Category: Design Tutorials

Tuts, tricks and hacks for when you are stuck on that project!

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20 killer tips to land your first Junior Graphic Design role

Your first Junior Graphic Design role…. that was many moons ago.

This post offers useful, honest, and actionable tips to help you land your first Junior Graphic design role or internship. Much of this experience comes from hiring design interns and from myself hiring interns for more traditional design roles.

Although I would like to add… the design profession has changed dramatically. There will still be some helpful little tips for me to share.

Now, go get your first Junior Graphic Design role of dreams ( maybe ).

your first Junior Graphic Design role- You are on a mission graduate graphic designer

This post is here to help

“If you have no idea what type of design you want to do, don’t be too hard on yourself – I didn’t know either.”

– My older to younger self

Getting your first Junior Graphic Design role: overview

Finding work as a fresh-faced young ‘Graphic Designer’ can be a challenge! More so in this day and age.

In order to land that perfect design role, you need to really sell your skills and passion in a very competitive and crowded market. Saying ‘give me a job’ won’t cut it. Companies don’t want to do you a favour, they haven’t the time. By offering your assistance in the role, you can help in a design position, which may shift your mindset.

What can you bring to the role? Does your portfolio align with what the company wants and needs? Does your style suit the job and the company?

This post has been written to offer assistance in your journey to landing that desired role. Hopefully, following these 20 graduate designer tips will bring you closer to achieving your goal of becoming an intern or a graduate designer. But, I shall promise and guarantee nothing – the creative world is too turbulent for that, I am afraid!

As for my credentials, I have both been a design graduate and a manager in charge of hiring interns and graduate designers. This post will cover what the company looked for (my previous role), what ‘I’ looked for, and what I wasted my time doing in the beginning when looking for work.

My Career Credentials in Design


1) I’m not Neville Brody or Saul Bass.
2) A lot of this experience comes from nearly 20 years working in-house and freelance
3) The rest is self-taught
4) The rest of it is from first-hand experience hiring

Your first Junior Graphic Design role: 20 detailed tips for landing that ideal creative role :

Part 1.

Part 1 – Getting Into Mindset –Job hunting is a job in itself.

1 ) Be positive, and stay positive

There may come a time in your search for work where you will feel down in the dumps, the worst thing you can do if you really want to be a Graphic Designer is throw in the towel too early on.

Some graduates manage to find jobs as a designer straight out of University, they are lucky or super gifted or both… or know somebody.

Others will land roles off the back of work experience

Other graduates will land a job after 4 months of applying for design work ( mine was 11 )

After 400 applications and rejections.

Or moving closer to where you are likely to find design work ( that was my story )

Keep going and push forward. No two people are the same and your journey could be different. Do what you need to do – it’s tough. Think adapt and learn.

2 ) Don’t waste (too much) time with recruiters

I put too strong an emphasis on talking to recruiters en masse when looking for work in London! This was at the start of my career, believing they would be the gatekeepers to my dreams! I can recall a few being pretty blunt, some downright rude, and very few kind or helpful.

Generally speaking, recruiters don’t manifest results if you are a graduate. This may not be the case for all, but this was certainly the case for me.

I will assume they are more preoccupied with chasing bigger commissions. Or speaking with cooler non-country bumkin designers. Who knows!

The few that were useful gave some interesting advice – remember these people. All in all, don’t wait for recruiters. Go search yourself.

Try this website: –
– Creative Opportunities

3 ) Keep bettering yourself

This follows on from “wasting time”. Sitting on your computer watching Youtube videos about cute cats jumping off of furniture isn’t going to land you a job!

Make use of your time by researching companies, learning the nuances of your desired design specialisation. The more skills and worthwhile projects you have in your portfolio, the closer you will come to landing your first ideal role.

You may find things like this interesting while you are tinkering with software :

4 ) Imagine your ideal role


Landing your first Junior Graphic Design role is hard enough, so is trying to imagine it.

For me, this was the trickiest part of finding a role, and I feel that my portfolio, although diverse, could have been considered convoluted. This was at a time when graphic designers and multimedia designers did not wear the same badge at all. You were one of the other.

I didn’t have a clue what sort of design job I wanted – I just wanted a lucky break. However, reflecting on it, a more focused approach to my portfolio may have helped me land a role. A scattergun approach can have its advantages, but being too broad can also be a disadvantage.

If you have no idea what type of design you want to do, don’t be too hard on yourself – I didn’t know either.

You want your portfolio and visual language to be in tune with your first full-time job. If you can.

In hindsight, I had no idea about what type of job I wanted! I just wanted a creative job. If you don’t know, consider working backwards – what jobs don’t you want?

With this in mind, this could help you in shortlisting the types of design roles you make like. Now take the time to look at what these types of jobs are looking for and align yourself with these expectations. Hopefully, this may help align you with your first Junior Graphic Design role.

5 ) Your portfolio and CV are not speaking to each other

Not as crackers as it sounds!

When trying to land your first Junior Graphic Design role, make sure your CV and portfolio reflect each other. At least, to a lesser or greater degree.

I don’t think I’m God’s gift to recruiting, design or jobs, but I was involved heavily in hiring my own intern designers. I wanted to see who could assist and help a little while also giving them with their journey.

CVs … CVs everywhere!



I have read great CVs, useless CVs, silly CVs, random CVs, and just obscure and irrelevant CVs. And CVs that looked like they didn’t belong to the same person or portfolio – that is my point here.

Your CV needs to be relevant to the role for which you are trying to win, as does the portfolio. The contents of your portfolio should reflect some or most of the information in your CV as a designer, they should link or marry up.

Spelling and typos are only the beginning. A CV and portfolio that relate to each other will in land a role.

Make sure they relate and match.

6 ) Right place at the right time | luck and availability

Sounds like a cliché? It is!

You can be a ridiculously talented designer with a great portfolio, but if you’re not in the right place at the right time, then you won’t get the job.

Roles can become available due to an employee leaving, maternity cover, looking for contractors for specific tasks, or the company is expanding!

Be on the job boards, be ready, and be available. You need to be watching the job market all the time to give yourself the best chances of finding that desired design role. In other words, you need to make your own luck.

7 ) Businesses aren’t charitable

Your first Junior Graphic Design role probably won’t come out of generosity. When I first started trying to get my first job, my CV and covering letter didn’t hardly brought anything to the job. This is the power of hindsight.

Unconsciously, I expected the role would just land in my lap as I was a shiny new graduate with all the paperwork. Don’t buy into that illusion, I will tell you now.

Graduating or passing your course is just the beginning, and employers smell your un-jaded optimism and inexperience from a mile away.

Here is how I first started applying for design work, so you can avoid the mistakes I made.

How I presented myself ( badly ) when I tried to land my first junior design role


With my begging letter (covering letter) at the ready, it said far more than what was written on the paper. Between the lines it said :

“Please give me a job, I have nothing to offer, and you will be doing me a favour by hiring me… please do me a favour! I need experience.” Of between-the-lines wording to that effect.

Companies will already know how much experience you don’t have if they take a close look at your CV. They’d only need to take a look at when I graduated to guess my experience level! Avoid pleading and sounding desperate if you can. Even if you are!

Word your CV to sound as if you have something to offer them, not ask for them to offer something to you. Even if this is the reality of your situation.

Draw attention to how you are bristling with energy and ideas, or your design strengths, or how you are a passionate designer who works on plenty of side projects in a similar industry.

Instead of please give me, consider ‘eager to learn and become part of a team.’ Getting a graphic design job – a true ‘Graphic Design’ job is harder than ever to find.

Some kind souls took the time to answer my queries and offer advice, but most of the time, they ignored my queries. I sent hundreds of applications to land my first full-time role.

Aside from drawing attention to my blemish of inexperience, employers will know you are a graduate just by looking at the graduation dates. Focus on what you can do and do well.

Companies won’t hire you out of pity

Section 2 | Getting your first Junior Graphic Design role – Preparation

Preparation is key.

Vector Black Portfolio

Looking at the points before, have you picked your ideal employer or type of job?

Are you considering how your portfolio will align with your ideal role?

8 ) Physical design portfolio

Trying to land your first Graphic Design role as a junior? You will need a portfolio.

As a hiring manager for my own little department ( it was small ), I have had “designers” apply for roles without a portfolio.

You need a portfolio.

This shouldn’t even need to be pointed out, but I have run interviews where ‘Graphic Design Graduates’ came to a creative design interview without a portfolio… or anything to show for that matter. And before applicants got as far as being short-listed, so didn’t have a portfolio with their application, none whatsoever!

Suggestion 1 – A portfolio to win the job.
To win that dream job, you need to show what you can do, not just tell everyone what you can do. A portfolio is proof.

Suggestion 2 – Have a portfolio to hand…. just in case.
For example, I can recall a few applicants coming to an interview without any form of portfolio. To begin with, that applicant was relying on my memory (my poor memory) and hoping that I could recall everything in their portfolio. Don’t leave it to the person hiring to remember; remind them of your awesome designer.

The case for the ‘on-day’ portfolio – your first Junior Graphic Design role

You want to use anything in your arsenal to win that job as a graduate designer, whether through the passage of an internship or via a direct application.

Having a portfolio on the day of an interview can be very advantageous as a graduate designer. Here is a short list of reasons why having a portfolio can be a great idea.

  • (Something I used to ask myself) Did their college or institution not require the designer to create a portfolio? Where did they study!!!
  • A design portfolio will allow you as a designer to put your best foot forward.
  • Your portfolio can be a chance to discuss your best pieces of work and describe your part in a project.
  • Dozens of other applicants will turn up with a portfolio, and it is a very competitive market. You will want to do everything you can in a competitive market.
  • Your portfolio can be a terrific reminder of your skills… if asked!

