The A-B-C's of corporate collateral writing: I'm a graphic designer. How do I communicate to my client that willy-nilly editing procedures, and last minute proof-stage rewrites inevitably makes projects run to the last minute? Is there a "standard" procedure for writing/editing? [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio on Oct 7, 2009 - 8 answers

good research materials on the subject of electric cars, 3d modeling and/or entrepreneurship? [more inside]
posted by groovinkim on Jul 20, 2009 - 4 answers

Design Filter: Does anyone have any good best-of-field examples of corporate/institutional websites that are well-integrated with blogs? [more inside]
posted by rokusan on Jan 23, 2009 - 1 answer

So I started my own design company and went into full-time freelancing 6 months ago. It's OK. Not great, but it pays bills. But I'm confused what to do next. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 17, 2008 - 10 answers

Who knows where I can get really exquisite business cards designed and printed? I'm looking for a company who will help me design a special businesscard for my consulting firm. [more inside]
posted by remcobron on May 9, 2008 - 13 answers

Photography Portfolio Filter: I'm finally hanging out my shingle *officially* to do portrait shoots and show my more *artistic* work beyond the few small galleries I've already been in. To whit, I'm putting together two portfolio books. One for prospective portrait clients and another for gallery work. My question is one of formatting the pictures within the portfolio book. (More inside....) [more inside]
posted by damiano99 on Jan 4, 2008 - 9 answers

What look to give a website for a creative but commercial/professional small business? [more inside]
posted by Marzipan on Dec 1, 2007 - 9 answers

Help me find a well-designed financial services site that is not stuffy! [more inside]
posted by thinkpiece on Oct 11, 2007 - 3 answers

I have a design for a couch or a bench. Where and how, preferably in or around NYC, can I go about having it manufactured in small or large quantities?
posted by idledebonair on Apr 22, 2007 - 4 answers

Are there any sites that have a collection of pictures of Fortune 500 companies' business cards? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Feb 9, 2007 - 12 answers

Does anyone have experience with an offshore design/illustration house? [more inside]
posted by tpl1212 on Jan 4, 2007 - 7 answers

The unanswerable(?) questions about rates. RE: Web design, development, photography and the works. There is, of course: [more inside]
posted by IronLizard on Nov 20, 2006 - 7 answers

Hello. Here’s the lowdown: I’m the senior sound designer / managing director for a leading international sound library company who’s been successfully running a company that doesn’t belong to me for 6 years. I’ve exhausted this opportunity, as the company is limited in its ability to grow due to the owners methods. In short, although I still have my job (and could have it forever, so to speak), I need to get out. I’m striving to create an opportunity for myself (and potentially for some of the other amazing employees I’ve hired who are looking for better opportunities) by starting a new company, and I must act now as I am not getting any younger.. I’ve been thinking this through for almost 6 months now, and something seeming great has just happened. Can you help me make the most out of it? [more inside]
posted by AdInfinitum on May 25, 2006 - 13 answers

Selling custom t-shirts: alternatives to CafePress? Also, questions about getting off the ground, general advice very welcome. [more inside]
posted by lychee on May 23, 2006 - 14 answers

Good books (textbooks?) about art direction? [more inside]
posted by amtho on Feb 21, 2006 - 2 answers

I'm looking for factual arguments to my boss that paying good money for a good website is worthwhile. [more inside]
posted by jeremias on Feb 18, 2006 - 11 answers

Looking for software to run a small design firm...any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by oissubke on Aug 21, 2005 - 3 answers

Amateur artist needs help setting a price... I'm a Canadian college kid and an amateur artist. I got an email a few days ago from a musician in England asking me to design a CD cover for his band, based on him having seen a picture online of the only commissioned artwork I've ever done (a small painting that I sold for $125 American).
He's asked me to set my price, and I've got no idea. I'm not a professional by any means, and I'm just a kid, and pretty broke anyway, so I'd be happy with relatively little, but I don't want him to think he's getting some kind of bargain-basement deal. What should I take into account here, and how should I go about negotiating a price with him? Is there anything else I should know about this kind of transaction?
Thanks in advance.
posted by anonymous on Feb 13, 2005 - 16 answers

I am in Wisconsin and forming an agreement with a company interested in oursourcing some web design. I'd like to charge a flat fee per project. What is a fair percentage of the profit they make for me to ask for? 40%?
posted by anonymous on Oct 28, 2004 - 7 answers

When my company discusses web design service with potential clients, they generally *always* balk and get ornery about the cost. Most of the time, we're working for small businesses, so understandably, $5-$10k is a substantial chunk of change for people to shell out. We don't get upset when we lose bids for being too expensive because we've always been taught that compromising our rate is not the solution... you simply can't meet everyone's budget. That being said, we turn away enough people who expect websites to cost $500-$1500 that I think there might be a market supportive enough to create solutions for. [come inside, won'tcha?] [more inside]
posted by Hankins on May 13, 2004 - 37 answers

I want to start a web design business focusing primarily on Flash design, but I need some tips on how to acquire clients. [More Inside] [more inside]
posted by banished on Mar 16, 2004 - 6 answers

I've been asked to redesign a medium-sized corp (60 employees) web site. The current host is dreadful and I want to switch it to Dreamhost, who I use for all my small clients without problem. How will moving their web site/domain to a different host affect their email? [MI] [more inside]
posted by dobbs on Jan 13, 2004 - 7 answers