Hello, my name is Srikanth Sura and I am a designer. I am writing this FAQ in the best interest of my clients, myself, and hopefully other designers. After 4 years and 4000 Designs later, I have come to the point where questions and answers are too repetitive and time consuming for both client and designer. Rather than answering 50 emails a day individually, I think it will now be easier to address those frequently asked questions with this page, my tongue-in-cheek Design FAQ. This list will be growing and I encourage feedback from visitors to this page.

Learning about your business–
The idea is to capture the essence. Talking with the client on what's best for their business is the most important thing for me. Learning about the market, the demographic, the competitor and some other words I don't remember from marketing class right now.
I need to know what colours work for the specified industry. If the client can't supply this information, I will do my best to find out on my own with, often, days of research.
I find that I spend more time talking to the client than actually designing a logo, website, Presentation or Any Print media. It used to be the other way around but I have learned what works better now. Work smarter.
The questions can be endless, I need to do my research in order to know what's up and create a logo that works. This takes time, and the client rarely supplies this information apart from a few web site links and a 2 sentence mission statement. “We have a revolutionary product. We want to conquer the world”. Thanks.

Learning about my business-
From my experience, I would guess that 80 percent of my clients didn't know anything about the design process. They are mainly composed of start-ups, small business owners or individuals. I spend a lot of time explaining this process to them. Everything from conceptualization to the file format of the deliverables. I have heard far too many times clients asking "how will you drop the logo off?" When in actuality, I simply email the vector source files. I have worked with medium to large scale businesses as well, usually under Non Disclosure Agreements. It's not any easier. There is always that hot-shot 'marketing-guy' that feels he needs to tell me that "a good logo should be easily etched in sand using your big toe" or using red 'invokes rage'. OK, buddy. Nonetheless, dealing with larger clients is always a fun and a learning experience. I was asked by an 'executive' the other day if I use an Etch A Sketch to design logos.

Brainstorming –
This is the phase (after the above) where I bounce ideas back and forth with, firstly my right and left brains, then with the client. This is to to develop some sort of direction. At this point, we usually determine if we want an illustrative logo, a simple mark, customized lettering, ornate decals, a mascot, or simply a word mark.

Preliminary Sketching -
With all the above info in hand, I have enough ammo to hit the sketch pad. I will do this in the oddest places and at the oddest times. I once immediately got off the highway while driving, to draw a logo concept that came to me, that I just had to get on paper. I draw with shapes and letters until I create something that I think could work as a business identity. I then decide it should be moved over to the digital stage where I open up Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and begin perfecting my conceptual doodles. Sometimes I will sit there just scratching my head for an hour. Sometimes I will have a eureka moment and with divine intervention a great idea strikes and we have a winning logo. But most of the time I am suffering from ADD. Seriously though, this is the time-frame that is the most difficult to quantify. Sure, I can slap a swoosh and ball next to your company name and make you think I work super-fast just to buy more time, but I don't do that.

Initial Design Drafts –
Here’s the only moment the client really cares about. All that mumble-jumble above, face it, no one cares. Nothing is more critical than a cool looking Design. I create a project page (private URL) for the client where they can monitor the progress and status of the project. All concepts are presented here along with all revisions and modifications. This is where knowledge comes to fruition. This is where I get the clients feedback. Probably the second most important part of the entire design process. This is the stage where I will hear things like “I love this Design, but can we see a different symbol and can you try a different font? And some other color” Gee, thanks. They basically said it sucks in a polite way. In seriousness though, this is where we make tweaks to my original concept. Common requests range from, “can I see that in orange”, “how would it look if you put the lettering below the icon”, “needs more lens flare”, to "Do you have a refund policy?" :(

Revising and Modifying –
I don’t really know the difference between those two words but let’s just carry on. It makes it look like double the work when I mention them to the client. After making the changes (which sometimes I am totally against – but, hey, the client is always right) I present the newly revised Design. This stage, again, like the sketching stage, is often difficult to quantify since it is a back and forth process and the progress depends on both parties.

