Studio Tejas: FAQs







Why charge by the hour instead of offering fixed-price packages? Can I afford it? One size does not fit all. The first consultation meeting is free of charge so that the project requirements may be determined. You then receive a detailed proposal of the work to be done with a not-to-exceed fee based on the estimated hours. At this point it is possible to tailor the work to your goals and budget. Some clients may need a simple two-page website or a one-page flyer. Others may need more detailed solutions to connect with their audiences. And some may need a combination of services—logo, website, business cards—which can be done in conjuction with one another to keep down the cost and provide a consistent brand. How is creating for the web different than print? Both processes start with the same type of information gathering. Once the content is established, the client receives a sketch or selected sketches (schematics) to review. After the chosen design is refined and finalized (design development) the process can go one of two ways. For website construction, the design is recreated with a combination of images and text code into web files. These files are then uploaded to a server to be accessed by web browsers. Print designs are stored in other digital formats that can be sent electronically to various types of printing equipment. Each medium has its specific considerations to take into account. For the web, the design must work well in different browsers, load acceptably for different internet connection speeds, etc. For print, aspects such as margins, folding, bleeds (where color extends to the edges of the paper) must be considered. For an entertaining illustrated explanation of the web design process, see http://www.pingmag.jp/2005/12/09/the-website-development-process/ What platform and software applications do you use? The operating system is MAC OS X (Tiger soon). For graphic design, the applications of choice are Macromedia Freehand 10 and Adobe Photoshop 7. For web construction and site management, Macromedia Dreamweaver. Other applications used are: Macromedia Flash (animation and slide shows), Adobe Illustrator 10, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, Apple iMovie, MAC OS X. More complex back-end programming (databases) is done in conjunction with an outside contractor.		How can I save money on the design of my website and print materials? Creating websites and print materials is like building a house—it's easier and less expensive to make changes in the planning stage than during final construction. The more information you can provide up front, the better. In some cases it might be worth meeting with a marketing consultant first, who can help you develop a phased plan for promoting your work or business. If you think you might want to expand a website over time, the design should be easy to add onto without redoing earlier work. Knowing your audience and how to reach them will make your print materials happen faster, cost less to create, and be more effective. How do I get search engines to find my website? Studio Tejas submits your web address (URL) to dmoz.com (the Open Directory Project) which is a free data base that "powers the core" of directory services for engines including Netscape Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot, DirectHit, and hundreds of others. It usually takes about a month before your website starts to show up in searches. How else can I get people to find my website? There are numerous opportunities to create free links to your portfolio from other sites that are sponsored by professional organizations. These connections, in addition to major search engines, will make you much easier to find. You may also want to look into other ways of increasing visibility on the internet (see The Web Marketing Checklist: 29 Ways to Promote Your Website by Ralph Wilson at wilsonweb.com). Strategic planning with a marketing consultant may save you time and money in the long run.

		stand out from the herd!