Graphic design Frequently Asked Questions

Oregon Graphic Design is a co-op of graphic design professionals and small graphic design boutiques which uniquely positions us to accommodate a wide range of projects. Because our expert graphic designers and digital illustrators specialize in a wide range of services, we have the ability to provide local talent that can meet your design challenges and deliver on one-off projects to enterprise level, multi-pieced or more in-depth projects.

Oregon Graphic Design works with businesses of all sizes and industries, from small startups to large corporations.

We measure success based on the specific goals of each campaign, whether it's increased brand awareness, lead generation, or sales. Whatever your metrics are for your graphic design campaign, our goal is to target those metrics. No matter what those metrics are, our success comes from your success. 

Visual Identity, in short, is how the world (and most importantly) and your brand see you. Visual Identity is what keeps your brand looking consistent across all the different media types and platforms out there, wherever and whatever your brand touches. 

Visual Identity starts with a logo, but there's much more too it than that. Font choices (typefaces), color palettes, along with what you say and how you say it are all a part of your visual identity. Your visual identity is how customers see you (your brand), and see something within that brand that they personally identify with, fulfilling the goal of attracting clientele to engage in business with your brand.

Short answer: because no ONE project is the same. For example, let's take a business card for example; business cards come in a variety of shapes these days. From round to square (with or without rounded corners), to odd, customized and unique die-cut shapes. Some require special paper, plastic, or metal. Some require raised lettering (embossing), some require spot UV coating...and the list goes on. Rest assure, your graphic designer will be able to guide you to a project and fee that work with your budget and goals.

Short answer: it depends...on a wide range of variables. Some of the things to consider when looking for value in pricing are as follows: 

• Bad websites harm your business. How a consumer sees your website has a direct impact on your business' success. 
• It takes time. A website build is more than just putting some images and text into a pre-built template, or even a fully custom website. It includes market research, perceived and actual success metrics, SEO (how people find your website AND how Google ranks it). 
• What is the purpose or goal of your website: shopping cart, event scheduling, appointment booking, and more are just some of the possibilities. 

Membership has it's privileges...(insert copyright infringement notice here). With your Oregon Graphic Design co-op membership, you get marketing and leads generation done for you (funded by the membership fee). You also get a network of other expert graphic designers to help you take on larger, more in-depth projects, and increase your online visibility. 

The first privilege is a reduced Membership fee. As a Founding Member, you also get an equal vote in business dealings that may impact the profitability of Oregon Graphic Design Co-op. As a Founding Member, your basic responsibilities are to:

• Help find new graphic designers to join our Co-op
• Help contribute to marketing and advertising costs that lead to sales and/or lead generation such as Facebook and/or Social Media ads, Google Ads, or the occasional lead generation sales company (frequency and need TBD).
• Help contribute to setting up projects by pairing clients/projects with available graphic designers. 
• Help foster a safe place for all, and lead with respect, dignity, and mindfulness to our members and clients.

As this is all new, the privileges and responsibilities of Founding Members will grow and adjust over time. If there is another key metric you feel should be added as a perk or responsibility, your feedback is always appreciated. 

All of the membership fees will be used to support founding members and to purchase ads which are intended to attract clientele and/or new members. While some of the membership fees will go to Founding Members, this is intended only to compensate them for their administrative or 'business-dealings' time. Here is a breakdown of how/where your membership dollars will be spent:

• Social Media Ads, Google Ads (advertising) - New Client Sign-ups 
• Social Media Ads, Google Ads - New Co-op Memberships
• Compensation for Founding Member's administrative time

As we go down this path together, I want to assure you that my top priority is to make this journey fair and equitable for everybody. While we all want to increase our profits, it will never be done at the expense of its members. 

No. While we need to have a baseline for our Client Service Plan contracts, they do not expire until your Plan's hours have been spent. Your graphic designer should notify you if and when your Client Service Plan's contracted hours are nearly gone, in order to help you to either increase or adjust your budget and Service Plan. 

Yes; that is the goal (at the inception of this new business venture). All Oregon Graphic Design Co-op Members will receive an 80-20 split of the profits generated by Service Contracts and distributed/staffed by either the Founding Principal Member, Founding Members, or through contracts (Service Plans) renewed by the designer(s), design team, or small graphic design boutique originally sourced as the staff for a particular client and service plan. 

Additionally, Annual Distributions are scheduled to take effect on the anniversary date of Oregon Graphic Design (Sept. 23, 2024). These Annual Profit Sharing Distributions will be the sum of the 20% (leftover from Service Plan fees), minus any operating expenses (home-office internet, marketing & advertising, and the like), and then divide that amongst all Co-op members equitably and fairly (based on length of time with us and level of membership).