r/graphic_design • u/joevasion • Feb 11 '25
r/graphic_design • u/onelittlesparkle1971 • 2d ago
Asking Question (Rule 4) Monotype just hit us with a $30,000+/yr font license fee for one font. I’m speechless and lost
I have no idea what to do. I just started in this design position at a smallish non-profit and I'm trying to figure out how I tell leadership that we owe all this money.
We use Avenir as our brand font (with all the weights - 12 total) and have been for over a decade. From what I can see, we've paid for 10 desktop licenses and 250,000 monthly webpage views, which costed us about $4k a year.
Monotype contacted me and we did a call where they asked what we use our fonts for and then they did a sales pitch and told us our current license isn't and has not been sufficient. It'll now cost us $30k+ a year.
WHAT?!
We have like 5 people with Avenir installed on our computers to use for print materials. We sometimes use a freelance designer when we get over capacity who also has access to the font. And then we have our website which gets like 150k page views a month.
How on earth is this going to cost this much? They said that if we don't continue licensing through them and "build a relationship," they'll have to charge us retroactively for our use. I have no idea what to do and somehow need to tell the president of my org. Any insight or advice is appreciated.
r/graphic_design • u/0Default0 • Nov 11 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) I need feedback on this.
I wanted to show old mobile games in Bauhaus design, this is the first one I made, need feedback to improve it.
r/graphic_design • u/Distinct_Laugh_7979 • 2d ago
Asking Question (Rule 4) It's just sad....
I designed a book for my client with 150+ pages and it was for a school curriculum book. Included 30,000 words, 150 images and lots of designs and illustrations (outsourced). I quoted a good amount from client and just wanted to check what would "Freelancers on Fiverr" would charge? Guess what? The highest bid i received was $400 and lowest was $300. I was SHOCKED!!!! Like these are the guys who are destroying out market!
Once a buyer get something from Fiverr he will always cry about rates with a non-fiverr freelancer... Then i repeatedly said "You will design exact same?" They replied "Yes Sir! 100% same including 2x book covers too"
I'm really beyond shocked how this is acceptable?
r/graphic_design • u/creativedreamer17 • 2d ago
Asking Question (Rule 4) We paid thousands to an "illustrator"... turns out, it was almost all AI.
We recently hired someone who claimed to be an illustrator to help with visuals for a brand project. He was paid thousands for custom illustrations. I wasn’t involved at the beginning, but once the illustrations started going live, I started noticing… weird things.
– characters with 3 fingers… and others with 6
– hoodies with 3 drawstrings
– sweatshirts with triple sleeve cuffs
– bicycles with wheels that didn’t make sense
– details of a guitar were super off
The list goes on…
Our audience noticed too. DMs and comments rolled in saying “This looks like AI.”
When we confronted him, he responded: “I do a blend of hand drawings I create and Adobe Firefly.”
Now let me be clear: I’m not anti-AI. I use AI tools often to speed up grunt work, generate assets I can’t find anywhere else, or serve as puzzle pieces within a larger design I’m building. But I never use it to pretend I hand-illustrated something I didn’t. And I certainly wouldn’t submit it as original, handcrafted work for thousands of dollars. I would seriously be embarrassed to send what we received to a client.
This situation raised real concerns for me.
How will employers and creative leads know who to trust?
Where’s the line between AI as a tool vs. AI as a shortcut to fake expertise?
Is it morally okay to call yourself an “illustrator/artist/designer” if you’re mostly just feeding prompts into AI?
I want to know what others think:
What would you have done in this situation?
How do you vet creative collaborators in a time where AI makes everything harder to verify?
How much AI do you use in your work?
At what point does it stop being efficient… and start being lazy and inauthentic?
Using AI isn’t the problem... But using it to skip the work, fake a skillset, and collect a paycheck. That’s not innovation, that’s laziness disguised as talent. This feels like a much bigger conversation that we all need to be having.
r/graphic_design • u/BrownHoecake • 23d ago
Asking Question (Rule 4) Hired a design agency to create some logos for a moving company with the name “Lift”. I haven’t been too excited with the concepts. What do y’all think about the concepts? Any ones I should give a second look at?
Here’s the feedback I gave after the second round of concepts (pictures 2 and 3)
“I think the box on the i is still throwing me off. It looks too corporate and may be confused with an open laptop. Ideally, this part could be used as a stand-alone icon/favicon. It’s not fun enough yet, and I think it takes away from the friendliness of the font. (Logo #1 on picture 2)
I also want something with a deeper meaning than just lifting boxes. Maybe we can use the “This side up” double arrow symbol that is commonly found on boxes. This can be a symbol of our attention to detail and professionalism. Or any other symbol that can convey something a bit deeper about what we do.
Let's play with just the “i” and box while keeping everything else the same. Interested to see how rotating the box may look.”
I don’t think they took my feedback was incorporated into the new round (picture 1). What’s a good responsive I can give to get us back on track?
r/graphic_design • u/Dry_Ask5164 • Jan 29 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Most fraudulent thing you've done as a graphic designer?
I'll go first.
