Strategies for Recruiting and Hiring Top Graphic Designers

Captivating visuals are pivotal to attracting customers and investors alike. Be it in the form of products, messages, or the overall feel of an organization. The job of creating a visual brand or messaging is usually delegated to graphic designers. In this digital age, graphic designers help companies to be seen as they wish.

Bad visuals are a missed opportunity to build connections and, consequently, brand recognition. In worse cases, this can create a bad reputation for your organization.

A lot of startup owners try to take the DIY route when it comes to graphic designing, but we would advise against that. A knowledgeable and experienced designer can make a huge difference.

Hire graphic designers who create quality work and can efficiently communicate your brand’s vision to the masses. In this guide, we will walk you through the best strategies for recruiting top graphic designers.

Types of Designers

There is a plethora of designers who specialize in the digital design landscape. Graphic designing is further classified based on the style of design, the tool(s) used, and the medium of the output.

It is important to know about these classifications and work out what kind of style and medium you are looking for. Do you need a designer to create illustrations or maybe someone to work primarily on typography?

Figure Out Your Design Needs

Before you hire a graphic designer, you should first determine your design needs. If the design work is limited to one project or product, it will make more sense to hire a freelancer.

It is essential to know the project specifics to assess how many designers will be required. If you hire more designers than required, you might exceed your budget. On the other hand, if you overload one graphic designer, then they will be susceptible to burnout and a lower quality of designs.

Similarly, if social media marketing is your focus, then it would be best to hire designers who specialize in illustrations.

Create a Concise Job Description

An important step in hiring the best graphic designers is clearly communicating what you would expect of them.

A thoughtful job description should summarize all the roles a designer must perform to keep up with the team's requirements. It should list in full the duties and responsibilities that will be expected of the designer. Then, it must mention the required skills and capabilities for the position.

It is important to tailor all these to find the perfect fit for your organization. Specify how the designer will be expected to work. For example, mention that the designer will have to conceptualize visuals and designs based on a written brief. Or, they might have to go through multiple client meetings to understand the requirements before designing.

It can be very tempting to create a job description for a graphic designer who can “do it all” and then some. But, realistically, such designers do not exist. 

Decide on a Competitive Salary

A competitive salary is a key factor in hiring a good graphic designer. Any good designer deserves and will expect fair compensation for their efforts.

Before posting a job, research the average salary of graphic designers in that area. These will also vary based on the skills required and the experience level of the designer.

Most designers expect an above-average salary. It will be important to negotiate with them and come to a mutually agreed middle ground.

Look for Relevant Industry Experience

Industry experience dictates the skill level and knowledge of a graphic designer. Every organization wants to hire graphic designers who can create a positive shift in the quality of their visual designs. This comes with relevant industry experience.

Graphic designing is a field that requires one to grow constantly. A good indicator of industry experience is an in-depth knowledge of the tools and methodologies used in designing.

Another indicator would be a growing body of work on their portfolio. This shows that they are regularly learning and growing.

Job Interviews

Once you have zeroed in on some candidates, it is time to gauge if they are the right candidate. This will be based on their approach to their work and how they would fit in your organization’s culture.

A good graphic designer’s technical skills should complement their soft skills. Graphic designers, in general, require a lot of collaboration. This requires them to have a high level of communication skills.

To ascertain their communication skills, check how they listen to your questions and what kind of follow-up questions they come up with. You may even ask them how they would communicate their thoughts in certain scenarios.

What Makes a Good Graphic Designer?

What makes a good graphic designer may be relative to each organization, but some key factors determine their prowess.

It is obvious that a good graphic designer should be a highly driven, creative person. One who is motivated to innovate and find new ways to create stunning visuals.

A good graphic designer has a strong foundation of design principles. But they also know when and how to break the rules. Ultimately, they understand that a good design is relative and try to find a good balance between delivering on expectations and innovating.

Lastly, a good designer is always open to feedback. They do not make their designs about themselves or their skills. The recipient of their designs, the end user, is always at the center of their design process.

Finding the Ideal Graphic Designer

Mentioned above are some key strategies and pointers when trying to recruit top talent for your organization. From job descriptions to onboarding, if you want to hire the best graphic designers, you will need to have a hands-on approach to all processes.

The process of recruitment starts with understanding your requirements and communicating them effectively. It is prudent to be realistic and honest in your expectations.

While interviewing candidates, make sure that they have the relevant experience. They should also be a good fit culturally to your organization’s style of working. Sometimes, an intermediate graphic designer with a growth mindset can be a better fit for your organization than an advanced one.

These comprehensive strategies form the foundations of hiring a graphic designer.