How to Choose the Right Design Company

When a new company opens, one of the most important tasks it will face is executing proper branding. We all know McDonalds from the golden arches, and Best Buy is well known for its bright, eclectic yellow sign and blue background. These companies have executed their branding in the correct way because people remember these examples and know to associate them with those companies. Choosing a poorly designed logo for your company, or having signage that is far too complicated and overdone will definitely set your company back. That is why when you are setting up the branding for your company, choosing the right design company is of the utmost importance. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right design company.
1) Stay Away from Companies that offer EVERYTHING – A company that seems to offer just about every service known to man, and ALSO offers design services is probably not the best company to invest in. These companies are not well known for their design services, they are simply known for being one stop shops. Now if you need some services completed cheaply and the design is not nearly as important, these places are fine. However, they are not appropriate for choosing the logo design that will represent your company for as long as it is in existence.
2) Choose a Company That has Previously Designed For Your Industry – This one should pretty much be a no-brainer. It is always good practice to trust in a company that has worked with other companies in your industry before. They will know the audience you are typically trying to attract, as well as the types of designs that have worked (and not worked) in the past.
3) Educate Yourself, Then Test the Design Company – There is certain lingo and design basics that every graphic designer should know. It is a good idea to educate yourself and learn a little bit about what goes into a logo design and then talk to the potential design firms. Make sure that you ask specific questions and that they are forthcoming with the information necessary to move forward. If they seem shaky on specifics, they are probably not knowledgeable enough to be trusted with your logo design.
Have you had a good experience working with a local Miami design company? How did you choose them? What advice would you give to people looking for logo design? Comment below and share your thoughts!