Revising and Modifying –
Rinse, Repeat

Finalizing –
Once a Design has been chosen, I request the rest of the payment, before handing over the source files. Once the deliverables are in the clients hand, I also walk the through the printing process, plus inform them of the several different file formats and where and how they should be used.
So yeah, there are many factors involved in giving a quote.

The most important thing I can say here is that the end result will be only as good as the clients input. It's a team effort.

Hopefully you have read #1 and 2. That should let you know that this is not an instant process nor should it be. I am not saying that it can’t be though. Anything is possible when creativity is involved. I generally give 3 to 6 Days to show some initial logo concepts. Another 1-2 weeks to revise and modify. 1 week to finalize. That is the general safe window I give to clients. Some projects are completed in a week, others take months. What I let the client know first hand is that I am usually working on 10-15 projects at a time and I spend a few hours a day per project. Rushing never creates a good corporate identity.

«Sarcasm»

My job is not to be someone’s ‘Photoshop’ puppet. Just kidding. If you know exactly what you want, then I am really not your guy to be honest, it wouldn't be your best value. Use the money I’d charge you and …. Get Photoshop :D

I wish you the best of luck in your future plans, brother.
Honestly I place more credibility on business owners and/or young entrepreneurs to know the basics of copyright law.

I am not here to compete, I choose my projects and I value my work. However, I don’t have a staff of 10 artsy people and a 2 story studio loft, fully equipped with a basketball net and lounge chairs, so I can pass those savings on to you.
xxxxworx.com company price would be based on their understanding of your requirement, my experience in this field is extensive and my pricing is based on providing the most original concept suitable to your business and industry. I have many satisfied client's (email me for testimonials) who can attest to having received the very best value for money and the highest level of creativity. Budgets are important, I pay special attention to detail before submitting a quotation.. Try contacting a design firm with the same requirements and see what they quote you.

I always love this one. It’s like asking Janet Jackson to create a hit song every time she goes to write. She can’t, some will be hits some will not. Your company is called Bob’s Dart World and you told me I have to use red green and black in the logo, you said it also must contain a dartboard and a flying dart. Those aren’t exactly the elements I work best with. The results will indicate that. So, your Design may not always be considered my best work (that which I include in my portfolio)

Are you suggesting I draw a toilet? You shouldn't always try to say it all with your Identity Design. It is your identifier and should not do the job a of an illustration or storyboard. There is so much other material to relay your message, that is what developing your brand is about. I always say that the busier your Identity looks the smaller you are. The biggest companies out there have the simplest looking logos.

Yes. Myself, I have been very busy!  So busy that I can't manage to create a web site for myself. Client work is more important to me.

Good for Dave. You are not Dave. I may have charged him that, 4 years ago when I first started but 4 years ago I did not know what I know now. He also fixed my brakes. In fact, I did not know what I was doing at all! (sorry, Dave, I hope you don't say the same)

I know this situation as I have been pressed for time myself, I can empathize with you.

You, and every other person in the world.

If I had a dollar for every time I lost out on a deal like that, I could retire.

For sure. I am always open to offers. Recently I had a client provide his programming services in exchange for my design services. It worked out wonderfully. Right now, I got my eyes on a new laptop ;)

Please see here  (Link contains adult language)
PS: I did not create the animation

Legend has it that Pablo Picasso was sketching in the park when a bold woman approached him.
“It’s you — Picasso, the great artist! Oh, you must sketch my portrait! I insist.”
So Picasso agreed to sketch her. After studying her for a moment, he used a single pencil stroke to create her portrait. He handed the women his work of art.
“It’s perfect!” she gushed. “You managed to capture my essence with one stroke, in one moment. Thank you! How much do I owe you?”
“Five thousand dollars,” the artist replied.
“B-b-but, what?” the woman sputtered. “How could you want so much money for this picture? It only took you a second to draw it!”

Yes, you can see some of my work in LogoLounge3: 2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers. (I lied, no one ever asks that, shameless self promo!)

“Yes ! ! ! ! ! !”  But as I don’t lie.... “No” .I take this opportunity to thank all my friends who helped me in doing this task. but concept is mine