I’ve been looking at documentation today with a view to overhauling and refreshing a great deal of it. This includes looking at online presence, printed materials, and project management documentation.  Despite having worked in this area for most of my working life, it never ceases to amaze me that design of educational materials if often either passed on to student placements to do (and not even graphic or product design students), or untrained desk top publishing enthusiasts.

Would you let an untrained hairdresser loose on your tresses? Would you let an amateur dentist anywhere near your gnashers? What makes you think you can do as good a job as professional designers who have trained for years, got lots of experience, and know the rules for making something work?

Could an enthusiastic amateur do your job?

Isn’t presenting a professional well balanced, thought out and designed online and print presence important? Don’t you want the first impression your clients get of you and your services to be a good one in advance of you meeting them?

What drives people to cut back on professionally designed websites and print?

This is an area I feel passionate about, and one that really does matter. Getting a graphic designer in to help you produce on message print and websites is not a luxury. Nor is it a frippery that can be dispensed with. In my opinion building budgets which include professional paid for graphic design services is essential, and in the long run can indeed save you time, effort and resource, as you are forced to reflect carefully on who the audiences are and the important messages you wish to convey in your marketing/dissemination media.

Providing content is something which subject experts are indispensable for, and working alongside someone who knows about print and web design and their associated production and copywriting processes is something which is difficult to quantify in terms of worth to some. Until they have tried it with someone who is good, and who helps reflect the subject experts work clearly, succinctly, and in the best possible light.

Please don’t skimp on graphic designers and copywriters. They are worth their professional weight in gold.