Logo for fly-fishing business

[Member Jam…]

>In order to select "local" over "non-local" there
> should be a clear benefit to doing that.

Picking a local designer can have several advantages. I think you can size up a person better when you meet them in person and look them in the eye, rather than through an email. A local designer may have local references you can check, which may include people or businesses you know personally. A local designer can meet the client and see their business in person, which can help them get a better feel for both. It's much easier for a local designer to design signage (which often requires making mockups and judging in person how they look), and can personally inspect the signage when it's delivered. A local designer can work with a local print shop, meet personally with the printer's rep, and do a press check while the jobs are being printed. A local designer may have a good working relationship with local newspapers and other media outlets where the client may want to advertise.

And frankly it's easier to put a little pressure on a designer who's slacking off when you can physically walk into their office.

I'm not saying that working with an out-of-town designer is bad; it's quite common and often works out well. But there are advantages to working with someone local.

[Member hra…]

Even in this age, physicality does very much have relevance.

As long as you don't close yourself off to "remote design", you can leverage both worlds.

hhp

[Member Jam…]

> As long as you don't close yourself off to "remote
> design", you can leverage both worlds.

Yes, and frankly several of my regular clients are some distance away and I've never met them in person.

A lot depends on what the client wants. Some busy clients don't want to hassle with face-to-face meetings, but others really want them.

Years ago I had a client — a very successful, tough executive — who told me she always wanted to meet face to face because she could tell when a designer/vendor was lying by looking into their eyes. And I think she could; you can often tell a lot by a person's body language and so forth.

[Member 5st…]

Yes, and frankly several of my regular clients are some distance away and I've never met them in person.

Me too, in fact most of my clients are global. And I don't really want to meet them ...especially those in the Hip Hop community. I'd start partying until I dropped!

I wonder how the OP's search is coming along...

n.