Graphic Design - F.A.Q.
1: Hiring us
2: What do you need from me?
3: Communication
4: The design process
5: Creating the final
product
6: Changes
7: Finishing up
8: Payment
9: Rights and ownership
10: Printing
Graphic Design - F.A.Q.
Section 1: Hiring Us
Q: How do I contact you?
A: If you would like an estimate or have any general enquires, simply contact us in any of the ways available on our contact page.
Q: I'd like a specific quote.
A: You can either contact us via e-mail or phone with details of your project, fill in our PDF order forms and fax/e-mail it to us, or use our online budget planner.
Section 2: What Do You Need From Me?
Q: What information do you need from me, before you can give me an accurate quote?
A: If you would like a time or price estimate for your project, then we will require the following information:
Your name/the organisation you represent
Your contact information.
Project description
(Cover, Business etc.)
Contents description
(Any extra pages, graphics etc.)
Time Scale
(When you would like the project completed)
If you choose to phone us, then please try to have this information at hand, and we should be able to give you a accurate quote whilst you wait on the line. If you are not yet sure of the full contents of the package you want, then you can always upgrade later, though obviously this will affect our initial estimate.
Section 3: Communication
Q: If we choose to hire you, how do we proceed?
A: We will first arrange a way in which we can properly discuss the contract. This may mean a simple e-mail/phone call to clarify what you want the design to represent, or it may mean the passing on of materials, such as demo CD's, book manuscripts or just general business materials.
Q: Can we have a face to face meeting?
A: Being situated in the heart of mainland Europe, we're ideally placed for this to happen. If you would like a face to face meeting, give us a call and we'll arrange it.
Section 4: The Design Process
Q: After we agree on a form of communication, what's next?
A: We will ask you to send us a description of the project and any relevant materials, either via post or the internet. We will then create the relevant examples for your project, and arrange a date for us to show you them. Typically we will put them up on a secure section of our web site.
Q: If I don't like the designs you have created and I do not wish to continue working with you, am I obliged to pay you anything?
A: If you don't feel that our designs are appropriate for your project, then we would request confirmation that you do not wish to continue working with us, and we will part ways on good terms. All of the designs remain the exclusive property of Happy Monsters' Studios, and you are not permitted to use any of them in any way, shape or form without the written permission of Happy Monsters' Studios.
Section 5: Creating The Final Product
Q: I like the designs you've shown me, what's next?
A: We will ask you to choose one design which you feel strongest
about.
We will then ask you if you would like to see any changes made to it,
and how you would like to see the design progress from here. If none of
the designs appeal, then you can purchase more from our additions page.
However, before we invest the time and resources into creating the final design, we will require a down payment of 50 percent of our
total bill.
Q: Fifty percent is quite steep. Why do you do this?
A: In the past we have been left without payment by a business who ceased trading before paying us for a considerable amount of work. Asking half of our payment in advance, is a simple way of ensuring us that even in the worst case, we won't be left without payment.
Q: After I have paid you this money, what happens then?
A: We will create a final proof sketch for you to discuss and approve. Once you have given us any relevant feed-back and approved the final proof, we will start work on the final design.
Q: Can I see the design before it's ready?
A: We can update our 'clients only' section with our current work in progress.
Section 6: Changes
Q: If I don't like the finished design, what can we do?
A: In this unlikely event (after all it is based on a design you approved) there are a number of options. Depending on the package you have selected, you should have the option to request a set amount of minor changes to the design, free of charge. If you feel the design requires more changes than your selected package affords you, then you can purchase more from our additions page.
Section 7: Finishing Up
Q: I love the design, what's next?
A: Once you have approved the design, we will issue you with our final bill. Once this is settled we will provide you with a print copy of the design, and a disc containing the design in more or less any format you require.
Section 8: Payment
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: This is something we will discuss with you, once you have officially hired us.
Section 9: Rights & Ownership
Q: Who owns the rights to the design?
A: You retain full rights to the final design for the agreed project, however as is standard industry practice, if you use the design for any future or related projects, we will require a small additional fee (usually ten percent of the original design). We also retain full rights to all of the rejected/unused designs, and full rights to use the design for our own promotional use.
Section 10: Printing
Q: Can you provide printing?
A: We can print out proof copies, and very limited runs of certain items. However in most cases, our own printing services will be insufficient. In this case we have made many contacts with printers in Belgium, which we can put you in touch with. For our international customers, we will personally investigate printers in your area, to find a printer suitable for your project.
Q: Can you provide the final design to my printer/service provider?
A: No problem. If you have chosen a printer prior to us, it would also help if you could provide us with their contact details before we burn the disc/put on-line the final design. This way we can find out what their specifications are, and we can then ensure the copy they receive is print-ready.
Q: My printer is having problems with your design.
A: If this happens, please provide the printer with our e-mail address/phone number and vice versa, and we will attempt to resolve the problem.
