| Unless you have time on your hands and an artistic | | | | management. What happens if something goes |
| flair there is likely to be a time when you will wish to | | | | wrong? A risk management plan should always be |
| consider how to outsource your graphic design work | | | | built into your timeline. You should also know how you |
| to a professional. Graphic Design can cover a | | | | will track the progress of your project. Do you want |
| multitude of things, from logo and banner design to | | | | your chosen Graphic Designer to bring you proofs, and |
| promotional items such as brochures, calendars, and | | | | if so when? If you have considered all of these |
| other promotional material that you give away to your | | | | aspects, you should now have a clearly defined road |
| customers. | | | | map and more of an understanding about how to |
| One of the benefits that come with hiring a freelancer | | | | outsource the project successfully. We will now move |
| to do your graphic design is that they use cutting-edge | | | | onto the next stage, project management. |
| technology to ensure maximum results. Before you | | | | Project Management |
| rush out and hire a graphic designer, it is important that | | | | Project management is vital when you are thinking |
| you understand "how to outsource" successfully. | | | | about how to outsource a role. Project management is |
| There are two very important stages that you have | | | | the art of managing your resources. To be a |
| to consider if you want the project to be a success. | | | | successful project manager you need to be a really |
| 1. Project Planning | | | | good communicator. Patience is a virtue and by taking |
| 2. Project Management | | | | the time to explain your requirements clearly you will |
| Project Planning | | | | have a good working relationship with your outsource |
| A successful project always begins with a | | | | provider(s). |
| comprehensive project planning exercise. This is | | | | One of the key factors you will find out when learning |
| where you identify exactly what you want the graphic | | | | how to outsource is, when you are hiring a freelancer, |
| designer to achieve. Imagine for example that you are | | | | remember that they are not telepathic; they cannot |
| going to attend a trade fair and you want to hand out | | | | read your mind. Be prepared for the fact that your |
| promotional brochures. What size should they be? | | | | provider may interpret your instructions in a different |
| How many pages? What colour scheme? What | | | | manner to what you expected, in these circumstances, |
| written content? What photo's etc. You then need to | | | | offer constructive criticism. Take the time to make |
| consider when you want to take delivery of the items; | | | | sure our provider understands exactly what you want |
| in the case of your trade fair you want to be certain | | | | and why. |
| they will be ready in plenty of time, these are the | | | | Providing you have mastered the golden rules of |
| areas where you need help learning how to outsource | | | | project planning, project management and good |
| graphic design properly. | | | | communication, you are well on the way to successful |
| Another important part of project planning is risk | | | | outsourcing of your Graphic Arts and Design projects! |