In my opinion, having a physical portfolio is important if you are attempting to get a print design role. Which brings me to the next point in preparing you for applying to the right role.

9 ) Compile a digital portfolio

Before an employer looks at your ‘physical portfolio,’ you should have a digital portfolio.

A digital portfolio, a website, or an online presence will be used to make that initial first impression.

Whether it is a compressed PDF, a Behance link, or a website, this will be one of the first things an employer will look at when gauging whether to give you the job for a junior design position.

*Remember! When creating your digital PDF portfolio, keep the file size small. Anything above 10 MB may be blocked by the recipient’s firewall.

Bonus tip – Don’t be afraid to include a little bit of process as well in your portfolio or as a supplement. But all-in-all, your portfolio should focus on final product solutions.

10 ) Your graphic design CV


You NEED a CV.

In the same way, a designer needs to be given a brief for a project.


A portfolio alone is not enough as employers will want to see where you have studied, what you have studied, dates, and so on. Employers and HR are looking for relevant information; they are looking for pieces of information and that will help recruit the ideal candidate for the role.

If your CV is irrelevant, thin, sloppy – you are lowering your chances of being selected.

Handy print design CV notes :

  • Don’t publish your CV straight from Word. You are a designer, put some style and class in it to show you design things through and through – including your design CV.
  • Remove irrelevant job experience. Art Directors, Senior Designers etc, are not interested in your paper round from when you were 15. You won’t be delivering papers in your internship or graduate design role, well… at least you are not likely too!
  • Make it easy to read and skim. Hiring managers are in a rush, and they are also human… make your information snappy and easy to navigate. They might be reading a lot of CV’s and by the 70th applicant, the focus can start to go out of the window.
  • Use your CV to sell yourself and reinforce your absolutely killer portfolio!

11 ) Write a covering letter worthy of landing your first Junior Graphic Design role


I don’t proclaim to be god’s gift to writing covering letters. But, covering letters are where I have seen some of the biggest mistakes in an application for a junior design position.

Keep it polite and acknowledge the job listing.

You can sniff a ‘copy and paste’ email from a mile away, as it seems to ignore all of the points in the job listing. But if you do ‘copy and paste’ make sure to add the name and don’t leave sentences like this. eg, the spaces are still there.

“Dear _____

I would like to apply for the position of ____ as I believe I could bring something new to the team.
“

I have seen letters with the “___”still left in. Remember to fill the blanks at least.

Speak to the reader, show your passion. Say what it is you want to do. And try to add the most compelling information in the opening paragraph for jaded eyes.

12 ) Your CV is full of sh*t ( Don’t talk crap! )

Sorry, was that blunt? Please take it with a small dash of humour. We can all over egg a CV. But a CV that talks rubbish is easy to spot in the design sphere. Especially when you should have a graphic design portfolio show.

I’m going to let you in on a secret.

After reading many CVs applying for the creative intern roles at my former company, I stopped reading the CVs first. This is why :

  • Some CVs lie
  • A portfolio can say more about the designer
  • It saved time
  • I value a relevant portfolio over a well-written CV telling me what I want to hear

For me, it became a portfolio first and then a CV.

Here is a small design story.

Your first Junior Graphic Design role – A Dull CV Story

Many moons ago, many applicants would apply for a design role. And I mean many! On their CV they would proclaim : “I’m a graphic designer,” ” I own Photoshop!” or that they studied an irrelevant field, so it entitles them to that title – Graphic Designer!

If they are allowed that badge… where does that leave those who studied it?
Or the self-taught one who toiled for years?

I have read CVs that say they have worked on many projects, yet there was but a single A4 page with a poorly designed classified ad in the top left corner.

Some, state they are the next best thing to come into the design world. etc etc. I’ve read their hyperbole, been hyped and somewhat entertained by their prose, and then looked at the portfolio….

Practically nothing. Hot air.

With the one particular applicant in my mind, that isn’t me bashing a graduate designer, not at all. I don’t blame them for trying to find work. But there is selling yourself, then there is the proverbial talking out of it. CV’s can say one thing, but a portfolio can say another.

I wasn’t convinced they studied design, unless it was at the school MS Publisher 1995.

It was these little scenarios that led me to adopt a ‘portfolio first’ approach to the recruiting process. Let me see what you can do, now tell me!

Part 3 – Getting your first Junior Graphic Design role | Uncomfortable & unspoken realities

I’m going to spill the beans on things outside of your skills, CV, and portfolio that may or may not impact you getting a junior design role, and it is not just down to a lack of experience.

Some of these are opinions, first-hand experiences as a design jobseeker myself, and from quiet conversations behind closed doors.

Hopefully, the points in this section will be both helpful to you and make me hated by recruiters and companies. So be it!

13 ) Your university, school, and background can influence your selection

Ouch…

I would like to add that I was sympathetic to those who were not ‘in the club‘ – I was never in the club either. I think graphic design is not immune to this method of selecting who does and doesn’t get the job.


After a conversation with another Senior Designer, I was surprised by a couple of things about their selection process at their company.

According to the designer, at a certain establishment, they checked the following:-

  • Where applicants had studied ( they chose from elite universities )
  • Grades – fair enough
  • Secondary school and GCSEs – ‘secondary school and GCSEs?’ –

    ( Record skips and scratches, tea is spluttered everywhere! )

    Honestly.

    And… ‘Secondary School’

    This one got my goat a bit. Most graduates did not choose where they studied in secondary school    , so how is it fair for this basis to be an influencing factor?

You cannot choose your past or where you went to school as a teenager. Back in school, I didn’t know what I was going to study afterwards, nor did I know that being at that school could have an influence. Believe it or not, I think there is a certain level of elitism in certain establishments that goes beyond your accomplishments and attainment, sadly…

The monocle club is selecting!

your first Junior Graphic Design role

14 ) Geography – Where you live can impact your chances of getting a design role


This is both from personal experience as an applicant and as an employer.

Recruiters and employers can sometimes see ‘where’ you have applied from. So if you are looking for a Job in London, for argument’s sake, and you are based in North Scotland, certain job websites tell the recruiters and prospective employers where the application came from.

How do they know, and why does it matter where you are based?

It shouldn’t, but it will be counted against you regardless. Recruiters and employers like you to already live near the location where the job is situated, unless it is a purely remote position! I will come to what I believe to be the case shortly.

Geographical pains of getting a junior design job in London

My location: I have experimented with this by accident. I the past. On my CV, I wrote that I was currently living in London, I was staying in London on and off, but of a fixed address there.

On my CV it stated that I lived in London. I applied for a role through a website, and a recruiter rang me the following day.

“So your CV says, you live in London, but your application came from Cornwall?” That is a paraphrased version of the conversation. Some of the remarks after that – don’t worry, you live too far away, I need you this afternoon, or based on a recent conversation I asked – “Does it matter where I live now?”
“OF course it does!” they replied!

It matters. This was more of a gulf than a hurdle, as I found the design industry to be quite concentrated in London, as many things seem to be so London-centric. Despite the fact that I was up and down to London frequently, they wanted somebody who lived their all the time. there

It was mostly from recruiters who would bin my application after finding out that my permanent address was in Cornwall at the time.

The why! Recruiters want to make money quickly, and sadly, if they find another eligible graduate for the position who lives in or around London, they will get the first pick; it can be as simple as that.

When recruiting for an in-house junior design role


When hiring for internships, my previous MD favoured local applicants as it was convenient, among other reasons. As a designer myself, I tried my best when possible to favour passion, talent, work ethic, and a cracking portfolio when selecting a candidate!

Geography was irrelevant to me, as I wanted to hire based on merit and suitability of the candidate.

However, pay heed to what was mentioned above and note the bigger picture. Recruiters, bosses, companies etc, will often favour those who are near to those who are far. And in terms of supply, there is a glut of graduate designers trying to find work, especially in and around London.

It could be a stark realisation, but if you are a match for a match candidate who can start immediately, this will put you in good standing compared to those who can’t.

What if you live too far away from landing your first Junior Graphic Design role?

It can be easy to become despondent when applying for design work. I spent 11 months applying for my first full-time role in London. Adopt the following mantra to overcome the geographical bias:

  • Persist and keep applying
  • Be patient
  • Find a friend or relative to stay with whilst you look
  • Look for more creative jobs that bypass recruiters
  • Move nearer to a big city and find alternative work while building your career
  • Consider remote positions

15 ) Your first design role | You might be working on boring tasks at first

As a graduate, you may be given some repetitive or smaller jobs.

But you should use these to your advantage, do a great job, do it quickly, and use these tasks to make an impression!

You might also get a great reference from your employer at the end. Onwards and upwards!

Part 4 | Getting your first Junior Graphic Design role | Employer’s Perspective

Here is a short glance through an employer’s lens when recruiting for a junior design role.

16 ) Let your character shine!


A great portfolio, an active mind, somebody who will do the tasks when asked! These were all traits and signals we were looking for when hiring. We wanted to recruit a graduate designer who was buzzing with flair and ideas. We wanted a graduate who would be able to apply their skills to the brand and be part of a team.

In a highly sociable office / studio, I would have to gauge how the applicant may interact with me and the rest of the team. Do take note of how I mentioned ‘the rest of the team’.

It was not enough to only get along with me. I needed to gauge how the applicant would get along with the others in the company. I could be away, in a meeting, or really busy.

If I left leaving the junior designer alone with the sales manager, it would cause the office to combust; it was a risk I could ill afford to take.

How you bond, think, act and speak has a bearing on your application.

There is more to an interview than just a Portfolio and CV. As is winning the junior design role.

