posted
Hi folks, I am wondering if anyone looks at the design/cost workshop area on the board. Maybe prices are something we agree to disagree on, but I would like to know more about what this industry commonly charges for different types of work. I believe it would do us all some good. Keeping prices where they should be is something I would like my competitors to do, & in turn I don't want to lowball a project I have little experience with. Isn't this partly what Letterhead spirit is about? So, here's my idea. I could ask "whad'ya git for it" to new posts that display work. If answered, great. If not, no hard feelings. I don't want this to be something to debate about. Or, would it be better to post a guess at the price, and reply with - wayoff+ or wayoff-, close+ or close-, something like that. What are your thoughts?
-------------------- Jerry Steward Sign&Print Bethlehem, PA Posts: 126 | From: Bethlehem, PA | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
We're also interested in seeing the Design/Cost Forum become more popular. This is a timely post. Just last night on chat, we agreed to take an existing logo "back to the drawing board" and see what you all come up with.
The Design/Cost Forum is patterned off the popular Design/Cost Workshop in SignCraft Magazine. Our goal is take a design and redesign it using basic layout principles such as those talked about in Mike Steven's Mastering Layout book. This might be an existing design or a fantasy project.
It's important that we explain in detail why each design makeover is in fact better. Is there more negative space? Is your typeface choice more appropriate? Why? We need to know every step of the design process that you employed. At the end of the day, we need to learn some design basics that we can use to troubleshoot all our layouts.
It's always interesting to learn what others would charge for the project in question, but here again, I am more interested in how others arrive at their price. It's important that we teach each other how to determine our individual hourly shop rates, as well as markup.
Stay tuned. We hope to have a logo makeover on the Design/cost Forum later tonight.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
posted
Keeping prices fixed or somewhat fixed is in the best interest of all letterheads. I believe most will feel the same. The problem lies with those who don't believe in the letterhead philosophy. I find all to much lately that there is always someone who will do it cheaper. I don't think we will ever fix this problem. I don't mind honest competitors, but I hate scumbags.
-------------------- Rob Larkham Rob Larkham Signs & Lettering 21 Middlefield Road Chester, MA. 01011
413-354-0287 Posts: 517 | From: Chester, MA | Registered: May 2001
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i am hearing your frustration...but you were kind of vage in your info...i would find it hard to give a bid to a customer with that little detail.
i would agree with the Mayor it is and should be a hot area of this site. it is hard to discuss pricing with any of my pears in my town but there are a couple that will...carefully. so this is a great place to test the waters when doing a project. when i finally got to your post you had already deleated your picture..i hope that you will post a done picture or repost what you had before...all i saw was one of those boxes with the little X.
i think you brought to the fore front an important issue that should be worked at by all the visitors & residents, bettering our skills and our pocket book. if we could focus on the things that built up this craft we all share instead of breaking down relationships...WOW. i have been active only a short time here..and hope to contribute and learn much from this community.
please try again!
chris
-------------------- "We have been making house calls since 1992"
Chris Lovelady Vital Signs
NOW WITH 2 LOCATIONS! Tallahassee, Florida Thomasville, Ga.
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