Graphic Design Q&A

I suggest the reason Helvetica appears popular is because it's common and easy to specify due to lack of choice. The best of a bad bunch, not necessarily because it's the right font for the job.

If the type for your picture book is to be set in a large size for children, I would use an Oldstyle serif. If for adult readers, a Modern serif in a smaller size. In all cases, I would be looking for a font with a larger than usual x-height to aid legibility, particularly if type were to be set over images. Instinctively, I would avoid sans serifs for areas of dense body copy, because they are less legible.

But great for headings/sub-headings if set against a serif for text, when applied to longer form reports and documents.

It will come down to the type of content you are presenting and the impression you wish to create in the mind of your reader. A trained designer will be able to make an informed choice.

More importnt than the cost is the longevity. There are companies that will give you what you want and there are companies that will help you discover what you need.
I have been fortunate enought to have had experienced graphic designers whom I worked alongside who have designed logos that looked good and represent myself and the business perfectly. 
I believe It is important to engage someone who sees your current business and also its potential. They should suggest colour schemes and fonts that best suit your business and the appropriate market.
Whats importnt is that your clients will trust and associate with your first impression.
A good logo doesnt have to cost the earth. With that said, dont over capitalise. No point having the best logo design and stationary if you go bust !

Find a designer you get along with. Ask yourself ‘If it all goes bad (which it possibly will a couple of times during your branding project) do I think this person is the kind of person I can go through a minor conflict with and stay in my integrity?’. Because if you already feel a bit funny about your designer, I can guarantee you - it’s probably going to get ugly. 
I liken building a doing your branding with someone, to having a baby together. Without being overly dramatic - it really is! It’s a creative project. It’s YOUR business presence. It’s going to make you a lot of money if you do it right. And it might cost you a few dollars. 
So take the time to find the right designer. Test out their sense of humour and use your intuition. Your gut knows.

convenience vs control
The DTP convenience improves ultimate efficiencies and costs but you need to be very very specific about stock and qtys
There are enough printers around willing to improve the process and reduce margins where you can discuss what you need.
The choice will ultimately around location and speed to market
 

Hi There,

There are many places that you could print your business cards but if you are after high-quality business cards then I recently got done mine from Snap Printing - https://www.snap.com.au/ .

The staff was very helpful and showed me different options for business cards with pricing. I chose the style I liked and my cards were delivered in 5 business days. I would really recommend their service.

How much a graphic designer charges per hour might differ greatly from project to project. After all, it's going to be a different skillset with package design than it would be for logo design. With that said, most graphic designers do not charge by the hour. Rather, it's a per-project basis. 

Even so, a study was done on Upwork to see how graphic designers charge. On average, you should expect to pay between $15 to $35 per hour for a typical graphic designer. Some experts, though, can charge as much as $150. 

If you want to work with a graphic designer on an hourly basis, it's important to keep in mind these little tidbits:

• Most graphic designers who charge per hour will have a minimum project price. This usually equates to 1 to 2 hours per work. If you have them work less than this, they will refuse to work for you or will still charge you the minimum. 
• Graphic designers' prices are often based on skills. If your designer has a portfolio featuring work with major names, then you will probably need to pay upwards of $30. If they are a "fresh outta college" kid, then $15 is fair. 
• Brochure and business card design are often the least expensive. Meanwhile, logo design and packaging design tends to be the higher priced items on the menu. 
• The price that you pay can also be influenced by the price of the software they need to make your graphics. A full Adobe suite is going to cost a lot more than an indie drawing app. And, if you need a graphic designer who does CAD drawings, that can also bolster the price even more. 
• Most graphic designers that charge by the hour will not do free edits. 

It really depends on your business. If you're a restaurant, it doesn't make sense, however if you're a branding agency - then perhaps! 

The question is how often are you going to be requiring graphic design work done? Agreed with Narine Poghosyan. Having an in-house designer can work out more cost-effective. There can be a lot of training involved with unfamiliar design agencies or contractors.