faq’s

Do you do logo’s?

Yes I do.  And all final logo designs are supplied in standard industry formats for easy reproduction across a wide range of media.  Contact Martian for a quote.

———————————————————–

How much does it cost to get a logo?

Like all businesses, I need to know the scope of the work before I can offer a quote.  Logo (and Branding) design requires and understanding of a business and their market so I need to talk to the clients first to establish what it is they want their logo to say about their business.  Then there are variables like: are they wanting a basic logo or a more complex illustrative one?  Are there any design constraints that must be worked within?  What applications will it be used for?  Do they require a branding guide?

Logo’s are generally charged out at an hourly rate as they can take time to develop.  On occasion if the client has a firm understanding of their business and what they want for their logo I will agree to a flat rate for the project based on an agreed amount of time.

Contact Martian for a quote.

———————————————————–

What’s the difference between a logo and a brand?

You logo is part of your overall brand, as are the fonts you use, the colours and the types of images.  Think of your brand as the image your business has, much in the same way people have their own image or style.  Your brand will determine the look and feel of all the visual media for your business including: stationery, signage, promotional material, billboards, website, adverts etc.  Maintaining a solid brand helps your clients to recognise and remember your business.  Talk to Martian about upgrading your business image.

———————————————————–

How much does a website cost?

How long is a piece of string?  Entry lebel website start out at the $1500-$2000 range and are usually only a few pages.  More complex sites require more time and therefore more money.  Contact Martian today to discuss your website needs and we can give you a more accurate estimate.

———————————————————–

What is WordPress?

WordPress is an online blogging platform that allows people to manage the content on their own sites.  It has fast become a fantastic tool for website development as it allows us you otther content management to our clients without having to build our own system or have them use a pay-as-you-go CMS.  WordPress is very flexible and many bells and whistles can be added to a site with less coding required than building a site from scratch.  To find out more contact Martian.

———————————————————–

How long have you been a designer?

I have been a designer for 17 years with experience in Printing, Web Design and Illustration for both Print and Web.

———————————————————–

What sort of things do you draw?

I have a wide range of styles and I tailor each illustration to the customers needs.  I prefer vector illustration as this format is most easily reproduced across all media.  I also use 3D programs when required to give some extra depth to images.

———————————————————–

What can I use your artwork for?

Martian strives to create artwork, logos etc that are easily reproduced across all standard media formats.  This means that logos will be suitable for use in print, web, apparel, adverts, signage etc.  (Unless the client has requested design elements that are not suitable for all media)

———————————————————–

Do you do signwriting?

I have designed signage for shops and vehicles – even aircraft!  I do not apply the graphics myself but work with sign writing companies that print and apply my artwork to the vehicles and stores.

———————————————————–

Will you send me a copy of the finished work?

We generally supply electronic copies of completed logos and branding elements for the client to use.  We keep all other material like signage and stationery art but are happy to supply it to our clients on request.

———————————————————–

Will I be able to update my website myself?

Most entry level website are not able to be update by the client.  WordPress sites and some of the other larger database driven sites are able to be updated.  You should update your site as often as possible which is why we are recommending WordPress for all entry level sites now.

———————————————————–

How long does it take to get a website?

This almost always depends on the client and whether they know what they want their site to do and if they have content ready to put onto the web.

A lot of clients do not have any text or images relating to their business even though the may have been in business for many years.  I like websites to go up as quickly as possible so they can start working for my clients ASAP.  I will generally start work on the site design and building the pages while a client sources their content.  Once the design is approvced and the content is available the site usually goes live in a matter of days.

WordPress sites are quick to develop as I am mostly working on the design and then “re-skinning” the WordPress theme.  If a client has all their content ready from the beginning a WordPress site can go live within a week of our first meeting.

———————————————————–

Do you outsource any of your website work to other companies overseas, like the ones in India?

No.  When I employ additional web developers I only deal with trusted local developers whom I have worked with before or who have been recommended by developers I trust.

———————————————————–

I have lost a copy of my logo that another designer did – can you help me?

In a lot of cases I can recreate a former logo (assuming you don’t want to update it to a new Martian design), and supply you with electonic versions for safe keeping.

———————————————————–

Do you have an office?

Yes I do.  I have an office at home and my clients are welcome to stop by for a coffee and a chat.  If you would like to visit to discuss your design or web needs please contact me for an appointment.

———————————————————–

Why do you work from home?

Working from home is great as I don’t have any of the costs of running in office in town (which were approximately 12-20k per year last time I looked into it).  Those are running costs I don’t have to pass onto my client’s.  I also don’t have any parking issues and the commute is short .  I also enjoy the flexibility of being able to work any hour of the day without having to be on site at an office.

———————————————————–

What are your trading terms?

For most jobs I require a deposit before the work commences.  The amount of the deposit depends on the type of work and the timeframe allowed for the project by the client.  The balance of the project cost is due within 7 days of the date of completion.  I offer flexible terms to clients on larger jobs where payment plans are helpful to both the client and myself.  On small jobs I seldom require a deposit though payment is still due within 7 days.  All trading terms are negotiable.

———————————————————–