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One of the most important (yet overlooked) members of any team is the graphic designer. They can help your business set sail for success via the stroke of a (virtual) brush. 

You could have the best products and services in the world and salespeople to sell them with a silver tongue; you’ll be dead-in-the-water if you don’t have the right graphics to accompany your offers. 

But just what makes a designer skilled enough to take your business to the next level? Let’s dive into eight traits you should look for in a graphic designer. 

1. Illustrative Skills

The right illustrations can make the blandest campaign a flashy, impressive proposal that puts some sizzle behind the steak. A good graphic designer can give your messages the shine they deserve. 

That involves:

• Image retouching
• Background removal
• Resizing
• Image enhancement/color correction
• Watermark/graphic addition/removal

These are only a few of the many skills a graphic designer should exhibit. But if your graphic designer doesn’t have a handle on these core skills, it might be time to look for someone else to do the job.

2. “Sticky” Content

What distinguishes brands that consumers know and love from the rest? The answer may lie in the logo. And crafting a logo or animation that really “sticks” calls for some creativity. 

A good designer has the innovative mind to make something memorable. The right logo by the right designer can invigorate the presence of any business.

3. Creative Process

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to be hit by the creative “eureka!” your business needs. But when it comes to graphic design work, you can’t just wait for inspiration to strike. A good designer has a tried-and-true creative process that outshows the rest in success. 

4. Attention to Detail

Although important for any team member, a meticulous eye is essential in any graphic designer. Mistakes can be costly, and attention to detail can slash the price to be paid. Make sure the quality of your designer’s work uplifts your team and never leaves corners cut.

5. Seasoned Expertise

There are so many pieces to being a great graphic designer. Practice doesn’t make perfect, but it does make progress—especially in design. Experience in the field can mark the line between those who are good and those who are great at delivering cutting-edge ideas. 

6. Proven Track Record

Successful business owners know who deserves their trust to join the team and get the job done right. When hiring a graphic designer, make sure they have a track record that showcases their ability and reliability. This will help you sleep more soundly when you delegate your most important design projects.

7. Timely Delivery

Every business owner knows that time is of the essence. You need a dependable team that consistently delivers services on time. A tally of tardy or incomplete work blocks the path between your products and prospects. To stay afloat, ensure that your graphic designer is as punctual and committed as they are talented.

8. Open Communication & Collaboration

Behind every thriving creative service is a past full of trial and error.  A good graphic designer should be no stranger to the benefits of constructive criticism. Your graphic designer—or any employee, for that matter—should be willing to listen to any advice about how they can better themselves professionally.

Outsourcing Graphic Design

Personally, I’m all about utilizing the cost-effective art of outsourcing my graphic design needs. But it’s hard to find professionals who exhibit these traits. And finding a graphic designer to work in-house is often too costly for my taste—especially if I don’t need enough work for them to be full-time.

For those reasons and more, I’m a big fan of All-Star Outsourcing. You’ll find all of those traits and more with their graphic designers. They’ve helped me affordably grow my businesses, and their ingenious staff has a reputation for helping entrepreneurs fuel their vision. In fact, that’s why I’ve partnered with them

Whether you go with All-Star Outsourcing, find a freelancer on your own accord, or get a graphic designer to work in-house is up to you. But you don’t need underwhelming results, left frustrated that the services you paid for were subpar. So, make sure any graphic designer you give your hard-earned money at least showcases these eight traits