17 ) Ask questions, show interest

When applying for a junior design role, take an active interest in the job and company. It is not enough to say you have taken an interest in the role. Make sure to do your homework and come prepared for the role. An interviewer may not ask you anything about what you will bring to the table in terms of ideas, on the other hand – they might!

18 ) Sharing your ‘Interests’ on your CV

Why did this matter to me and the company?

Varying from industry and role to role, sharing your relevant interests may have been utilised for the role advertised. For example, are you passionate about football? Are you applying for a design job that is all about football? This could be helpful to know!

It’s not a huge point, but as strange as it sounds, if I were interested in the candidate’s CV, I would look at their hobbies and interests to see if I could find any relevance.

If the candidate mentioned that they were interested in ‘tech’ games, gifting, arts and crafts, etc it, it could have been a tipping factor for taking more interest in their application.

Not all companies will care about your interests, but I paid attention to them as a footnote on CV.

Consider adding some interests if you think they could be applicable to the role, or whether it will help your bond with the team.

19 ) Commercial experience will put you at an advantage

Relevant experience will put you at a distinct advantage when applying for your first Junior Graphic Design role. Although I do appreciate that this can be very chicken and egg when applying for a role to gain experience.

Any commercial design experience is still transferable experience.

Whether you gain this experience through family & friends, internships, college, university, freelance, or by any other means – this will place you in better standing for a design role in the future.

It can be extremely frustrating to gain experience, and I would highly recommend trying to get as much as you can while in your study years instead of when you are kicked out of education and into the job market. Getting experience can be tough.

I tried to be sympathetic towards graduate designers having no commercial experience when hiring for internships. Speaking in broad strokes, design agencies like you to have experience when you walk through the door.

I collected my experience together via my HND in design, Work placements, and starting with freelance work.

20 ) TAKE NOTICE | Watch the job market around you

Since I first wrote this post years ago, a lot has changed. Even the Graphic Design industry has changed considerably. This point originally said to ‘stay positive’ but I felt this needed a dire change since that point was written!

When trying to get your first Junior Graphic Design role, please pay attention to the design job market. The design industry and design jobs market are ever-changing, and what is true of today may not be true of tomorrow.

Graphic design is at a challenging time – make sure to check your skills and portfolio. Be desirable to help you land your design role.

I think it is okay to consider whether higher education is relevant or will help you land a job. IF you feel it isn’t, consider ways in which you can make yourself ‘more relevant’ and desirable when that job finally comes up.

Don’t bury your head, don’t be passive, don’t wear blinkers. LOOK.

Takeaway to getting your first Junior Graphic Design role

There is a lot to getting a design job, and I am not 100% certain the same rules will apply in the future. But from the more human basics of landing a job, much of what is written will carry.

  • Make good use of your time.
  • Be prepared, have your portfolio and CV ready
  • Remove irrelevant information from your CV
  • Create a portfolio that is applicable to your ideal role
  • Get as much experience as possible!
  • Work on personal projects and keep bettering yourself
  • Try to network with companies, directors, charities, etc – focus much less on recruiters
  • Keep checking job boards
  • Show interest in the role if you get the interview
  • Keep a close eye on the industry and try to align yourself

Stay positive, I’ve had a couple of cringey interviews!

While seeking your first Junior Graphic Design role, these may be interesting

jimmsdesign

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Design Consultations: Why They Matter and What You’ll Actually Get!

Design consultations shouldn’t be reserved for ‘professional’ people or seen as an extravagant waste of money! On the contrary, they can actually save you time, money, and headaches, especially if carried out at the beginning of a project.

Talking matters, ideas matter, and so does the execution of these ideas.

Design consultations matter if you wish to have an experienced designer cast their professional eye over a piece of branding, a website, a product, or any other form of media that has been ‘designed’. Their experienced opinion can offer that missed opportunity, avoid a costly mistake waiting to happen, or remedy that bit of stray design work in dire need of design attention.

A design consultation can give impetus to a shy thought or want. It can create ideas and turn these ideas into something tangible, too. A product you can sell. A service you can offer, a concept yet to be made.

Design consultations can seed an idea and help lay that ‘golden egg’. Imagine that successful product that never happened, or that service you didn’t quite know how to get off the ground? Or that project you have been itching to start, but haven’t known where to begin.

Graphic Design is all about communication, as is a design consultation.

Design Consultations: Why They Matter - golden egg vector illustration




“Let me listen… Yes, yes, I see the problem here. It is called Comic Sans on a funeral parlour sign board!”




Graphic Design Consultations: Why They Matter

A graphic design consultation can be all or part of a grand plan. An analysis or consideration before you take action. It can be light-touch or heavy-duty, depending on what is required for the project.

Design consultations can be used to ideate and communicate thoughts. They can be used to reflect upon branding, packaging, and even website design.

A design consultation can offer tremendous benefits to a business in the early or latter stages of a design project, without necessarily being expensive!

Design consultations can encourage collaboration, discussion, and even constructive debate.

Consultations should work toward a main goal … making something great! Design is a journey after all.

Design Consultations: Why They Matter - journey


Design Consultation: What you actually might get!

With a design consultation, you might uncover a branding inconsistency, ideas for stronger calls to action, or how to approach a project as a whole to get the most from your budget.

Sometimes, we design types confirm you’re on the right track.

Other times, we help you reroute completely. Either way, you gain clarity, confidence, and a plan! Sometimes, with actionable steps, which can either be carried out by you or the designer. You could see us as design doctors who only offer their skills by appointment only!

Design Consultation - Why they matter badge!




“Let me listen… Yes, yes, I see the problem here. It is called Comic Sans on a funeral parlour sign board!”

Pointing out problems is one thing, offering solutions to these problems is even better!

I have found more and more that businesses, start-ups, and individuals value the opinions of somebody who has been there, done that, and got a T-shirt.

This is why I launched this service. Because my clients, in essence, asked for it. ( In a roundabout way )

Here is a bit more on what a design consultant actually does!

What does a design consultant do? ( And no, it’s not all fluff! )

A design consultant is a seasoned creative professional who can share their knowledge, skill, and expertise either by appointment, contract, or on a ‘rolling basis’. Their time is sold in exchange for money.

A design consultant is part creative visionary, part strategic problem solver and all-round creative diamond! ( And in my case, an idea generator, who runs on sugarless tea and biscuits )

We’re brought in to evaluate, guide, and improve design-related projects with fresh, professional insight. From branding to packaging, digital experiences to print campaigns, we help businesses bridge the gap between style, substance, and function. We spot inconsistencies, suggest improvements, and propose new directions that align with your brand’s goals.

As an example, much of my experience comes from retail design, before moving ever more towards ‘web’. Believe it or not, your brand doesn’t end with a box or just a website.


To itemise further, a design consultant can do the following :

  • Review brand goals and styles
  • Investigate whether the communication and marketing tie-in together
  • Offer specialised industry knowledge in dedicated design fields such as branding, online, UI design, or print.
  • Offer sector-specific design solutions
  • Visual problem solving
  • Contrive ways of getting customers and clients to engage with your product or brand
  • Suggest tips and methods to the creative process
  • Advise on approaches to avoid and approaches to take
  • Offer ideas
  • Give opinions
  • Suggestion methods for saving money in design
  • Check semiotics, typography, layout, and styling

Design consultants can do this and much more . They can bring their design-specific skills and specialisms to the table. Share experiences, ideas…

In my case, I don’t just like to tell what I know. I like to ask the client what they need!

What does a ‘graphic’ design consultant do?

A graphic design consultant concentrates on the visual stuff: branding, logos, retail packaging, colour palettes, layouts, and much, much more.

We’re the ones who see five shades of orange ( so much orange… ) and know exactly which one says “trustworthy tech startup” versus “Board game cafe!” Our job is not just to make things look pretty, but to make them communicate clearly and effectively. We help translate your brand’s personality into design that speaks to your audience.

In my case, Graphic Design is but one faucet of my current skills. Graphic design ties in with my website experiences and board game products, too.

Fundamentally – deep down, I am a creative and enterprising spirit with a designer’s hand.

What to expect with a design consultation

Design consultations are not all just about tea and biscuits and Zoom with me.

Expect honesty (the kind that’s helpful), fresh ideas, and clear recommendations.

Design consultations can offer practical and actionable steps, visual suggestions, and perhaps even a stronger sense of your brand’s personality.

And, possibly… a few “EUREKA!” moments sprinkled in for good measure. But I will leave the Eureka badge to the client. I can’t self-appoint a eureka badge!

Areas covered by a graphic design consultant

Graphic design is such a broad, ever-growing, and ambiguous term now! In 2006, it was more straightforward.

I often see roles looking for a designer when in fact, they want a videographer, a graphic designer who is actually a website designer, a graphic designer who has many strings – I could talk more about that, but that is a conversation for another day.

For the sake of clarity and purity.

Design Consultations: why they matter and the areas they cover

Designers! We’re multi-tasking creative computer people, or… as I have been endearingly referred to – ‘Artguy’.

These are some of the areas that are covered by a design consultant :

  • Branding and identity
  • Print and digital design
  • Web and UI layout
  • Packaging design
  • Typography
  • Visual messaging
  • Content design
  • Visual storytelling

Is a graphic design consultation a waste of time and money!?

A graphic design consultation is not a waste of money. A great consultation saves you from costly mistakes, amateur design choices, and hours of second-guessing.

A graphic design consultation can streamline your branding process, align your visuals with your message, and elevate your branding presence—online and off. I don’t think a design consultation is a waste of money. It comes down to the nuanced skills and knowledge of a designer and what the client is trying to gain from the consultation.

I will say this, however, bad design – not just the finished product, but in how it is approached, can be a waste of money.

Although the design industry has changed significantly in recent years, and it is not just down to AI. I feel there has always been an itch to remove a designer from the design process, and to decentralise design as a whole.

