Frequently Asked Questions
Q. WHAT design SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
My focus is on print and layout projects; eBooks, lead magnets, brochures, flyers, reports and other marketing and sales materials. To read more about my services, please see my about page.
Q. Can you Design my logo/Brand?
Logo and brand design is a really specialised area and there are a heap of designers already doing a great job at it. I prefer to come in after your logo and brand is established and help roll out the brand creatively and effectively.
Q: WHAT is the process?
Typically, a project will run in this order:
Initial meeting, call, or email correspondence to establish the project requirements
Quote/Proposal to Client
25–50% Upfront Payment
First draft supplied to Client
Some back and forth Client Review and Design Revisions
Final Payment
Final Files Provided
Q: DO YOU DO SMALL PROJECTS?
Yes! No project is too big or small. Something as small as a business card still makes a big impact on customers and requires professional design.
Q: DO YOU HANDLE PRINTING AS WELL?
I’ll always supply you files that are ready to go for the printer you choose to work with. If you prefer me to liaise with your printer that’s absolutely fine. This will be an additional cost so please to let me know beforehand if you need a hand with printing.
Q: HOW LONG WILL MY PROJECT TAKE TO COMPLETE?
This differs a lot depending on the size of the project, and the amount of client revisions but usually anywhere from 1-4 weeks. I will always do my best to work within your schedule and ensure that all work is completed on time. If for any reason the project is running late I’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Q: I NEED something ASAP, CAN YOU HELP?
Depending on what my workload looks like, I can sometimes squeeze in a rush job. If it’s urgent please let me know in the first instance.
Q: how will we communicate?
If you’re in the Illawarra region I can meet with you for a coffee to discuss your design needs and answer any questions you may have. If you aren’t local, we can set up a Zoom call. Some clients prefer 100% written communication and that’s totally fine too.
Q: WHAT FILE TYPES DO YOU PROVIDE?
I provide all hi-resolution file formats that you’ll require such as JPEGS and PDFs. If there’s any specific files types you need please let me know. If your printer or publisher has provided specs for the job please send them my way and I’ll ensure the files are optimised for the person who is going to receive the files.
Q: WHAT SOFTWARE DO YOU USE?
I use the latest Adobe Creative Cloud software; Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Adobe Acrobat. These programs are industry standard and are what printers, designers and other professional will require from you if they require any of the artwork files. When appropriate, I can also work within Canva to produce templates.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?
It’s really difficult to have a general rule for rates as each project is a different size, with different requirements.
I work with two types of billing depending on what best suits the project:
a) Fixed Rate – This works best for one-off projects where the requirements are clear upfront and unlikely to change throughout the job.
b) Hourly Rate – Billing for each hour spent on this project. This works better for projects where the requirements are not 100% set, on-going work, ad-hoc jobs, and where there’s a good chance we’ll be working together long-term.
I’m always happy to discuss a project and provide a quote with no obligation. If you have a preference for fixed or hourly pricing please let me know.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR BILLING POLICIES?
For all fixed-price projects, I ask for 25–50% payment before starting the job and the remainder upon providing the final files. I can invoice you in your local currently and accept Bank Transfer, Paypal and Credit Card payments.
Q: WHAT IF I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE WORK?
Hopefully this won’t happen! But if you are unsatisfied as we go along please let me know before the completion of the project so we can get back on track and discuss how to progress. The best way to avoid this is to be 100% clear on your requirements upfront.
Q: WhO owns the copyright For THE DESIGN WORK?
All copyright for design will be transferred over to the client upon full payment being made. Please note this doesn’t allow you to sell or distribute assets used in the design such as stock images, icons or fonts.
Q: WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
I am based in Wollongong, Australia but can work remotely with clients wherever they live!
Q: WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE YOU OVER THE COMPETITION?
I offer a lot of advice and consultation throughout each project, working with the client to make sure what we produce together is exactly what they need. My work is clean and professional and I like to think I nail the brief without too much back and forth, saving you time and energy!
Q: HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Easy – just click the button below to fill out the contact form or send me an email at hello@carolinemackay.com