HANDLING FEES, or mark ups, add to the cost of any outsourcing. The undeniable value added by commissioning a specialist in the field of illustration or photography must be weighed up against the increased cost, a cost usually inflated by a handling fee.

At VDB we are the Illustrator and Photographer.

No handling fee.

An added bonus is that the client briefs the “creatives” directly, saving time, whilst also avoiding distortion by interpretation.

ESTIMATING TIME accurately is another area of concern, when uncontrolled, costs can run wild. Thanks to the genius of the developers of programmes like Fanurio, designers now really know how much time they are spending on a job. Because it is so difficult to predict the time needed to complete a job, we give an estimate and should the recorded hours be short of the estimate our client will reap the benefit, should it become obvious that we will exceed the allotted hours, we consult with the client and come to an agreement before proceeding.

No more “losing on the swings and winning on the roundabout”.

quality guaranteed

“MAKE THE LOGO BIGGER”
must be the most reviled request in the design world. While aesthetic appreciation is something we all have, we believe evaluating the quality of design work is best left to individuals with a heightened awareness gained from training and/or experience in the field. Designers solve problems and organise information, intuitively, logically and aesthetically. We use the term "it works" rather than "I like it" to stay focused on the function of the material.

That said, there are times when it might be appropriate to use a slightly bigger logo.

CLIENT INPUT is the key to a successful execution but some clients who come to us for our expertise have already designed the job. While we think clients bond better with their material when they can boast about their visible contribution, they are, sadly, limiting the creative potential.

We prefer clients to saturate us with information about their company, products and strategy and leave us to come up with a solution that we all think is visually striking and effective.

Which leaves the client free to do what they’re really good at.

quick turnaround

THINK ABOUT all the time saved when you don’t have to brief and coordinate different suppliers. One brief ensures VDB has all the information necessary to set the creative process in motion.

The designer and specialist are constantly in touch, keeping each other aware of the requirements and minimising the need for redos. At each stage the client is updated, by email if possible, to verify the direction taken.

A RELIABLE PRINTER can speed up the process enormously and every printer has unique specifications.We use a printer with whom we have an established relationship.

• They value us so make time for us and our clients
  
• We trust their advice
  
• They will give us a good price
  
• We know their capability
  
• Their digital system is compatible with ours
  
• They are nearby, we can check jobs online
  

If the client already has a trustworthy printer then we're happy to work with them too.