"How much should graphic design actually cost? I'm getting quotes from £50 on Fiverr to £5,000 from agencies."
The range exists because you're comparing completely different things. Fiverr gets you templated designs with zero strategy, no revisions, and designers who don't understand your business or market. Agencies charging £5,000 have huge overhead and are priced for corporate clients. We sit in the middle: strategic, custom design from experienced designers who understand small business needs, priced at £500 to £3,000 depending on scope. You get professional quality without paying for fancy offices and account managers you don't need.
"I tried making graphics in Canva but they look... off. Should I just hire someone?"
If you're asking this question, yes. Canva is brilliant for quick social posts, but it's obvious when someone without design training tries to create brand materials. The spacing feels wrong, the hierarchy is confusing, the colours clash, the typography screams amateur. It's like asking "should I cut my own hair or go to a barber?" Sure you CAN do it yourself, but everyone will know. Professional design pays for itself through increased credibility and conversions.
"What's the difference between a logo designer and a brand designer?"
A logo designer makes you one mark. A brand designer builds your entire visual system: logo variations, colour palette, typography, image style, graphic elements, templates, and usage guidelines. Logo only costs £300 to £800. Full brand identity costs £2,000 to £5,000. Most small businesses need the full brand system—because a logo alone won't help you create consistent marketing materials, social graphics, or website designs. You need the whole toolkit.
"How long does it take to get a video made? I need something for a product launch in 3 weeks."
Simple videos (product demos, talking head testimonials) take 1 to 2 weeks from concept to final delivery. More complex videos (multiple locations, lots of b roll, animation, complex editing) need 3 to 4 weeks. Three weeks is doable for most projects if you're responsive with feedback and approvals. Rush fees apply if you need it faster, but we'd rather plan properly than deliver rushed work that looks half finished.
"Can I just film video on my iPhone or do I actually need professional equipment?"
For quick social media content and behind the scenes stuff? iPhone is fine. For your main website video, product demos, or paid advertising? You need proper equipment. The difference is lighting, audio quality, stabilisation, composition, and editing. iPhone footage screams "we're too cheap to invest in looking professional" even if that's not true. Customers judge production quality within 3 seconds and decide if you're legit or amateur.
"Why do designers need so much information before starting? Can't they just make something look good?"
Because design without strategy is just decoration. We need to understand your audience, competitors, goals, and positioning so every visual decision has purpose. Colour psychology, typography choices, layout hierarchy, imagery style—all strategic. A designer who just "makes things look good" without understanding your business will create pretty pictures that don't convert. We're solving business problems, not making art.
"What should I expect to pay for a 60 second promotional video?"
Depends on complexity. Simple video (one location, minimal editing, no animation): £800 to £1,500. Mid level video (multiple shots, professional editing, motion graphics, voiceover): £2,000 to £4,000. High end video (multiple locations, drone footage, complex animation, original music): £5,000+. Most small businesses need the mid level option—professional enough to compete but not feature film budgets.
"How many revisions should I expect? My last designer charged me for every tiny change."
Most packages include 2 to 3 rounds of revisions, which handles 95% of projects. Additional rounds cost extra because otherwise projects never end. Good designers scope revisions clearly upfront. Bad designers either include "unlimited revisions" (lie, they'll resent you) or charge for everything (nightmare). We include enough revisions to get it right without the project dragging on for months.
"Do I own the designs/videos after you're done, or do I have to keep paying you to use them?"
You own everything, full stop. After final payment, all files, source files, and intellectual property rights transfer to you. Use them however you want, modify them, hand them to other designers—they're yours. We don't play the "you're licensing our work" game that some agencies pull. You paid for it, you own it.
"Should I do my branding first, or my website first?"
Branding first, always. Your brand identity (logo, colours, fonts, visual style) informs your website design. Building a website before you have brand guidelines means either rebuilding it later or having a website that doesn't match your brand. Do it right: brand first, then website, then marketing materials. Trying to do it backwards costs more and looks disjointed.
"What video length works best for social media? I've heard everything from 6 seconds to 2 minutes."
It depends on platform and purpose. Instagram Reels and TikTok: 15 to 45 seconds. YouTube: 60 to 90 seconds for ads, 2 to 5 minutes for educational content. Facebook: 60 seconds or less. Website hero video: 30 to 45 seconds. Testimonials: 60 to 90 seconds. Longer isn't better—engagement drops dramatically after 60 seconds unless your content is genuinely compelling. We optimise length for each platform and purpose.
"I have a tiny budget. What should I prioritise first for design?"
Professional logo and basic brand guidelines first (£500 to £1,000). This gives you the foundation to create everything else consistently, even if you do some of it yourself in Canva. Then website design. Then marketing materials. Don't spread a tiny budget across everything and end up with mediocre results everywhere. Nail the foundation first, then build out from there as budget allows.