, you’ll come close.

• It’s just one meal. Guests will forgive you if their favorite dish isn’t on the menu. It’s not a restaurant, after all. I don’t expect to place special orders when I attend a wedding, and your guests will be no different. (And if you do anticipate your guests will be placing special orders, consider inviting different guests.)

You’ll need to make around 3,946 decisions when planning your big day. Meal choice doesn’t need to be one of them. Honest.

Including Hotel Information for Your Guests

kelly — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:26:00 +0000

As a courtesy to guests, many brides will include hotel information with their wedding invites. If you’re having a destination wedding or you have guests who will be flying or driving long distances, this information can be critical.

While it may seem like common sense, I always stress to my clients that they review their proofs very carefully to ensure all information is accurate. Obviously you’ll want to double check that names and locations are correct, but it’s also crucial to double check (and sometimes triple check) that street addresses and phone numbers match up.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “no duh, Kelly. Of course I’ll check my proofs.”

But time and time again, I run into clients who are so excited to get everything off to the printer that they will overlook key details. Allow me to share the following horror story:

A few years back, a bride came to me after utilizing the services of another vendor for Save the Date cards. She had included travel information for guests who wanted to book hotels and transportation ahead of time. (Smart). However, one of the hotel phone numbers was one number off and she had missed it in the proofing process. So when Grandma called to book a room for her beloved granddaughter’s wedding, she was obviously expecting to connect with the front desk at XYZ hotel. Instead, she had called a service that I can only describe as “adult” in nature. (This is a family blog, folks.)

I understand that in politics it is generally frowned upon to promote change by instilling fear in the general public. I, however, have no problem using this tactic if it means saving Grandma from the trauma described above. In short — REVIEW YOUR PROOFS CAREFULLY!

{Save the Date card from Kelly Ashworth Design. No grandmothers were harmed by this hotel information.}