However, this paves the way for amateurish, lacklustre, and poor design decisions in many cases. And, not to forget soulless design.

Honestly, there can be so much to Graphic Design than just “style”. Consider the marketing, packaging, product development and so much more.

Based on those points alone, graphic designers or ‘graphic design’ in general still matters. But the Earth will continue to spin without us design types if we vanished tomorrow.

It can be a waste of money if some of the fundamentals have been ignored.

Graphic design consultation | What inspired this service?

A whisper.., a murmur from a dark corner of somebody’s office! I was summoned through ritual and sacrifice, the devotees offered their newest member of staff to the design gods above. In a crack of thunder, I, their creative messenger, was sent to the mortal realm to fulfil the design need.

That was a joke and hyperbole; I feel I should put that disclaimer out there.

No, in all seriousness. It was more mundane.

It was because of my knowledge, skills, and experience across a range of sectors that people were seemingly craving that I created this service.

Is that an assumption? Somewhat, but not entirely. It was also born more out of frustration!

Clients were asking for my opinions, my guidance, and ‘how-tos’. Only, not all would value my time, as I didn’t value my time enough!

Design Consultation – how I got an idea ( brace yourself )

The case of making lemonade from lemons. As the saying goes.

Although I would like to add that not all those who sought my knowledge and skills were time-wasters. There were those who were sincere in placing value on my time. I’d like to thank those who did. But for every one of these who did value my time – there were probably 2 for every 1 who didn’t. I enabled them.

The idea for this service was born out of ‘the cheeky’ and me seeking a solution; I needed to learn.

Time-wasting video calls from those who sought my knowledge and experience and had no intention of paying for it in the first place. Emails, in-person meetings, creating plans, helping to write a brief, actually booking areas to meet in person, paying, and travelling to places for the person not to turn up or even give a reason! These were some of the painful real-life experiences.

Education on the graphic design process, reviewing briefs – or in particular offering thoughts on game projects- these all cost my time.

Imagine working for somebody for half a day or a full day and not being paid? Ouch indeed.

Or giving up half a day of your time for free with clients promising work only to vanish once they’ve got what they wanted?

Enough was enough. But, these lessons gave me an idea which was a long time coming. Gradually, I started to offer video consults ( link to brochure site ), and now I have turned into an organised boxed service.

From lemons, you can make lemonade

I wanted to share my knowledge and skills via an insightful design session that delivers value in an easy-to-digest format. This service was built to empower, teach, and help those with a genuine interest and value for my time.

Design Consultations: Why They Matter - advert graphic featuring a list of services and info.
Feel free to contact me via my portfolio website or read more about this service. Or if you want something quicker, feel free to use the contact form on this blog instead.


What do I charge for my Design Consultations?

Each project is treated on a case-by-case basis. You can read more about my services here for more information.

What next, Design Consultation maybe?

If you’re feeling curious or even a little stuck, booking a consultation could be your next best move! ( couldn’t resist ) No pressure, just an open door to design clarity. You bring the questions, I bring my buzzing design brain brimming with ideas, suggestions, and opinions! Fuelled by tea!

Design Consultations: Why They Matter ... the consultation cup.


How does my design consultation work?

Like so:

  1. A 15 minute free telephone or discovery call – to check if I can help
  2. I send an invoice for the booking, which covers preparation also.
  3. I do some homework for you, where applicable – if applicable
  4. We chat, review, critique, and ideate.

That is about it, there is more on my design consultation page on my services page if interested.

Design Consultation - Why they matter badge!




Design Consultations: Why They Matter | Credentials

With nearly 2 decades of design experience in both online and offline design, a portfolio spanning both creative, gifting, gaming, retail, and charity, and an innovation and making things, I’ve got the design stories to share.

I’ve worked with startups, brands-in-rebirth, and everything in between. From strategy to execution. Let’s see what we can make work for you!

Design Consultations: Why They Matter – Related posts

Copyright Jimmsdesign 2025 – Subject : Design Consultations: Why They Matter and What You’ll Actually Get – Illustrations – Jimmsdesign.co.uk.

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Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed? Tips & tricks from a designer

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed? ( amended and updated )

As somebody who has worked in print for years, I know black can be a troublesome colour to work with when it comes to professional printing! From dull colours, noticeable banding, to the colour being milky and muted. There is a wide variety of headaches when it comes to working with black.

As a former in-house designer at a gifting company, black was a core brand colour I had to wrestle with weekly. I could have burst a blood vessel.

Black can be a royal pain to print, I feel you! In light of a recent project where I had to work with black once again, it reminded me of this post.

This post has just been given a refresh to further help and aid any budding designers or those looking to troubleshoot their problematic black print.

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Why is black colour coming out dull when printed - title graphic

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed?

As to why your colour black is coming out dull and muted. Dull black in print can be caused by mismatched colour profiles, paper types, poorly calibrated screens, working on dated screen types, wrong settings in your application, variation in printers, and professional printers using professional print equipment compared to your domestic-grade equipment. It can also be due to a lack of colour checks before sending professional artwork to print.

There can be a variety of reasons, all working in conjunction to produce a lacklustre and milky print. These reasons can be a mixture of both software and hardware-related.

To avoid dull black colours, employ a variety of techniques to remedy the issue. Such as running test prints, checking settings in your applications, and working with a printer.

If printing on a domestic printer from your home or office, remember to check that you are not running low on black ink! This can also cause dull or streaky prints.

Investigate the points mentioned above. You may need to take it a step further of look for additional help to resolve the issue.

Working with the colour black in Graphic Design for print

Black can be a trouble to work with when it comes to print, especially with all of the varying print processes, paper finishes and general variations with commercial printing machines. Ink types, screen calibrations, applications and so on – can impact your dull black when printed.

Being empathetic to how black can be problematic to print as a designer myself, both you and I want to put our best foot forward and try to reduce dull blacks and greys. Below is a list of tips and tricks to beating a dull black when printed, which just may fix the problem.

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A list of tips and tricks to get the colour black you desire!

Black can be one of the most problematic colours to handle when it comes to design.
Here are some tried and tested solutions I have used to remedy why your black colour is coming out dull when printed.

Tip 1 ) Fixing Black – Consider whether your black is ‘black’

Not everything needs to be pure black. There is black and there is ‘black’. This is more applicable if you are working with photography, illustration or texture and not a black as a block colour.

When working with either illustration or photography, for example, it is common for me to add tones that will either warm or cool my black colour. Black is rarely pure black in the real world. Consider whether any colour or surroundings in your image would be influenced but subtle tints. Black, not being total ‘black’ can be one of the easiest workarounds.

I have added an illustration below to show different tones and hues on a black background and colour to further illustrate my point.

Left to right – reference image below/

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed - black hue comparison
This image shows how tints and shades can show some almost black can work. Most things are not strictly jet black. Especially in artwork or photography.

( Left ) Flat grey black

Notice that this image is devoid of colour. Presumably, this is only in ‘greyscale’ ( older illustration ), but this still has tone and depth. The colour of this, however, could be more of a gamble when printing based on past experience. These more monochromatic greys and blacks seem to be more prone to branding in Photoshop.

( Middle ) Added tint to black

The middle circle is black with a tint of red, which again could work well in a photo that has relevant colours or tones in the image to influence this type of black. I have added a paragraph below on how to add a hue in Photoshop.

( Right )Adding a couple of subtle colours

The tint added to the circle on the far right is closer to a deep red – reddish black, but perhaps something of this nature would be truer to the nature of artwork or photography being shown and displayed?

For argument’s sake, you could consider adding a slight tint of green or yellow to test and measure.

Test print what you create and gauge some of the warm hues. I have employed similar techniques again in attacking posterization in Photoshop.

Tip 2 ) Check Your Colours – Digital Black Colour in Photoshop

It is always wise to check your colours when working with print, generally, not only black! If your black is arriving with a murky, milky or dirty quality, check your colours by the number, not just by what you see on your screen in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

To follow the first tip of adding a slight tint of colour can be all that is needed to remedy your dull black.

Take note of the CMYK | C=65% M=70% Y=66% K=85% for illustration purposes.

For those who would like to know, the ‘K’ is the black notice, and the black also has a lot of colouration. This is not a rich black or the sort of black used in editorial design for fonts by the way.

Photoshop Colour Palette example
And an Example of using the black in the colour palette – Photoshop

Tip 3 ) Breakdown – Avoid dull black in print by checking colours digitally

Before sending your artwork to print, check that your black isn’t the wrong sort of grey or black by either opening the window above or checking that black is represented correctly only on your computer screen. In applications such as Adobe Illustrator, certain preferences will allow you to see black colours in their ‘truer’ form. You can also enable the output as shown.

Tip 4 ) Test print your black design work

Save yourself the worry and heartache and consider running some homemade test prints first. Although a home print is not a substitute for a professional print run, it is better to try and discover any issues with your black colouration before seeing it on a 1000 or so copies of your print run.

Tip 5 ) How your colour black is displayed

** IMPORTANT** This can be a significant contributing factor as to why your black colour is coming out dull when printed. There are options in various graphics programs that can be misleading when working with black. There are options that will allow you to see your black in its truer form compared to what is being shown on your computer screen.

If your black is not coming out as expected, check that your ‘Appearance of Black’ in your applications preferences is set to display blacks as required. ( see screen grab below )

Here is an example taken from Adobe Illustrator showing how a more accurate representation of black can be shown on your screen.

Adobe Illustrator - Appearance of black

See the image above, notice how – onscreen – Display all blacks Accurately is set? This will help you to see how your black may come out in print. Allow yourself to see!

