20 January 2015

Designer Shares Useful Advice On How Much You Should Charge For Your Work



Image: Jennifer Drago



Acclaimed type designer Jessica Hische has written an illuminating article for Fast Company that teaches you how to handle arguably one of the most complex parts of the creative process: how much you should charge for your work.



Adapted from an essay titled The Dark Art of Pricing, Hische metes out useful advice, such as how charging hourly prices can actually be detrimental to your work. Athough charging by the hour is a common practice, it can backfire if you don’t have a good estimate on how long it takes you to finish a project.



She also emphasizes the importance of reading the fine print—as a designer, you own the rights to your creations—and explains warning signs to look out for, such as “work for hire”, an indication that a client owns all the rights to your work.



If you think licensing and rights management only applies to photographers, think again—illustrators and letterers also need to take note of them. These terms come into play most prominently in projects involving brand identity, and knowing how long a client wants to license an artwork for and whether it’s an unlimited license or full ownership of the rights, helps you to gauge how much to price a job.



Hische also offers tips for deciphering client emails, industry pricing rates for advertising and editorial jobs, and how to know if you’re charging enough for your work.



Written in a warm and engaging manner, Hische fleshes out her points with helpful scenarios and examples, making for a relatable and entertaining read.



And if you feel inspired to brush up on your pricing skills, you might want to consider taking up this designer’s pricing class.



Read the full article over at Fast Company. Designers, do you agree with Hische’s advice?





[via Fast Company, image via IMGembed]