My friends kid is almost 5 but she can pass as 3. Photoshopped her birth certificate to dial back her age 2 years so they can get her into Disneyland (they were going to buy her an unlimited pass but they sold out apparently)
Update: I didn’t know thread would be so popular! Thank you all for all the stories! This is great. Such a taboo subject but I’m sure everyone’s been a little naughty as a designer.
r/graphic_design • u/Distinct_Laugh_7979 • Jan 29 '25
Asking Question (Rule 4) My Agency using CANVA for logo design
Guys! I work as a remote designer for a agency and they charge $5K for a logo design and guess what? Their CEO (Agency) was designing logo on Canva and sent me Canva request for logo mockups in Ps.. and i was shocked!!!!! Charging $5000 for a logo and designing it in Canva is a CRIME!
Client said they like minimal logo with nice text design (minimal). They just wrote bunch of text (brand name) in diff fonts and boom! logo complete.
Me as a designer if i pitch client for a logo design for $500 or $800 they cry like a fkn baby and say its too much for them.. and when agency charges $5K for a design made in Canva.. They lick their boots! Pathetic!
r/graphic_design • u/NotAscii • Aug 28 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) How was this skin effect made? It looks too realistic to be made in photoshop. Could it be a render?
r/graphic_design • u/delreyvibes • Jul 20 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) I Need help Designing a logotype
I'm designing a logotype for the concept of twins. And I want to write twins and make it look creative, fun and interesting. I have already designed something but I think I lack the creative vision. I need advice.
r/graphic_design • u/bilstream • Feb 17 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) I ordered a Facebook banner from Fiverr, and this is what I received.. Is it good?
r/graphic_design • u/little-marketer • 27d ago
Asking Question (Rule 4) What Rule of Thumb Really Helped You Become A Better Designer?
I'm a copywriter who's learning graphic design to deliver better projects.
For example, I recently learned doubling font sizes is a good rule of thumb for title/subtitles or body copy.
What similar insights can really spruce up a beginner's designs?
Edit: thanks guys, I've added a grid to my design.
r/graphic_design • u/Midwest_Plant_Guy • Jan 28 '25
Asking Question (Rule 4) Does the job market suck for everyone right now?
I have been looking to get a new job lately as my current role is only entry level and I've advanced here as far as I can. I've been here about 4 years and I'm now looking to advance my career.
It seems like every single job posting is either way underpaid, not really graphic design (advertising and analytics disguised as graphic design) or I'm either overqualified or under qualified! There is hardly anything worth it that is in the middle ground for someone like myself, and everything I do apply to, I don't even get a response 80% of the time, not even a rejection letter!
I've applied to every single open listing in my area, and have now started applying to remote roles and still have zero responses. It's quite frustrating, and I'm just wondering if this is a shared experience?
Edit: I've had some requests to view my portfolio, here is the link. Please give me any CC you can! Thanks!
https://awbartholomew.wixsite.com/alex-bartholomew
Edit 2: after lots of (mostly helpful) CC from everyone, I am currently working on fixing and re-doing my portfolio! You can still visit it and let me know what you think, but the website will be a mess for a few hours, especially the mobile site, as I work on updating and fixing stuff! Thank you all!
r/graphic_design • u/Spaciepoo • Jun 26 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) what is this style called?
it kind of just popped up a couple years ago and i keep seeing it. i know it's not very specific, but it's always some bright pastel color, semi minimalist, the packaging always has a matte finish, and usually a goofy or wavey font.
r/graphic_design • u/Dragapult887 • Dec 10 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Is it me or is almost everyone here a bit overly critical?
Like ive been skimming through posts lately, learning what is good and bad graphic design, industry standards, trending styles, immersing myself in opinions and formulating my own, etc.
And ive noticed on posts about talking about designs, either from OPs or from other companies, that the top comments and the comments after that is usually always about the negatives.
"Too simple"
"Execution Bad"
"Too complicated"
"This one pixel sticks out"
"Bad Font"
Like...do you guys like any designs at all that isn't your own? Its as if this job requires perfection, and if you aren't perfect you must remove all aspirations to be a designer.
Like negative criticism is still good criticism. Im just baffled that its just all negative criticism.
Like this isnt art school anymore, this is real life. Grow up and start giving REAL critiques.
r/graphic_design • u/Latter-Log-8385 • Mar 07 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Can i trust this client who came from Facebook.
She not ready to do papers work or not ready to work on my fiverr account and not work upfront basis. should i trust her or start working on her project?
r/graphic_design • u/connorgrs • Nov 16 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Why does this work?
Logically it doesn’t make sense to me when logos use mixed case - “7 ELEVEn”, “SnL” - and yet when I look at the logos I can honestly say they work well and look good and my brain short circuits. I’m sure part of it is that the vertical height of all the letters is consistent, but what is the design thinking behind why this works and why a designer would employ it in the first place over straight caps or straight lower case?
r/graphic_design • u/nutsack-enjoyer5431 • Oct 09 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Absolute greenie. How do people make these stuffs? Is there a name to these kinda designs? Like genuinely, where do I start?
