- What kind of design work do you do?
- How soon will you start designing my project?
- I am interested in working with you, how can I get a proposal?
- Do you have a project minimum?
- Can we work together even if I am not in Massachusetts?
- What if I just need some creative ideas?
- What if I just need you to change some existing artwork?
- How much will my project cost?
- I found another design firm who charges less than you. Can you match them?
- What type of payment do you accept?
- What are your payment terms?
- Do you do the printing?
- Who owns the artwork?
- I would like to update my materials but I don’t have it in a form that I can update it. Can I get the file or does that belong to you?
- We are a professional services firm (e.g.,: a web design company, an advertising agency, an event planner) and sometimes need to offer design services to our clients. Can we hire J Sherman Studio to work with us?
What kind of design work do you do?
We look for design projects that help tell a story or build a brand. The Studio works on everything from print materials, identity, online interface design, to assorted projects that don’t fit into neat categories. Projects include logos, brochures, business cards, stationery, calendars, invitations, web design, email marketing, annual reports, newsletters, whitepapers, packaging, textile design, wall graphics, signage, and much more. The medium is much less important to us than the client.
What don’t we do? We don’t write code. We are not web developers nor do we broker website development. We have great relationships with some development companies, however, including Agency 3 and Mediapolis. In most cases you would contract directly with the web developers, although we are happy to help you select one and work with them.
How soon will you start designing my project?
Design work begins after we have agreed on the project details and you have signed and returned our Project Agreement by fax or snail mail. In many cases we require a deposit payment before work starts. For many projects we will show you initial designs 3-5 business days after the Agreement is signed.
I am interested in working with you, how can I get a proposal?
Because our work is custom we do not have a fixed menu of project offerings. Please contact us at info@jshermanstudio.com and tell us a bit about your project. We’ll ask follow-up questions and schedule a time to talk by phone to see if we are a good fit. Depending on the complexity of the project and the workload in the Studio, most proposals are created within 3-4 days of inquiry.
Do you have a project minimum?
In most cases we do not work on projects less than $500.
Can we work together even if I am not in Massachusetts?
No matter where you are in the world, thanks to technology, we can work with you.
What if I just need some creative ideas?
If all you need are some fresh ideas or creative consulting we are happy to assist at our current hourly rate.
What if I just need you to change some existing artwork?
Did we create the artwork? If so, of course we can support your artwork and we can set up an hourly Project Agreement when you need changes. If we did not create the artwork we would prefer not to maintain it. You can contract with us to create new artwork, even if it is making a few enhancements to what you had. For many reasons it is difficult to inherit files from other designers and we try to avoid situations that could potentially disappoint you.
How much will my project cost?
Our work is custom tailored to match individual client needs and goals. We offer a range of costs depending on how involved a project is and we always try to align the scope, deliverables and budget.
I found another design firm who charges less than you. Can you match them?
No. We care deeply about what we do and do not compete with or undercut other designers. We are interested in clients who value design, collaboration, and partnership. We are confident you will see a strong return on your investment in design.
What type of payment do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards and checks.
What are your payment terms?
In most cases, we bill our clients twice per month. Invoices must be paid within 30 days of receipt, and a 1.5% monthly service charge will be assessed on all overdue balances. The final payment must be received before we transfer ownership of the final artwork to you.
Do you do the printing?
We are not printers and we do not broker printing. However, we have great long term relationships with a few Massachusetts-based printers including Alphagraphics in Boston and Westwood Graphics. Ultimately you contract printing directly with the printer, though we are happy to assist in selecting a printer and sending print-ready files to them. We can also send you print-ready PDFs with crops and bleeds set up for you to send to your printer of choice.
Who owns the artwork?
After final payment you own the final artwork. However, unless otherwise contracted, preliminary works, such as sketches, alternate designs, and earlier versions of the final artwork, are owned by us. We keep backup copies of everything and will ask your permission before we use the artwork in our portfolio.
I would like to update my materials but I don’t have it in a form that I can update. Can I get the file or does that belong to you?
We can provide you with source software files for an additional fee after final payment. However, bear in mind that we use professional design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) so you will generally need access to the same software in order to edit the files. Also, we use proprietary fonts which we are unable to share with clients. This means that you will need to purchase any fonts used in your materials. We are happy to assist you in locating any fonts for purchase.
We are a professional services firm (e.g.,: a web design company, an advertising agency, an event planner) and sometimes need to offer design services to our clients. Can we hire J Sherman Studio to work with us?
Yes. We love working with other professionals and find that it usually creates wonderful learning opportunities and gives us exposure to new and interesting projects. However, our policy is that when we work for other service firms on client projects, we request that the relationship with J Sherman Studio be transparent to the client.
We request that you tell your client that you are partnering with or subcontracting out to J Sherman Studio, rather than representing J Sherman Studio design work as your own in-house work. Alternatively, the client can contract the design portion of work directly from J Sherman Studio.
Why do we do this? We are a small business and therefore seek long-term relationship clients and projects that help build our brand. This arrangement works best for us because we develop strong relationships with other professional service firms, and can offer ongoing design support to client projects, either through the firm or independently. We bring design expertise that your firm might not want to invest in internally. We also play remarkably well with others!