Compelling and innovative graphic design solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
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LINKS TO QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE
• Who does the work?
• How long will it take?
• Do you do rush orders?
• Why it it worth spending money on logo design?
• Can I view progress on a design?
• Do I own the copyright?
• What file formats will you provide me with?
• Can I use my own printing company?
• Why does the color look different on my monitor than it does on yours?
• What is a domain name?
• Can you register my domain name for me?
• What is web hosting?
• How much does a web site cost?
• Why do some companies charge by the page?
• Which browsers should a web site support?
• What's the difference between a "static" and a "dynamic" web
site?
• Why can't I find my site in search engines?
• Do you do search engine submissions for your clients?
Who does the work?
Most of the work is done by creative director Christine Ashburn. That said, we do, on occasion hire other professionals to help with particular tasks like proofreading, photography, specialty programming, and flash animation. Read more ABOUT DESIGNWORKS.
How long will it take?
It really depends on the scope of the project, but typically a logo design will take 1-2 weeks. Web sites on average take 3-4 weeks. We schedule a timeframe after the information-gathering meetings and after contacting any outside services. We also provide regular updates on progress and pride ourselves on being able to meet or exceed your most critical deadline. One thing to keep in mind: it’s best not to wait until the last minute to avoid the possibility of rush charges. We do make every effort to adjust our schedules to accommodate your needs.
I have an emergency! Can you put a rush on my job?
The answer is MAYBE. Please call immediately to see if we can rework our obligations to other clients and our families. If we can take on your rush job, please don't be shocked — we're going to add a 25% rush charge to our usual rates. That said, we don't want to leave anyone in the lurch. If we can't help you, we'll try to put you in touch with someone who can. Fair enough?
Why is it worth spending money on logo design?
• To make a good first impression — think about dressing for
a job interview.
• To make a lasting impression — so that people will recognize your
organization the next time they see it. Logo design is
the tip of the marketing and branding iceberg.
• To differentiate yourself from your competitors. See how your competitors
are presenting themselves, and decide how you want to stand out.
Drawing the logo itself is only a tiny part of the job. Most of the time is in developing an initial concept and in working out all the details of its application (black and white, color, web, fax, stationery, business card, forms). For large companies, the logo is part of a much larger corporate identity system, which includes a notebook of guidelines for how the logo is to be applied in ads, brochures, web sites, etc. Read more about LOGO DESIGN.
Can I get a peek at my design
while it is in progress?
If we are building a web site for you, you will be given your own URL (web page address) where you may view both the draft and revised stages of the project. For print jobs, we may also send you the project as a PDF file that can be opened up on any computer. We should mention that all of our works-in-progress are protected by copyright laws. You don't own the designs until they are paid for, in full.
Do I own the copyright of the work you do for me?
All copyrights are transferred over to you upon clearance of full payment. We do entrust you to verify that any original images that you have given to us will not infringe upon any copyright. Also, if we provided you will several designs to choose from, only the final design is the one that you own.
What file formats will you provide me with?
You shall have the option of receiving your images via e-mail attachment, disk, and/or hard copy. We can send you the project in the software file format of your choice. Transfer of full copyright will occur after receipt and clearance of final payment.
We create files using high-end graphics software. You can not open or use these files unless you have the software and the expertise. So, we convert these files to various other formats. The basic file types provided are:
PDF - Files saved in this format can vary in quality depending on the need and can generally be opened on any computer.
TIFF - Best format for photographs that will be used for printing and placing inside other documents.
JPG - Best format for photographs that will be used on web pages or sending via e-mail.
EPS - A format for vector graphics that will be used for printing.
GIF - Best for vector graphics that will be used on web pages or sending via e-mail.
Most of these formats do not resize well (except EPS). We will be providing them to you at the proper resolution for their intended purpose.
Can I use my own printing company?
Yes, but a few words of caution. We do prefer to supervise your project with printers we've had relationships with for years. We base our file preparation on a strict set of specifications dictated by each printer. This ensures the best results, and can sometimes help in avoiding additional fees associated with your job.
Why does the color look different on my monitor and printer than it does on yours?
