18. Don’t say: “How much would my [special, complicated project] cost?”

Why? The answer isn’t as simple as you might think, and will be different for every project (and for every designer). To borrow an analogy from designer David Airey, asking “How much for [take your pick of design projects]?” is akin to asking a realtor “How much for a house?” The answer is that it depends…on a lot of things. That’s because pricing a project is not a black-and-white process. Most designers will want to have a detailed discussion about your project before giving you a quote. Factors like how complex it is, how fast you’ll need it, what types of formats or deliverables you’ll want, where and how it will be printed and/or published, and many others all play a part in determining pricing. When you first approach a designer, offer your project details before asking about costs, and you’ll get a more thoughtful, accurate estimate.