Tip 6 ) CMYK vs RGB vs GreyScale Printing

By default, most designers who were taught to work with 4 colour print were taught to work with CMYK. CMYK, in comparison to RGB can be seen as the poorer cousin colourwise! This is the profile you must work with most printers unless they state otherwise.

However, it is common practice for printers to work with CMYK and should follow suit with this unless stated otherwise.

RGB ( Red, Green, Blue ) is the 3 colour profile I tend to work with more now for digital and website design. RGB is also by far my favourite to work with, however, RGB is better suited to screens which can display millions of colours. You may notice that your vibrant colours and hues suddenly become dull and muted if you switch to CMYK towards the latter end of the design process. By default, RGB is best left to work with screens for final output for print. CMYK for print. Here is an example website design project where I have gone to town with RGB.



Greyscale, brace yourself for mono colours. However, this can work well for simple black and white line drawings with an absence of colour.

Tip 7 ) Work with your printer to avoid dull greys and blacks

It can pay to work closely with your printer in the first instance to avoid headaches and dull black colouration coming out in print. Ask your printer how they’d prefer to receive the artwork. Most professional brick-and-mortar printers will request that your file be supplied in CMYK and as PDF’s in the ideal world. Although that can only now be used as a guide and not a hard and fast rule.

Graphic Design Question: Why is my black print coming out dull grey and not black?

The reason that your black colour is coming out grey and not black as intended, could be that the colour is grey and not black! Certain options in your preferences in your graphics programs may be showing dark greys as black and misleading your eye.

To fix this, you will need to check that the preferences in your graphics application are enabling you to see all black colouration in its true form.

Another reason that your black is printing grey could be due to screen calibration and screen brightness.

Now less common, some of the worst screens for displaying black are TFT screens. As you can still get on some budget laptops, i would recommend rigging your laptop to a screen that enables better representation of colour and colour depth.

Although I have had to use TFT screens in a professional setting in the past, I would recommend using a screen which can show a better range and depth of colour – including black. TFT screens are awful for seeing colour in print.

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed? Summary takeaway

The reason behind your dull black and almost grey colouring when printed could be down to a range of issues. Some of these issues and causes can extend beyond this list. It is a problem that needs a bit-by-bit approach to find out what is causing the problem in the first place.

I would check that you have your colours and preferences set correctly. Making something CMYK isn’t enough to avoid off-colouration when printing with black.

It is also worth being mindful that any web-based print of design software used for proofing can be problematic when trying to get true representation of your colour. These web programs and can deviate from typical standards used by professional printing companies.

These misrepresentations can include low-res proofs, misrepresentation of colour, and poor representation of bleed. What you see, isn’t always what you get.

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed? Bonus Tips

  • Take Notice of the colour warnings when you are in the colour picker window. This could save a lot of headaches later on.
  • Let the printer do the legwork. Send your artwork to the printer and try to let them help you. A printer worth their salt will want to help you and have your return custom. To reinforce your expectations, send them a physical sample from your home printer – assuming you have a good-quality home printer.
  • A HUE, if you are working on an image with a lot of dark areas, why not add a little hue / tint of colour? 20% cyan, for example or some magenta/red for a warmer image.
  • Avoid working with 0, 0, 0, 100 K, as this is best reserved for font/text printing and can your work charcoal appearance. Use a ‘Rich black’ or ‘designers black’ instead. 20, 20, 20, 100 k for example.
  • Avoid 100, 100, 100, 100, CMYK as this is reserved for crop marks and using this colour can drown the paper – no one wants drowned paper!
  • Don’t be fooled. Your screen can be way out of sync with your printer. Do some tests first and see what results come from your printer. Even printing on your home printer cannot guarantee the finish you require when you send your work to print.

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed – Other Related Topics: Design & Print

Interesting Internal links around design and design projects.

Fixing other things

Need a hand with your board game design project?

Why is my black colour coming out dull when printed? – External websites :

https://www.jimmsdesign.co.uk/

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How To Fix Broken Text Boxes In Indesign | Fixes & Solutions



How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign! Do not despair friend! This list of troubleshooting solutions offers a range of fixes, mends, and workarounds when editing text boxes in Indesign. Be it for card games, rulebooks or any other type of editorial design project that uses text boxes.

Whether you are a professional editor, a design tinkerer, or a new Indesign user! This list may have the solution you need to fix your Indesign woes.

Each answer has also been written in easy-to-follow, bite-sized chunks.

To fix your editorial woes in Indesign, you may need to investigate whether certain elements are locked or if there is structure and ordering issues in the document. Or is it a cluster of problems preventing you from editing your text.

How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign - title



How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign

Short and to the point. This article focuses solely on the ‘editing’, fixing and troubleshooting of text boxes problems in Indesign.

For those who have come to this post from my ‘how to edit the text on your card artwork‘, this article may be perfect for helping you to navigate your Indesign headache!

Here are some problems and solutions I have written up from using Indesign over the years while editing cards and various editorial projects.

Jump Menu: How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign

  1. ) Finding the problem with the textbox in Indesign ( general )
  2. ) Frozen, laggy, or partially unresponsive textboxes in Indesign
  3. ) Unlocking your textbox in Indesign
  4. ) The text box is on a locked layer
  5. ) Stop trying to edit the master page!
  6. ) The text box is behind or underneath something else
  7. ) Amend your layer stack
  8. ) Too much text for the text frame

Section 1 – Identifying the problem with the textbox
Section 2 – Locking issue
Section 3 – Non-locking issues

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Why can’t I edit text frames in Indesign? Identifying the issue

There can be a variety of reasons as to why you can’t edit the text in your Indesign document, whether it be for editing card artwork or text for a rulebook.

One of the best ways to tackle the problem of why you can’t edit the text in your document is to adopt a piece-by-piece approach to finding out why!

This may seem overwhelming at first, but don’t be put off! Using a systematic and step-by-step approach to fix your text box will hopefully have you editing text before long. Ultimately, it does come down to what is causing the issue.

How to fix your broken, locked, or hidden text frame in your Indesign document. Most common causes:-

  • The text box or text frame may be locked
  • The text box is on a locked layer
  • A master page may be preventing you from editing your text
  • Your text box is behind or underneath something else
  • The layer stack needs adjusting
  • There is too much text for the text frame


Diagnosing Broken Text Boxes Causes In Indesign – Checklist

When investigating how to fix broken text boxes in Indesign, the process of elimination can be a great way to help you problem-solve. Use this checklist to see what could be causing the issue and then decide what action needs to be taken to fix the text box.

This checklist graphic is free to save to your desktop for future reference.

How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign FREE Checklist



Core Issue & Frustration Number 1 – Why Can’t I Edit A Text Box In Indesign!?

I covered this question in a previous post ( editing card artwork ). For the sake of clarity, I have built upon that answer in this post in detail.

Some of the most likely reasons you cannot edit your text box in Indesign, is because the ‘text frame’ is either locked, the layer is locked, or you are trying to edit a page that is locked inside a master page template. Your textbox issue can also arise from a mixture of reasons mentioned prior, which can compound the problem further and make it trickier to diagnose and resolve.

When diagnosing the root cause of your text box problems in Indesign, avoid doing so by damaging your project if possible.

Working destructively as you investigate the cause of your textbox problems may resolve one problem but cause others in the process.



Examples of working destructively in Indesign

Damaging or ruining the master template page

If it is one text box you are trying to fix and edit on ‘one page’, don’t edit and ruin the master page to fix it! Doing so can make changes across all pages based on that master page. Take care when editing master pages.


Pulling everything out of the way to repair your text box

This is akin to metaphorical open heart surgery on your Indesign project. Sometimes, it is required, but try to avoid this approach if possible.

Working destructively, as mentioned above, should only be treated as a last resort instead of as a first action! Working in this way can cause more headaches and problems than the initial fix required for your text box.


Tip – When trying to resolve an issue such as to why you can’t edit a text box. It is always wise to work on a ‘child version’ or a copy of your document – especially if it was created by somebody else. This will keep the original intact in case you need to come back to it.

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Why has the text box frozen while editing it?

A ‘frozen’ text box or an unresponsive text frame in Indesign can be caused by reasons inside or outside the program.

If the text box has ‘frozen’ or is only semi-responsive. This could be caused by hardware, software, or by the limitations of your computer. In short, Indesign doesn’t have enough resources to function correctly. Speaking as a Mac and PC user, this can cause lagging, freezing and ‘jittery’ behaviour in Indesign.

Here is a detailed breakdown of what can cause this unresponsiveness in Indesign :-

  • Your computer isn’t powerful enough to run Indesign
  • You have an old computer
  • Software updates may be required
  • Graphic card issues
  • Program conflicts
  • Strange compatibility issues
  • Not enough RAM

There could be a whole host of other technical and processing power issues causing the text box freeze. It may be best to speak to an IT professional to see if they can help. If this is not an option, please read on.

Buying new hardware, may not be a valid option for now… but this may not be the end of the road for a temporary fix.

These are inexpensive quick-fix solutions I have used when handling unresponsive or frozen text boxes in Indesign.


1 ) Fixing & Freezing Text Box – Freeing Ram / Processing Power

If it is a performance issue that is impacting Indesign, consider closing unnecessary applications to free RAM and processing power.

Based on my experience as a designer, I have found that closing processor-hungry programs can drastically increase the performance of other graphics-intense programs on an iMac,

For optimal performance, I will occasionally ‘only’ have Indesign running to allow all resources to pool into the program. Especially for bigger projects.




2 ) Fixing Freezing Indesign Text Boxes –The Browser Conflict

I would struggle to tell you the exact reason as to why this causes issues – that is a question for an IT professional. Browsers such as Firefox can cause conflicts with Indesign and other Creative Cloud applications when running on my older iMac. ( eg also causing my Wacom to freeze and stop working in Illustrator.)