Most beginner graphics design courses I've watched so far only teach the commercial styles. Whats the process to make these kinda style? Just a nudge towards some right resources would be highly appreciated
r/graphic_design • u/FlyCakez • Jan 15 '25
Asking Question (Rule 4) 10 months unemployed... what is going on?
Hi all, I'm having a hard time finding a job since the company I worked for laid off 40 of us last February.
My last job was as an Art Director Associate/Junior (however you call a new promoted art director in your location). I have 14 years of Graphic Design experience, plus seniority in illustration, photo-shooting direction, concept development, event direction and design, signage, web design, social content, authoring, UX/UI experience of 4 years. I have worked only for well-known multinational companies.
I have changed my portfolio several times, redesigned my personal brand 3 times. Every job I apply, I change the body of my resume to contain the key words that apparently AI screening search for. I've applied for over 200 jobs and got two phone interviews that went nowhere.
I have never had such a hard time finding a job because my work is good, I have great references, I have achievements and seniority and my designs are still on shelves everywhere. I also have illustration and have illustrated over 12 children books for Mattel.
How can I not get a job anywhere? I don't want to believe that it's because I have to mark that I am Latina on job applications, but what else could it be then? Anybody else struggling to find a job for THIS long?
r/graphic_design • u/ReplacementNext2811 • Aug 20 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Can someone give tips on this style of design? Is there a name for it and how is it done? It looks like glass.. is it photoshop?
r/graphic_design • u/PANPHONE • Jun 02 '23
Asking Question (Rule 4) How many of my fellow designers are also Anti-Capitalists?
I feel like graphic design has always been a very left-leaning career. I don’t think I’ve ever met a designer that’s right-wing being the right doesn’t really acknowledge art and design as an important component in society. I myself am a socialist and I’m curious to see what others have to say and what way you lean on the political spectrum.
r/graphic_design • u/maretheemperor • Jan 20 '25
Asking Question (Rule 4) How do they achieve these wavy/uneven outlines of shapes?
It sort of looks like it was drawn on paper
r/graphic_design • u/musa_rella01 • Dec 19 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Lets talk about salary!
Hi guys! Probably someone already posted something abou this here but I think its nice to discuss this topic frequently - salary transparency!
I am 27y and currently working at a great cosmetic company that I love! I am the only graphic designer here so all the related tasks fall on me (I do all product packaging and revamps, videos, print materials, 3D and renders, some market research for the packaging design an much more) and I am also marketing coordinator.
My current salary is 61K before taxes (in Ontario, Canada, which means A LOT of taxes) but I feel it could be better lol
Btw, I've been here for almost 2 years and started at 55k
What do you guys think? Would you like to share your salary and perspective?
Thanks!
r/graphic_design • u/ShhhDontSpeak • Apr 28 '24
Asking Question (Rule 4) Does my 11 year old NEED Photoshop to progress as a graphic design hobbyist?
My son is about to turn 11, and for his birthday he *desperately* wants a Mac mini with tablet monitor (and keyboard/mouse) so he can use Photoshop at home. This is the setup he uses at his weekly manga graphic design class. For his 10th birthday we bought him an iPad with Procreate, which seemed like a pretty big deal to us at the time, but he claims he NEEDS Photoshop to really do what he wants/get better at graphic design.
This strikes me as a pretty expensive setup for a kid his age. He has certainly shown progress and enthusiasm for graphic design, and my wife and I very much want to encourage him. But while we are certainly not poor, we are not particularly wealthy, either, and we suspect he can progress just fine using his current iPad/Procreate setup.
Are we underestimating the importance of having Photoshop to get good at GD? Is there a less expensive version of this setup or a halfway measure that we should be considering? Would appreciate any feedback from more experienced folks who can help us better understand/navigate this birthday request. Thank you!
r/graphic_design • u/kraci_ • Jan 31 '25
Asking Question (Rule 4) Hired a graphic designer on Behance and the results are not at all what I expected
No, this isn't an opportunity for you to shill your services to me in my DMs.
To preface, this is a project for a logo and some very simple social media assets/colors for about 2,000 USD. Not a ton, but certainly not amateur hour for a logo. This person's portfolio seemed really strong. Solid designs, really professional, great renders, and lots of obvious creative skill.
We kicked off the project this week and I was sent a few rough sketches. Okay, I think, they're not great visually but they're just sketches to form a direction. We discuss and move forward, and today I'm sent a logo that was a complete slap in the face. Like, really, really bad. It's flat, ugly, horrible design direction (like genuine amateurish mistakes even I would know not to do), just overall terrible. They want to move on to finalizing it now.
I don't know if this is some sort of scam or she's parading other people's work as her own, but the direct comparison between what she showed as her own work and what I received is unbelievable. I'm not sure what to do, because my confidence that she's legit is on loose ground. I also don't want to throw good money after bad and am 1k in on this as is. I haven't said anything yet but honestly, given very little work has actually been done so far, I'm tempted to ask for a refund.
What would be appropriate in this situation? Even garbage AI logos look better than this.
Edit: I can't DM everyone, sorry, lol! It has their watermark and I'm not trying to shame or ruin anyone when I don't even know if they are a scammer, maybe just misrepresenting themselves to get work.