I think everyone here has more experience in the sign business than myself. Please take a look at the following picture and tell me what you honestly think.
http://www.whatsursign.com/Dscf0013.jpg
The window approx 100 inches wide and 50 high. There was a bar in the center of the window that I had to compensate for. Nothing special as far as design goes and the grahics were just some clipart. The customer didn't want to pay a lot so they didn't get a lot.
What I want to know is what would you have charged to do the work? What would you have done different? When you look at the picture, do you think it was done by a complete newbie or maybe someone with intermediate skills?
You are doing just fine. I would have done it different, but to change what you have, I always reduce the size of my & symbols. Also your columns look to be a bit condensed. You don't have quite enough air space above and below your letters. Sometimes bigger is not better. You did quite good for a newbie!
I thought about doing the list aligned to the left on the left side, and aligned to the right on the right side. But then the bullets wouldn't look right.
I didn't realize that some of the letters were running together until I had already cut them :(
What exactly is "kerning"?
If I had attempted to design a logo, I think I would have charged a lot more. I more or less just measured the window of the shop, and typed everything to that size.
Even with my mistakes, I'm sure I could have gotten paid more than what I did. What would you guys have charged just to do some lettering and clipart graphics on a store window?
The alignment looks fine to me.
Here is a great link for newbies on graphic design terminology.
http://www.grantasticdesigns.com/glossary.html
Here is my estimate:
Client Meeting, Layout, fax for approval/approval:
.75 hour
Material: Vinyl (hp) mask, misc for 40 square feet:
80.00
Cut, weed, mask.
.75
Apply:
1 hour
Travel:
.50 a mile,
I do have a minimum but let's just say this was close to you
Misc. Office billing, etc.
.5
Shop rate of 75.00 an hour
Labor is 225.00
Materials is 80.00
so at the very least it would be 305.00
How much did you charge?
Cmon.....how much...were all learning here
and I do this on the side as well, I am an environmental graphic designer at a design firm, but have a sign shop set-up at home for extra cash. I believe if I have to take time away from my family, it might as well be worth it, so I charge like any other business would.....I do have a business set-up, pay my taxes on it, the whole thing. So if you are going to do this, you have to look at this as a growth potential, if your looking for a hobby, collect stamps, if your looking to make extra cash for you and your family, charge accordingly. If, for instance you did this for 125.00, and keep charging low prices, then how will you upgrade your computer when you used it all up, how willl you afford new software, better plotter, upkeepp on your car/truck, books, magazines, more equipment and supplies or a trade show or 2 to learn more if you are not making any money yourself?
All the comments on the layout, etc, seem appropriate for an "intermediate newbie", or however you want to classify. Nothing serious to complain about, but some colors might have helped.
But Rick's comment on the pricing is what got my attention... for the sake of beginners.
If you're working out of you home or garage, and if you want to move up, you're pricing has to be at the next level of growth. If you only charge for the overhead of your kitchen table, or a workbench in your garage, that's exactly what you're financing for your future.
Food for thought... and good luck.
I like it. You said they didn't pay much,so they didn't get much. It's very simple, But it works.
Listen to the comments made and apply it to the next ones.
One piece of advice from me.
Maybe it's the picture angle but the store hours are hard to see, maybe it should have been larger or on the door. Or they need to move the white boxes =)
Good job and good luck and remember you can only get better!
First, let me say that I gave a quote for this job by measuring the window and pretty much just looking at the window. I measured it so I'd know what size to do the layout in my design software, but did not use the measurements to come up with a price.
Second, I went to do more measurements today for an upcoming job and informed my former customer and future customer (the shops are side by side) that my prices would be going up.
Third, I did not want to scare off a potential customer. I do understand that my price was way too low and almost not even worth my time to do it.
So after measuring the window and taking a good look at it, I just blurted out "I think I can do it for 50 bucks".
*hangs head in shame*.
I won't be making that mistake again.
Oh yeah, Rick, I also have my business setup like the real thing. I registered with my state and I pay my taxes. I will continue working out of my garage until it's necessary for me upgrade to something else. But I don't see myself paying out 1k a month for rent like some other guys. Believe it or not, the people that run the shop in the picture are renting that place for 100 a month. It's not the best neighborhood, but you can't beat that kind of rent. And their shop is in great shape.
As far as doing upgrades, I'm not to bad at fixing and upgrading my own computers. It's the plotter I'm worried about. At my prices, the plotter is just now getting paid for.
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I have seen way worse for a person with a few years experience, It looks liike a semi-newbie did it...here are my comments.
Is this a logo or layout?
I think a business needs some identity, curved type does not a logo make, but it also "logo-izes" a layout, it's neither here nor there.
On the company name the kerning is a little off, especially "A to Z" plus a little boring on the typeface.
On the listed items there are inconsistancy's
Take the first one:
"- Inspirational items"
probably should be:
" • Inspirational Items"
Capitalize the first letter on every word for consiistancy and add a more graphic bullet point, the one you use is too plain
The leading on your listed items is way way too tight (anytime a descending letter goes into the lower word's space, it is too tight), and the kerning is a little too tight.
"No Soliciting
No Loitering" is way too big (everyone knows they shouldnt loiter and solicit-negative wording on an entrance of a store is not highly reccomended and should be kept small) and the "S and L" should be capitalized.