A resolve I have found works for me when working on card games in Indesign: close my web browser – Firefox.

While Firefox is open, this can cause lagging or latency in Indesign. The best solution I have found is to close the web browser in the background for the duration of working in Adobe Indesign. Drastic and annoying, maybe, but needs must!

*I would love to know why this causes conflicts with Indesign and other Adobe Creative Cloud programs; sadly, I have no idea why!

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Part 2 – Fixing Text Frames Due To Locking – How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign

This section offers an in-depth breakdown of locking and unlocking particular elements of your Indesign document, specifically textboxes.

Locked ‘anything’ in Indesign can be some of the most frustrating and banal editorial headaches. Thankfully, as it is commonplace and the fixes can be relatively straightforward!

2 padlocks for unlocking text frames in indesign


Textbox could be on a ‘locked layer’ – How to unlock layers

You can’t edit anything on a ‘locked’ layer in Indesign, including text frame / textboxes if they are on that locked layer!

Text frames placed on ‘locked layers’ must be unlocked to be edited.

If your layer is locked, this can be resolved by the following:-

  • In the ‘layers tab’ on your interface window. Check that the padlock is set from ‘on’ to ‘off. ‘

The ‘open’ or ‘closed’ padlock icon in your layers window represents whether that layer is locked or unlocked. ( See illustration below. )

Press the padlock on the corresponding layer to unlock it. Be mindful not to unlock something that should remain locked.



Your Text Frame Itself Could Be Locked – Unlock The Text Frame


The text frame itself could be locked. If this is the case, you will need to unlock it!

The solution to unlocking the text frame in your Indesign document can be relatively simple:

Go to –

  • Top menu ( top bar of your Indesign interface )
  • Check the drop-down for the ‘Object’
  • Select ‘Unlock all on spread’

If this was the reason as to why you couldn’t edit your text frame or select it, unlocking all of the spread may resolve the issue.

Unlock all on spread in indesign illustrated

If this does not fix your issue, consider the options below.

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Part 3 – Fixing Your Text Box in Indesign – Other ‘Non-Locking’ Issues


If your text box headaches are not due to locked text frames or locked layers, another culprit is likely at play.

Below are more troubleshooting solutions for mending your text boxes in Indesign, whether you are working on game card artwork, a rule book, or something else. These are alternative fixes.

Jump menu to other Indesign text box fixes :

You may need to ‘override’ the master page properties to access your textbox

You have checked whether or not your layer is locked, and it appears to be unlocked.

A potential culprit could be the ‘master page. ‘ The master page acts as the template and ‘rule maker’ for all pages in your document, from the position of your text boxes to titles to various other elements. Editorial designers can create multiple master pages if they are working with 3 or 4 types of pages.

Master pages are a great time-saving measure for large projects and are superb for making your desired pages or cards adhere to a consistent set of guidelines. But, if you are unfamiliar with them, they can seem to be an object of annoyance and obstruction.

There is a simple solution to edit the page or card without damaging the ‘master page. ‘

icon master pages in indesign


Try the following:-

  • Select the card or page from your pages panel ( all items are treated as a page in Indesign )
  • Right-click the page
  • Then select “Override Master Page Properties” as illustrated below
How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign overriding master page

*Do not override and edit the ‘actual’ Master Template unless you intend for those changes to be applied to all pages of cards that are based on that master page. It can be easy to ruin your project if you do not practice care!

Make sure to keep a backup of your project.

Making changes to the ‘master page’ ( master card ) will carry that change across all your pages or cards. Make sure to override only the page you want to edit and NOT THE MASTER PAGE! Unless that is your intention.


Half of the text is missing from the text frame, and now there is a little red square in the corner in Indesign!

If there is a little red square found at the bottom of your text frame, this is saying that not all of your text can fit in that single frame size. To remedy this in Indesign, there are a couple of fixes.

Your copy ( text ) needs to overflow into another text box, or that original text box needs to increase in size. This will allow more room for the text to show.

You can also consider scaling down the size of your font to allow all the text to fit.

Alternatively, you can reduce the amount of copy to fit into the text box in Indesign. However, this may not be a popular option when working with editors!

A final solution is to select that ‘little red box’ on the edge of your text frame and link it to another text frame! Allowing room for the hidden copy to flow into the second box. Doing so will show the rest of the missing text in the second text frame you have just linked to.

Keep in mind that this is more applicable if you are working on a project such as a rulebook; this may not be applicable to certain projects, such as editing cards for a game.

My text frame in Indesign is unlocked but appears stuck behind something ( It’s behind you! )

This can be an annoying and somewhat frustrating problem to have when trying to fix your text boxes. A simple case that your text frame in question is behind another object!

There is an object in front of your text box, be it another empty text box or an image frame. This prevents you from editing your primary text box properly. ( a design mess! )

- How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign obstructed text

There are a few simple ways to diagnose and remedy this problem.

If you can select other items in your Indesign document, be it card artwork, other text frames or images, this would infer that the project is still in working order.

If you can’t select any items on that particular page or card artwork, it could be the case that ‘all the items are locked. ‘

Alternatively, the page or card in question may need to break away from the master page by overriding the master page properties.


Lastly, if you can select other items on the page but can’t select a particular text frame you wish to edit, it could be the following :-

  • That textfame is locked
  • *The text frame is behind another object
  • The layers need reordering so that your text frame sits at the top/front of your layers

To reach your text frame in Indesign, you need to adjust the layer on which it is positioned or unlock the text frame itself.

*Or move the text frame to the front of your pile.

‘Is‘ your text frame behind something else?

Moving the object that blocks your textbox to the front or back is a simple fix. But, at first if it appears that nothing appears to be moving. Consider this:-

If you think your object is potentially stuck on a layer or underneath another layer, read the following.

Chip! animated gif


How to fix a text box stuck behind something in Indesign – solution

If your text frame or text box is placed ‘under’ another layer, this can be a reason as to why it appears stuck behind something else.

Solution: Consider reordering your layers so that the layer with the text box is at the front of the stack. Re-ordering the layers may enable you to edit your textame or textbox without further conflict or issue.

Having your layers stacked incorrectly can prevent you from editing what you need to due to the object in question being beneath another layer. The layer in front of your text box may also have editable content, which further exacerbates the problem of not being able to edit your text.

You can adjust your layers manually via the layers window by moving the layer that the text box is on up and down the stack.


How to fix a text box if it is behind an object on the same layer in Indesign

If you keep selecting an object that appears to be in the way or on the top of your textbox, consider moving the offending object towards the back. ( and shout at it for good measure to vent your rage! You may, however, have to say sorry to colleagues.)

Simple fix.

You can change the arrangement of objects by right-clicking and selecting ‘arrange’ from the menu. Then select either ‘send to back’ or ‘send backward’.

Play with the object arrangement until the text frame is exposed and accessible.

Try sending the obstructing object to the back, exposing the text box you are trying to edit.


Bonus Tip – crude yet effective hack – digging for your textbox!

A last resort. If all else fails when trying to fix an arrangement textbox issue in your Indesign project, a somewhat destructive investigation of your textbox may help identify the issue.

In essence, this resembles digging your textbox or text frame out from the rest of the page content so that you may identify and fix the issue. But this method comes with consequences.

Tecniques: Move the offending object or objects that are obstructing your text box to one side for the short term. You can always move these off your card artwork or rulebook for safekeeping. It may be wise to take a screen grab so you can remember where everything has been placed.

If your textbox is stuck behind another text box or image frame in Indesign, this may help in identifying the issue.

*This method will only work if something is blocking your text frame and it’s not as a result of the text frame being locked. This is also a destructive way of problem-solving.


If you can now select the text box, this signals a few things to you:

  • You can select the text box and move it – it’s probably not locked or on a locked layer.
  • If you can move the textbox around, this would infer the issue resides either in the layers or the object is behind something.

If it is the latter, experiment with ‘layer order’ or ‘object arrangement’ by sending the object blocking your text box to the back. Or investigate the layer order.

Hopefully, the solutions above will help you fix your broken or dysfunctional text boxes in Indesign. If you have found this post helpful, feel free to share and save it to our faves for future reference.

Here is the list of contents you can cross-reference again while you are troubleshooting the issues:-

Jump Menu: How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign

  1. ) Finding the problem with the textbox in Indesign ( general )
  2. ) Frozen, laggy, or partially unresponsive textboxes in Indesign
  3. ) Unlocking your textbox in Indesign
  4. ) The text box is on a locked layer
  5. ) Stop trying to edit the master page!
  6. ) The text box is behind or underneath something else
  7. ) Amend your layer stack
  8. ) Too much text for the text frame

Section 1 – Identifying the problem with the textbox
Section 2 – Locking issue
Section 3 – Non-locking issues




** Reference – In this post, ‘text box’ and ‘text frame’ are 2 of the same thing in this document for clarity. ( Fixing broken text boxes in indesign )

Helpful related links when working on game cards, rules, or Indesign in general – How to fix broken text boxes in Indesign


3rd party websites

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Thank you for reading ‘how to fix broken text boxes in Indesign.’ By the way… did you find that missing screw? Jimmsdesign

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What Is A Graphic Design Process? An Illustrated Explanation

What is a Graphic Design process?

As in the creative process used by professional Graphic Designers.

This is a common question I hear from both new and old clients. I have illustrated this article to educate and explain the basics of the ( a ) graphic design process.

What is a graphic design process title graphic with steps



Before providing a generalised overview of ‘what a graphic design process’ is, and how it works, I wanted to dispel some common misconceptions about the graphic design process and discipline as a whole.