Images
that are viewed on a computer monitor will never have the exact same colors
as what will come out of your printer (or your neighbor's printer, for that
matter). The reason for this is not only that every monitor is different,
but color created from light (your monitor) looks different from color created
from ink (your printer). On top of that, your camera, scanner,
monitor, and printer all talk different color languages and use different
ink formulas. None of them map the same actual color to the same values.
This is why designers frequently remind clients that color matching of the
materials they are viewing may be imprecise. Read more about COLOR.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address of a particular web site. For example, our domain name is designworksoregon.com. To register a domain name, you can contact a company such as Network Solutions, Go Daddy, or iPowerWeb. The most common domain names will end in .com (for commercial businesses), .org (for non-profit organizations, or .edu (for educational institutions), but there are many more to choose from.
Can you register my domain name for me?
Yes, if you would like domain name registration, we will be happy to do that for you.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a place where your web site will be accessible on the Internet. It is a place for your domain name, web page files, and graphics to reside. The web-surfing public doesn't access your computer (or mine). They access computers that host the pages for you.
Most hosting companies offer monthly and yearly packages. Hosting fees vary greatly depending on your needs. If you have a basic web site that doesn't need any special features, you shouldn't have to pay more than $8/month. But, your hosting package will need special features if you plan to have a storefront on your web site, if you will be connected to a database, or if you have special programming requirements. These types of hosting services can cost anywhere from $23-179/month.
There are thousands of hosting companies to choose from. We work with a couple of different companies that seem reasonably priced, offer some extra bells and whistles, and have reliable track records. You do not need to use the companies we use. But, for the ease and comfort of clients who may be starting from scratch and have no idea how to go about getting what they need, we'd be glad to get you set up.
How much does a web site cost?
There are quite a few factors that are going to affect the ultimate cost of your web site. These factors include how big the site is, if you will sell products on your web site, how many images will need to be prepared, and how interactive the site will be. In conclusion, we don't offer fixed pricing as certain projects involve more work. For samples and prices of web sites we have developed, go to our WEB PORTFOLIO page. For other charges for special features that might apply, go to our SERVICES page.
Why do some companies charge site design per page?
Basic philosophy of life...It helps to keep it simple for purchasers. "Per page" is language anyone can understand. We have several problems with this, however. What's in a page? Our version and your version may clash. On a web site, a page can be never-ending. So, you could break it down and say 2 images and 500 words per page, but that leaves you with little flexibility. And what about this: Let's say that during the design process you decide to turn your "socks and underwear" page into two separate pages, one for socks and one for underwear. The content hasn't changed but you're charged for the additional page? It's not an extreme task...it's called "cut & paste." So, having a general idea of the page count is more of a way to understand the general scope of the work and what it will take to design good navigation, rather than being directly related to price.
Which browsers should a web site support?
Our designs support all browsers, progressively. For instance, all menu systems will work - but in some browsers, without animation. In very old browsers, we simply insure that the content is readable. Our serious testing happens in 10 different browsers:
Windows:
- Internet Eplorer( 5, 5.5, 6, and 7)
- Firefox 2 (or the most current version)
- Opera 9 (or the most current version)
Mac:
- Safari (Panther and Tiger)
- Firefox 2 (or the most current version)
- Opera 9 (or the most current version)
We do not test Netscape browsers as they are irrelevant. People who test on Netscape 6 or Netscape 7 are wasting their time as marketshare is below the point where it can be seriously counted.
What's the difference between “static” and “dynamic” web sites?
A static web site is one that is written in HTML only, meaning there is no database that it draws on. That doesn't mean that it never changes, it's just that changes must be made in an HTML software program. Most web sites that have product catalogs and an ability to accept credit cards online are dynamic. All the information actually resides in a database that updates the web site automatically. Dynamic web sites usually cost more to develop, as they require more complex coding and programming.
Why can't I find my web site in the search engines?
Once your web site has been submitted to the top search engines they may require several weeks, or even months to actually list your web site in their directory. How fast your web site is listed depends on each individual search engine's database update schedule.
Do you do search engine submissions for your clients?
Not normally. Our reason why may surprise you — we don't think it's strictly necessary. We always set keywords into the HTML headers of web pages. This is usually all that's needed to get the major search engines to notice your web site. Read more about MARKETING YOUR SITE.
DesignWorks
Studio
816 Nantucket Ave.
Eugene, OR 97404
541-228-1633 (P)
541-689-4682 (F)