Trusting your designer – It takes a lot of trust to hand over something as crucial as your brand identity to anyone. Let alone a designer you may have only just met.

We impress upon all of our clients how investing in your brand identity can give you a head start on the competition, so we understand why it’s a daunting prospect to let go of it.

Related: Graphic Design and Branding – Why this will give your business a head start on the competition.

However, trust can make all the difference to your design experience. Most people work better when given a brief on their task and then left to their own devices to do what they do best. A designer is no different. A designer’s best work will come from a trusting relationship. Design, of course is our passion; we live and breathe it daily. We want to see your brand thrive as much as you do.

 Trust – Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Source: Oxford Dictionaries

Things can get tricky when you and your designer both have differing ideas about the best way to approach your brand. Perhaps you have a particular colour in mind but your designer, with a solid knowledge into colour psychology, might have something different in mind.

There isn’t a single issue that can’t be solved, but the true key to the smooth progression of a project comes down to trust.

Here are our top 5 reasons why trusting your designer to take care of your brand is the way to go.

1. You’re hiring an expert

While you need to be discerning about the designer you decide to trust with your brand in the first place, remember that you’ve hired them for a reason.  Designing is what they do day in day out and, providing you choose an agency with experienced designers, they will have their finger on the pulse when it comes to latest trends and what works within the current market.

It’s also important to remember that you get what you pay for. A good designer will value their time and experience so expect their services to reflect this.

2. Designers are perfectionists

Designers value the user experience of each and every brand touchpoint. We’re self-proclaimed perfectionists, obsessed with the tiny details that the everyday person may not actually notice but can drastically change the outcome of a design. We are always visualising the bigger picture of how the finished product will look when all elements are brought together. We’re proud of our work and constantly strive for the best possible result.

3. You can work smarter, not harder

Whether you’re starting a new business or want to scale your current business, take a second to remember the reason you chose to begin the process of hiring a designer. Just because you run your own business, doesn’t mean you’re an expert at every facet of it—and that’s okay! Not only does outsourcing those things you don’t have experience with mean you’re giving your business the best chance at success, it also frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business that are within your expertise.

4. Trust creates the greatest relationship

The foundation of all great relationships is trust. And it’s something that needs to come from both parties—in this case, both the designer and the client. The designer trusts that the client knows their own business and their own clients. If, during the process, you feel that a design draft will not connect with your business’s target market, your designer needs to listen and adjust their work accordingly. On the other hand, if it’s a personal preference—such as you don’t like the colour selected—it may be better to enquire as to why your designer has chosen that direction and listen to their advice if it’s based on their expertise.

Of course, at the end of the day, the decision is all yours but trusting your designer and their expertise will entirely change the nature of the relationship. Nothing inspires creativity like a healthy working relationship, and communicating effectively with your designer is key! You might be surprised how much respect and trust will afford you in the end.

5. Micromanagement kills creativity

Without a doubt, the best way to get the most out of your designer is to trust them and how they work. With little trust and micromanagement of the creative process, we’re not able to design to the best of our ability. It can be easy to forget why you hired that person when you are in the thick of it. The designer will be throwing concepts and ideas at you and they may not all stick. It’s important during the design process to provide feedback based on design problems, not design solutions. Don’t get these two confused. Solutions like “make the logo bigger” or “use this font” instead of problems like “can we make the branding stronger” and “can advert be a little more friendly” can impact on the relationship and design process.

Related: Getting the most out of a graphic designer – Maximising Your Graphic Design Budget

If you are unsure or confused about any part of the design process, remember you can always ask questions. When it comes to helping the design process, communication is key. We want your input and honest feedback on concepts so that we can deliver a final design to you that you are 100% happy with. Just also be open to listening to your designer’s advice if they recommend something based on their expertise. As designers, we want the experience of working with us on your brand to be an enjoyable and exciting journey for you. We have your best intentions, and the best intentions for your business, at heart.