Do you think the more time i spend in a design the more i should charge on the design?
just a thought #graphic-design
4 answers
Samady’s Answer
If its commission based. Then yes.
The more time you spend on the artwork the more money would be needed.
Think of it as an hourly job. If I spent 6 hours finishing this work. I would like 6 hours of pay.
For example I did an album cover. Took me about 7 hours. Got it exactly how they wanted it.
Going back and forth, back and forth. I charged 250 for it.
You shouldn't set a pre price your artwork unless, your plan on mass producing it.
Lets say like a valentine card, holiday cards. Something with a quick template.
Alan’s Answer
Yes and no as the differing answers above would suggest. They reflect two methods of pricing by hours spent and pricing by estimating a project, but generally, the more time-consuming the work, the more one charges.
That said, there are certain things one might not want to pass on in cost. For example say one is working on a type of work they haven't done in a long time, so it takes more time than would otherwise be expected. Then in that case some of the cost of that time is adjusted for as one's own as one's getting caught up on a type of work they're out of practice with. Same thing with maybe needing to get up to date with or learn new software in order to get a project done. One shouldn't charge a client for that sort of thing.
On the flip side, one charges for time that the client costs them on top of designing and producing, like meetings to discuss the work and changes. When the client is taking one's time, it's good to include at least some of that to discourage things like changes from getting out of hand. A lot of this is usually mentioned in one's contract upfront. An estimate is usually asked for first though.
So being able to estimate and charge for overall projects is good. One can also add and subtract hours from an hourly fee if there is initially only an estimate of hours. So either way can work, and yes generally, the more time-consuming the work, the more one charges.
Cynthia’s Answer
There are certain jobs we can easily estimate will take us longer than others and some things have a greater value, such as, conceptual work is valued higher than straight production work. Also we know a logo will take longer than laying out a post card, etc.
You have to price your work according to the value of the service you are providing. I tend to provide clients with an estimate for a total job/project rather than an hourly rate. Say I have a 12 page brochure and the concept comes to me quickly and I can design it easily and then the next 12 page brochure is more of a struggle with more time spent fleshing out a concept that works; it's the same price because the end product is the same deliverable. Since we can't predict how our process will work every time it is fair to the client and the artist to have a set price and in the end it all evens out.
I ask what is the value of the end product and price accordingly.
Cuong’s Answer
There's various answers to your question. It depends on what projects you're doing for each design. If the project take more time to completion, you would take in the factor of creating and then laying out rather than jobs that could done quickly. Designer would charge more for conceptual designs that requires more time than most practical design work. Creating a brand takes more time than doing a layout design.
Then, if your name becomes more known in the later years. People would know your work.