Day 22 - Guest Blogger Will Shek

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to Will Shek of ID'd.  ID'd are a group of creatives based in Aberdeen and Edinburgh but servicing the entire country with work in multiple locations. We all have a common desire to produce work that is far from run-of-the-mill, to explore the boundaries whilst importantly remaining loyal to the brief and in budget.

No, your World of Warcraft playing neighbour's son is not a 'computer whiz'

When Karin asked me to write a guest blog piece I started in my usual business like tones about the narrative of design with quotes from industry figures, colour psychology diagrams etc etc

But you know what, even I got a bit bored whilst writing it never mind reading it so thought I'd cut to the chase and use this one quote that I love

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur"

In a nutshell

If you were to give me some bricks and mortar could I build a house? Maybe. Would it stand up and pass building regulations? Definitely no

As a business owner I understand the need to watch costs and the merits of bootstrapping however I had an epiphany one day when I'd spent hours coding a website

"Surely my time is better spent growing the business and working on the aspects I am good and proficient at and it would be more productive finding someone much better qualified to write this piece of code who will no doubt do a better job in a fraction of the time"

It was and I have not looked back since.

So as a designer it always puzzles me when people entrust one of the most valuable aspects of their business (their branding and marketing, basically the first step to any potential customers interacting with them) to non qualified or inadequate sources.

Finding a good designer is a tricky process. Finding the right designer even trickier but it should always start with a chat and a coffee. Only then can the right designer get to know you, your values, your aspirations and how best to 'tell your story'. Check their portfolio, their ways of reasoning, make sure they 'get' you and then when you hire them and they come to you with their ideas and concepts it really should be the start of something special as they can express in graphics, fonts and colours all the wonderful aspects of your business that you have been bursting to shout about; when you realise that something as simple as a well thought out logo can fill you with pride as it encapsulates perfectly what you are all about and when you can't wait to direct someone to your website as it is a crystal clear window to your business and your passion.

So, still think finding a professional designer isn't worth it?

PS If you want to read my more boring piece on the 'Narrative of Design' get in touch

To get in touch with Will call  07979 904354 or will@IvebeenIDed.com