How much would a professional charge for something like this?

March 17, 2015 7:19 PM

I know that my very question speaks to the fact that I am not quite a seasoned professional as of yet, but how much do professional type artists and letterers charge a client for a poster?

Let's say that the poster is rather complex, and that there has to be 2-3 options. Let's also assume that the client wants to own the copyright to the final artwork (is it even a good idea for a designer to forego the copyright?)

posted by cyrusw8 to Work & Money (8 answers total)

Set an hourly rate that reflects your base salary (generally your hourly rate X 2000 = gross salary) and determine how many hours the work will be and multiply it out.
posted by xingcat at 7:24 PM on March 17, 2015

And then double what xingcat said.
posted by bensherman at 7:25 PM on March 17, 2015 [4 favorites]

The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines probably has the answers to this and future questions.
posted by Sophont at 7:48 PM on March 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: But at what cost would a designer give away the copyright?
posted by cyrusw8 at 8:41 PM on March 17, 2015

Dude if this is a work for hire the designer does not get the copyright. The client does.

Depends on the scope of the job, of course, but I'd expect to pay under $500 for something like this (I am poor and not employing big firms but friends of friends).
posted by bq at 9:47 PM on March 17, 2015 [4 favorites]

But at what cost would a designer give away the copyright?

I'm not a designer, but in my field buying the copyright for something like this is prohibitively expensive. I don't know how common "work for hire" is for this kind of assignment though, but that is what you are asking for if that helps.
posted by bradbane at 10:19 PM on March 17, 2015

But at what cost would a designer give away the copyright?

Work for hire is standard for the kind of work you are describing.

(is it even a good idea for a designer to forego the copyright?)

Yes. To work as a commercial artist, you need to not treat your creations as precious snowflakes, but as work product.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:53 AM on March 18, 2015 [3 favorites]

Hey, depends on the client almost as much as the work, doesn't it? And if you don't already know the answers to these questions, I'm thinking you are an amateur (who may be very talented) and your client is too small/poor to pay a professional.

I work for hire and assign copyright to my client, because even though my work is awesome (ok, it's good enough that with word of mouth, I have more than I can handle), it's highly unlikely that I could find a way to make retaining copyright pay.

So ask yourself, what sort of repeat use do you expect with this work? Is going to go viral and end up on every hipster'so t-shirt? If so, retain copyright or charge a shitload. Otherwise, the point is really moot, and your client (who is starting a pitifully small farmers market, and will change the design next year when it's clear it's not reaching the target market or doesn't match chamber of commerce requirements) will think you're a dick. If the reality of copyright is no biggie, be realistic - you get repeat work.
posted by b33j at 3:46 AM on March 18, 2015 [2 favorites]