  • Conceptual graphic design does, or should have a process.
  • Graphic design isn’t just about making things look pretty. It needs style and substance. It should have an objective.
  • Good or relevant graphic design does not manifest from thin air.
  • Commercial graphic design is different from just ‘pure art’ and expression.
  • Graphic design existed long before the Adobe Creative Suite.

Those are some points I wanted to raise and resolve before going into the details of how a Graphic Design process works for many designers in a commercial setting.

So…

What is a Graphic Design Process? ( Short Answer )

A graphic design process is a series of steps Graphic Designers use to create visual content. This content can come in the form of logos, advertorial, online media, and print collateral. The design process will typically run in stages, often starting with the project brief and objective, the creation of ideas, through to development of the final artwork.

The design process is not only great for managing the workflow and adhering to a design brief in an efficient manner. It is also a great way for both the client and designer to explore the possibilities and potential outcomes of the design journey.

As part of the process, It is common for experienced Graphic Designers to assess a brief, plan a course of action for the design, and execute what needs to be created. While also keeping an open line of communication.

It is common for some Senior Designers ( and some Junior designers ) to openly discuss their design aims so that objectives set by a client, team lead, or managers.

As a breakdown, these steps may resemble the following – depending from designer to designer.

Core Design Steps May Involve:-


That is, of course, a simplification of how a graphic design process works as a commutative approach across the industry. Each company is different, as is each designer and sub-discipline with ‘design’. As well as Graphic Design.

My bias and perspective on the design process

Before going into the details of my design process in steps, I felt it responsible to mention to you as a reader, I work and have worked in graphic design.

Before becoming a ‘Freelance Designer’, I worked in-house at a company for over 8 ¾ years. During this time I had the opportunity to work on a broad variety of graphic design projects both online and offline. I learned a lot. I could have cried sometimes too!

My skills, my processes, and my steps had a significant influence on my previous employers. Not only just on creating the final design but in the processes that lead to that final design. This post is not about my skills and experiences, that is what CVs and about pages can be used for.

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What is a Graphic Design Process? | The Caveats

1 ) Not all graphic designers work in the same way.

2 ) Some designers are at different points in their careers.

3 ) Some Graphic designers have worked in different sectors and industries.

4 ) It is quite likely that you will meet multi-discipline designers who may have a mish-mash of the process illustrated in this post.

All and more of the factors above can influence how a designer works. Please keep this in mind.

Graphic Design Process Diagram | Illustrated Explanation

Below is a simplified diagram of the graphic design process used by many Graphic Designers, including myself. Although this is a simplified version of the core workflow and processes, it does offer a simple overview of the whole design process employed by many graphic designers.

Graphic Design Process Steps – Overview

This is a breakdown of the design process and core stages. Each paragraph explains each step in detail and allows you to read and re-read certain stages at your leisure.

Stage 1 ) The Graphic Design Brief

What is a graphic design process Stage 1 )

The ‘brief’ is a crucial part of a design project, be it in Graphic Design or any similar field. The design brief is an opportunity to establish core goals and objectives for a project – normally set out by a client or business owner.

You can also imagine the ‘brief’ as setting a mission. This mission is given to a designer so they know what the aim of the project is. Without one, the end objective of what a design needs to achieve is left to costly guessing and piecemeal assembly of what needs to happen.

A design brief is very important. You shouldn’t work without one.

How can you or a designer find a solution when neither party can establish what the problem is?

Or… what the aim of the project is?

It is also harder to plan a budget for a project without one.

It is best to establish a clear brief as early as possible. This will save time, headache, and money for both designers and those setting a project.

What happens if you work without a design brief?

Without a brief – especially a written and mutually agreed one, proper communication between the designer and the person setting the brief is more likely to fail. This lack of clarity can also lead to the disintegration of a working relationship, poor budget control, and potential and unnecessary resentment between both parties.

Make sure to create a brief.

A brief can act as a mutual ‘project map’ to establish what, when, and how a design project needs to be fulfilled.

As for myself, I will often refer back to a brief or a “specification and agreement” to see what I’m working towards with the client. It could be regarded as a loose recipe to follow also for want of a better analogy.

1.1 Quickfire Tips For Constructing a Basic Design Brief

When creating a design brief for a graphic design project, try to consider some of the following :

  • Who?
  • What?
  • Why?

These are all things I consider when working on a design project.

When creating a brief you may wish to consider formats, mediums, and any restrictions or limitations that may impact the project. It is better to give detailed thought at the beginning, rather than part way through.

The “Who, What, and Why” can act as a great starting point and framework for creating a brief. If you can establish the who, what and why. Designers such as myself can establish the how and the details – it can help us better solve problems or avoid them altogether.

However, it is not also uncommon for me to collaborate and consult a client and the, who, what and why. It can be this that helps to craft a brief and point the client in the right direction.

Graphic designers don’t know your business!

The majority of designers, most likely, won’t understand your business as much as you do, especially if working on short-term freelance project.

When constructing your brief, it is better to assume that a new designer, or a designer you haven’t worked with previously, knows absolutely nothing about your business. From here, write all that is relevant to share with the designer in translating your initial thoughts into a well-rounded, well-described brief, with a clear direction.

This can be trickier than it sounds and there is no harm in seeking tips and advice.

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Stage 2 ) Collecting Information & Research | An Important Stage In The Graphic Design Process

What is a graphic design process stage 2

When looking at the stages and steps to a graphic design process, collecting together information, data, files, images, and text are all important aspects of the creative process. Especially when exploring new ideas.

The degree to which research is carried out for a graphic design can vary from project to project, but there are common patterns that are adhered to by many designers.

The preliminary research can be carried out by the client, designer, or both parties. In this stage, it can be a case of collating together: photos, data, logos, or anything that is useful in aiding the designer to create a compelling piece of visual design.

*Designers: When working with clients, encourage them to share research or at least mention that time will need to be set aside for research projects, this is something I do. I have listed some examples of what may be collected together for graphic design research.

2.1 ) Collecting Information

Collecting information together for a design project may consist of the following:-

  • Data
  • Photography
  • Fonts
  • Logos
  • Things can inspire
  • Plans

Initial copy or ‘text’ is a common requirement for design projects. As a designer, I tend to request this as early as possible so I can plan the space around and accommodate the word volume. This can apply to books, webpages, and many other mediums that require written words for the project.

It is quite common for a designer to also be aware that a certain amount of editorial changes are likely to arise later in the project and allow for wriggle room. It is still best practice to have as much of the word count calculated sooner rather than later.

Images and photography may also be sourced or collected together in the early stages of the design process, along with logos and brand guidelines.

2.2 ) Graphic Design Research

Research, or ‘design research’ is an important stage when it comes to the design process. Research can help form, inspire and guide the overall direction of a project.

For large or medium-sized projects, research is a vital tool in not only greasing the design wheels of your project but in helping to form a better more polished product. I am a big advocate for good research across various mediums, design being a key one.

Here are some examples of what the design research stage may consist of, noting that the criteria can vary from project to project and designer to designer.

What design research may consist of :

  • Studying competition.
  • Searching areas such as Pinterest, magazines of similar platforms for certain ideas.
  • Checking what types of design will appeal to your target market.
  • Looking for any relevant or inspirational criteria that can impact your final design.
  • Avoiding accidental copyright infringement.
  • Considering what courses of action will serve the project.

These are just some examples of what the design research phase may include.

Some freelance designers may prefer that the client does the majority of the research before contact. This can leave the designer to focus solely on the creative aspects of a project. I am of split opinions.

On one hand, I like to know that the client has at least carried out some basic research for their own product and business before speaking to me.

On the other hand, I also like to add to the research and build upon what the client has already found the further steer the course of a project, I tend to tweak and steer this from brief to brief.


Research Examples | Core Design Process

With the links below, I have pointed to where you can read more on case studies and research I used for some projects.

Here are a couple of links that may be of interest :

kiosk design
Aardman
Part of design process for Aardman project




Stage 3 ) Initial Ideas | The Ideation Stage

What is a graphic design process Stage 3

“On the other hand, designers have to be realistic. People change their minds.”

It is common practice for graphic designers, especially those of a more conceptual vein, to come up with an idea or a selection of ideas early in a project. However, strictly speaking, this is not a default practice for all designers.

Some designers may only work with one idea and revise this single idea as opposed to working with a variety of ideas and short-listing the strongest.

Depending on fees, time, and requirements, design ideas (ideation), can vary drastically in quality and finish. Each designer may only create a short selection of ideas and others may create a broader selection of ideas to illustrate intent and potential avenues a project can take.


In the earliest stages of ideas creation or ‘ideation’, what is presented may be little more than a rough drawing or digital sketch to illustrate what will be created.

Speaking for myself, I will often use this stage to discuss what has been created and why I have made the choices I have made. Here is an example idea.

Early project ideas


Each designer is different, and our tools and methods may differ. But as a generalisation, design ideation may be presented in the following formats :-

  • Rough sketches and drawings on paper
  • Digital drawings
  • Or rough digital mock-ups ( as proof of concept )
  • Loose thumbnails ( small drawings )
  • Doodles
  • A selection of ideas with labels
  • Annotated concepts showing reasoning

The idea and the idea development stage can blur when it comes to developing a design.

To illustrate this flow – here is an image from another blog post – Design Journey.




For many conceptual-based graphic designers, the idea stage is a core stage in the design process. As a conceptual design. Here are to projects and case studies that may further illustrate how a project may go.

( Important ) The Ideation Stage May Need To Be Revisited


*There is no guarantee that the original ‘proof of concept’ from the selection of ideas will become the final product. Although costly, time-consuming and frustrating, it is not uncommon that a designer will need to backtrack to this pivotal stage once a project is near completion. I have on occasion had to do this on graphic design projects.


