How much does it typically cost for a good logo and front page for a web application?

September 7, 2009 11:13 PM

Okay, I'm designing a web application with a minimalist look-and-feel. I want a simple, clean, cute logo, and a simple, clean, cute front page. What's a ball-park figure as to what this may cost?

A little more detail as to what I'm thinking of...

I'd like the front page to have about maybe 4 main ideas, and when hovering over each idea, more information about the web-application is displayed. However, this idea may change when I start talking to a graphic/web designer about effective front pages. And it may change depending on how much it all costs.

Obviously the price is going to change dependent on my requirements, but at the moment, I don't know whether this is going to cost me $100, $1000 or $10,000. What's an order of magnitude estimate of what it may cost?

posted by tomargue to technology (13 comments total)

Given a functioning application, you are charging a designer (hopefully not a web designer, but rather a UI/UX person) with boiling it down to a "clean, cute" front page that is an entry point for the rest of the application? So it's just this distilling and clean single-page UI?

Four figures.
posted by rokusan at 11:29 PM on September 7

Are you sure you're correctly using the word "application"? Do you mean "web page"? "Web site"?

A "web application" is a program, accessed via a web browser. The complexity and cost of that program is orthogonal to the complexity and cost of a logo and web page that describes that program.

I can't tell you the cost of a logo (except to say that good logos can be very expensive indeed), but a page with four paragraphs of text and four more paragraphs that appear on hover shouldn't be very expensive -- I'd certainly not pay more than $1000 for that, probably wouldn't pay much more than $100 for it, (and indeed, I'd just do it myself).

That said, your incorrect use of terminology suggests that you could be a difficult client with unrealistic expectations, which might justify raising rates to protect against requirement creep.
posted by orthogonality at 11:31 PM on September 7

So it's just this distilling and clean single-page UI?

Correct.

Four figures

Cool stuff, thanks, rokusan
posted by tomargue at 11:34 PM on September 7

Hey orthogonality, yeah I'm the guy making the web application (it's an interactive to-do list thing). I plan to do the UI of the actual application itself, using free icons and my own wit to style the look and feel. I need to come up with an attractive, unique, cute logo, and a cute clean front page that will encourage new users to give my application a spin.

I think I've come up with a winning UI of the application itself, however I'm having trouble coming up with a good design that will be the first thing that a new user will see. Depending on how good this page is, this will influence how many potential users will actually try out my application.
posted by tomargue at 11:48 PM on September 7

My bad.
posted by orthogonality at 11:55 PM on September 7

np!
posted by tomargue at 11:57 PM on September 7

I could get it done (and done well) for about $400-$600. I wouldn't pay more than $1000 for a logo plus single page design (I'm assuming without coding?) If you want them to code it up too then you might be approaching $1000.

The most important thing is to find a designer with a strong portfolio with lots of examples in a similar style to what you're looking for - then ask for a quote ;) Expensive doesn't always mean better.
posted by missmagenta at 12:39 AM on September 8

Cool stuff, missmagenta, do you have a portfolio that I could have a look at?

Actually, do you know of any online portfolio repositories (I've done too many google searches today and am feeling lazy)? Is elance any good?
posted by tomargue at 12:52 AM on September 8

you could try Creative Hotlist for portfolios and also programmer meet designer
posted by culberjo at 5:46 AM on September 8

99designs is a great site for this kind of thing. You spend $39 (US) to create a design brief, then set a "prize" for the design. The site will then host a week-long design contest for you, in which you get to pick the winner of the prize. You then get all the design graphics and the copyright to them. I've not used it myself, but I know several people who have, and they rave about it.

The huge advantage to something like that is that you don't have to pick someone ahead of time. You get several hundred (typically) entries, and pick the one you like best.
posted by cerebus19 at 8:30 AM on September 8

I'm going to knock down 99designs. There are much better ways to go than getting a bunch of generic sub-par logos by people generally just entering graphic design done on spec. You pay $39, you get $39. It's like that co-worker who says their son can do an e-commerce website for you and ends up only knowing how to install phpBB.
posted by june made him a gemini at 10:38 AM on September 8

Thanks culberjo, checking out the links

Even though I agree with june made him a gemini, I actually may check out 99designs, especially if it's only an outlay of $39.
posted by tomargue at 5:38 PM on September 8

cerebus19, may I just add a link to nudge you to be consious of what all the controversy with design contests (spec work) is about.

:: Requesting work for free demonstrates a lack of respect for people ::

tomargue: How about listing your project here under MeFi Jobs?
posted by artdrectr at 8:04 PM on September 8