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Building a Portfolio (4) Job Search (2) Freelancing (1) Staying Organized (1)

What is “Spec” Work?
Spec work (short for speculative) is any job for which the client expects to see examples or a finished product before agreeing to pay a fee.

Graphic Design Projects for Friends and Family
A common dilemma that graphic designers face is whether or not to take on projects for friends and family, and what to charge them.

Graphic Design Business Ideas and Tips
Starting or building a graphic design business can be a daunting task. These graphic design business ideas are tips to help spread the word, show off your work and set your rates, as well as suggestions for meeting with clients and managing projects.

Growing Your Graphic Design Business Through Word-of-Mouth
At any stage of a business in graphic design, word-of-mouth is one of the most effective ways to land more jobs. In this article, I'll discuss some ways to achieve this.

How to Determine a Flat Rate for Graphic Design Projects
Charging a flat rate for graphic design projects is often a good idea, because both you and your client know the cost from the start. Unless the scope of the project changes, the client doesn’t have to worry about going over budget, and the designer is guaranteed a certain amount.

How to Determine an Hourly Rate for Your Graphic Design Business
Setting an hourly rate for your graphic design business is important because it will position you in relation to your competitors, determine what your flat rates are for projects, and of course directly affect what you earn.

Charging Hourly vs. Flat Rates for Graphic Design Projects
A common decision to be made when starting a graphic design project is whether to charge a flat or an hourly rate. Each method has pros and cons, as well as ways to work towards a fair deal for both you and your client.

Time Tracking in Graphic Design
There are many benefits to time tracking in your graphic design business. Keeping track of the hours you spend on projects, and specific tasks, can help you set your rates, improve your business, and even save time in future projects.

How to Create a Graphic Design Project Outline
Before beginning the design phase of a job, it is helpful to create a graphic design project outline. It will provide you and your client with some structure when discussing and creating the pages and elements of a project.

What to Ask Graphic Design Clients
At the start of a project, it is important to know what to ask graphic design clients to gather as much information as possible. This will often occur before you have landed the job, as it is necessary to have this meeting to help determine the cost and timeframe of the project.