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The design
world is a fast paced and always changing environment that requires
a lot of time, skill and a high level of involvement. Have you
thought about skill sets, overhead, resources, training, management,
time off, benefits, and all the other challenges you will have
to face?
SKILLS
& EXPERIENCE: Designers have different skills and experiences
to draw upon. One web designer might specialize in HTML and Javascript
on a program like FrontPage. Another may be skilled at E-Commerce
using ColdFusion. Yet another may have database experience with
SQL Server. How do be certain to have a designer with the right
skills and what happens when you company's needs demand a different
skill set.
HARDWARE:
Designers need high-end equipment that is typically replaced with
the latest and greatest every 2 years. This is not limited to
computers. Equipment requirements usually include high quality
color laser printers, file servers, database servers, networking,
high quality scanners, high quality digital cameras, and more…
SOFTWARE:
Design and programming software is very expensive. Designers that
specialize in one sector of design usually use 4-7 different applications
for the design work alone. Software changes regularly with new
versions, new standards, new compatibility, and more productive
applications. Additional software is often needed for desk and
project management.
OFFICE
SUPPLIES: Designers have high demand for office supplies.
They use tremendous amounts of expensive ink/toner, paper, specialty
materials, and other production tools.
TRAINING
& SEMINARS: In order to keep abreast of the current state
of the industry, designers have to spend time reading periodicals
and attending seminars discussing new approaches to the way they
do their work. As the standards and approaches change so must
their skills through frequent and expensive training.
RESOURCES:
The world of design is a very large industry with a number
of ways to get any one project completed. Designers rely on resources
like newsgroups, reference books, design magazines, paid subscriptions
to online developer libraries, stock photography and font libraries.
TURNOVER:
In house staff tend to have high turnover rates as employees
find bigger and better opportunities and when they leave, your
company is no longer their concern. The ramp up period for a designer
is high due to the complicated nature of the business. How easily
can a new designer pick up where the last one left off? How often
do designers find new opportunities, even in a weak market such
as today's?
BENEFITS:
Like any employer, you will need to consider the costs of
benefits including Social Security, insurance, health care, bonuses
and other incentives to keep your staff happy.
NON-PRODUCTIVE
TIME: Administrative duties, phone time, travel, meetings,
office management, and much more. It all takes time. An average
employee in any industry spends approximately 20% of their time
on non-productive tasks. For designers it is usually more.
MANAGEMENT:
It takes you away from your work to manage a staff member.
How much of your valuable time will you have to spend working
with an employee to make sure they are on task and have what they
need to get the job done.
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