List of reasons as to why a graphic designer may need to revisit the ideas stage:

  • Executive discussion outside of design influences has come into play
  • Senior management wants to revisit or change course
  • An idea isn’t as good as originally hoped
  • New criteria and information have come into play that weren’t known before
  • Fussy clients
  • Too many people have differing opinions on a project
  • Weak project planning or thought given to the brief in the first place
  • A better idea came along

These are just some of the reasons why a designer may need to return to the proverbial drawing board.

Whoever said design was easy needs to actually work in design, or at least share their secrets to make it easier for them.

Revisiting or needing to backtrack to the ideas stage of a design project is sometimes required – there is no way to avoid it. However, it is best avoided for the sake of the client and the designer. Budget restrictions and time constraints can lead to rows between both parties if, for example, the culprit is a poorly written brief or the disregard for the sign-off stages.

On the other hand, designers have to be realistic. People change their minds.

If the design journey was a straight line, both the designer’s and the client’s lives would be a lot easier. Many internal and external forces will require a designer to revisit other ideas, even if the first choice was put into play.


Do all graphic designers create a range of ideas? ( Ideation )

No, not all graphic designers will create a range of ideas for your brief. As mentioned above, it will vary from designer to designer and from skill level to skill level. Not all graphic designers are conceptual designers. Some graphic designers will have certain leanings towards ‘creative artworking’ , marketing, etc.

It is beneficial to discuss with a graphic designer before embarking on a project. Ask about their process and methods. Make sure there is a clear brief between the designer and the client.

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Stage 4 ) Development Stages | Graphic Design Process

What is a graphic design process stage 4


How this stage translates in reality will vary from designer to designer. But as a general rule – it will work accordingly.

Once both the designer and client ( or clients ) have shortlisted the preferred design idea or ideas, this will then lead to that idea being developed. Being ‘developed’, or ‘developed further’ may consist of the following actions:-

  • Polishing the aspects of the design
  • Building upon the visuals to establish the viability of a concept
  • Moving the design to a delivery-ready stage

In layman’s terms, the development stages translate to the spit and polish applied to the shortlisted idea. The development stage can also be further proof of concept, in which an idea is built further.

Speaking for myself, this is the stage where I straighten up text, remove burs, tweak compositions, and add the final ingredients to get a design over that proverbial line.

The later development stages are when a design moves towards completion. Be it a piece of print media or as a digital project.


Common Situations That Arise In The ‘Development’ Stages

From my own experience, the development stage is the part of the process in which an idea is stress-tested against the brief.

It not uncommon for senior managers, CEOs, business owners and anybody else in between to have additional opinions on overall design direction – some relevant, some not. This is the reality of working with humans on a design brief.

Project requirements change. What was initially established as the winning idea, does not strictly translate to what was hoped when it comes to Graphic Design. Project scope can change, and external influences can derail the path of your project – there are many various factors when it comes to design.

Even in the development stages, I have had situations in which 2 of the same idea ( colour change for example ) have been created side by side.

Imagine A Development Tree ( illustration )

Design development can be one of the heftiest stages of design. I wanted to illustrate the development flow for the mid-to-late stages of a graphic design project.

This is a scenario.

A favourite idea has been selected. This idea has been polished and presented before the ultimate decision-makers. They like the design, however, somebody wants to see the same layout but on a different background. You have run with the same idea and made some minor changes. A sub-version of a main version – sound complicated?

What is a graphic design process idea selection - diagram
Range of ideas selection graphic design diagram

A single idea has been selected. This idea will make up the trunk of the flow and energy to design.

From this single idea – the trunk of a tree – a single branch or node will stem.

On some projects, as is the case with experimenting with some minor variation of core ideas. 1 or 2 twigs will stem.

These ‘Twigs’ may be little more than a colour variation, or position change. Or some minor experimentation alignment.

Development Versions

Or to further illustrate, as a tested method I have used in the past. It makes look like so:

  • Version 3.1
  • Version 3.2
  • Version 3.3

Or it could also look like this.

development - graphic design process




The number 3 could represent ‘Idea 3’ and the variant or version ‘1’ and 2, and 3. And so on. It is similar to version releases.

3.0 = The main version

3.1 = May equate to almost the exact same look, perhaps a text change

3.2 = Still much the same as 3, only that the text and, text colour were changed to a lesser degree

4.1 ) How to communicate with designers regarding project development

Communication is an integral part of graphic design.

The very nature of graphic design is visual ‘communication’ and open dialogue is a must to ensure that the project is the best that it can be.

Communication should not stop with the end visuals.

Not being able to keep an open and frequent line of communication between the designer and client ( or manager ) allows more room for errors, misunderstanding, and needless time wasting which could have been easily averted with conversation. I am a big advocate for working as close with a client as possible as emails alone can miss those ‘water cooler’ moments.

Communication is important from start to finish, not only in the development stages but throughout.

Typically, communication in the development stages of a project will take the form of feedback on what has already been created by the graphic designer. A client will offer a point of view as will a designer. ( hopefully ).

Communication and feedback may come in this form :

  • Exchanges between emails
  • Phone calls
  • Video meetings
  • In-person meetings
  • Platforms in which you can message your team
  • And SMS – And Whatsapp ( both of which are my least favourite lines of communication when it comes to design )

4.2 ) Design Feedback

“ Can I just ask…”

“ This is will be quick…”

When an idea has been chosen and developed, it is at this latter stage that a client, client or team member will offer further feedback with regard to a design. And, if you are a designer reading this, it is a stage in which you brace yourself.

Once the feedback has been communicated to a graphic designer, they will then respond and act accordingly to that feedback.

This feedback to the designer may resemble the following :

  • Make some minor tweaks and adjustments
  • Listening the what the client has to say and offer polite help and advice in return
  • Refining the design
  • Preparing for completion
  • Or potentially going back to the conceptual stages
  • ( Or crying )



Stage 5 ) Core Design Steps – Refine Design

What is a graphic design process Stage 5

Refining the design typically entails polishing ‘the developed’ artwork to completion. A project will be at a level of final draft in which the artwork is ‘near ready’ to be sent to the client, production or print. This is the latter stage of a project.

Refining a design can involve minor tweaks, minor changes, or the very last touches to the design and a once-over from the person giving a sign-off.

It is common for me to hear some of the following types of phrases at this stage ( paraphrased ) :

  • Could I add an extra word?
  • Can I add a comma?
  • Let me show it to management again!
  • It looks lovely thank you!
  • … ( silence )
  • Can I just ask…
  • Could the thumb be moved 2 pixels
  • Let me know when you are ready for an invoice
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Stage 6 ) Core Design Step 6 – Deliverables & Sign Off

What is a graphic design process Stage 6

The final stage of the process – the Sign off. This phase may seem self-explanatory, but for the sake of completeness, I will elaborate.

The ‘Sign Off’ can refer to the stage in which a head of a team ‘signs off’ a final design or interim stage of a project. This may be a verbal or written formal declaration that what is being presented, is the artwork to be passed to the next stage.

In this instance, the ‘sign off’ on the final artwork – completion.

The ‘Sign off’ in the design process may take the form of the client saying that they are happy with what they have seen and wish to sign off the whole, or part of the project.

When at this stage, It is also wise for the client to assess their artwork closely before agreeing to sign off any design work. When artwork has already been sent to print as a PDF, it can be costly or sometimes impossible to remedy any mistakes once a project has been printed. Any mistakes need to be remedied with hacks and workarounds.

This is not strictly speaking as rigid as digital design, as projects tend to be easier to remedy and amend but this is still not a guarantee.

The Graphic Design Process | What Are ‘Deliverables’?

What are deliverables in design?

Speaking in terms of graphic design, the deliverables are the complete assets and artwork made by the designer. All completed artwork, files, and supporting documents are often referred to as ‘deliverables’ or final artwork. The completed artwork and supporting items are often handed to the client or owner when a project has been marked as complete or signed off.

This is how the deliverables may come into play at the end of the graphic design process.

Once a graphic design project has been signed off or marked as complete, it is common for the graphic designers to send the final print-ready artwork to other the new owners of the artwork.

Or if working internally the designer may package the artwork into a PDF and this is passed to another department for validation and QC for being shipped or sent to print.

* It should be noted however that companies do have their own ways of validating and signing off projects, do keep this in mind.




6 .1) Scenario 1 | Design Process | What Is a Freelance Design Project Sign-Off?


‘Sign off, marked as complete, green-lighted’ or any other similar terminology can all be markers to signal the end of a project. When working with a client on a design project, I will ask the client to sign off on the final artwork before sending the final versions across.

This is a rough example of how a Freelance project process may flow towards the later stages of a project :

  • Client sees work
  • Requires small changes
  • These changes are then sent to a client
  • The client then sends across their approval, assuming that they do approve of what they see
  • Project is either sent to print or packaged up and passed to a client or both


6.2 ) Scenario 2 | Design Process | Internal Design Team Sign-off

As above, ‘Sign off’, ‘marked has complete’, ‘green-lighted’ or any other similar terminology can all be markers to signal the completion of a graphic design project.

A key difference based on my experience from working in-house design positions, ‘a sign-off sheet’ or an Excel spreadsheet may be used to mark off the stages or parts of a project that have been completed.

There are often more people with internal teams when it comes to the sign-off in-house who will want to see or understand the status of a project.


What is a Graphic Design Process – Conclusion

A graphic design process or workflow is a process or system in which a piece of graphic design or visual communication is created following a sequence of important steps. These steps will often include research, collection of data and information, ideation, development of an idea, and the delivery of that idea in print or digital form.

This process is what follows as the end result of what was assigned in a brief.

You may also find this post interesting.

What is a graphic design process journey




Other topics around the graphic design process:




Or if you have a project and brief, feel free to get in touch via my portfolio website or read a bit more about me.

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