Are we a good fit?
THings to consider when hiring a visual notes artist
Here are some things to consider when hiring a visual notes artist, graphic recorder, visual storyteller, sketchnote artist or whatever term you prefer. Each project is different and may have specific needs to consider. Questions in bold are the ones I suggest considering first.
Watch this short video and print out the notes page before you dive into the questions. That way your notes will be organized from the start. You will also be able to see at a glance who best meets your needs and where they may fall short.
Do you like the overall look and feel of the images? (Serious, playful, etc.)
Is the style consistently maintained?
Can the artist adapt to better fit with your branding, if desired?
Is the artist open to using your desired colors or imagery, if asked?
Do you like the density of the images?
Is the artist able to create images that are more or less dense, if asked in advance?
Does the artist tend to capture on a more high level or granular level?
Is the content captured relevant?
Do you like the amount of content that is generally captured in the images?
Does it seem like the artist copied the slide deck? Do you prefer that?
Can the artist capture conversations? Discussions? Workshops? Group report outs?
Does the artist charge by the day? Hour? Project?
Does the artist offer half or partial day rates?
What are the daily or hourly fees?
Are there any additional costs? What is included in the daily/hourly/project fees?
Are there any travel expenses?
Is a deposit required?
When is payment due? What methods of payment are accepted?
Is the artist available on the days and times needed?
How far in advance do you generally need to contact them?
What are the cancellation or rescheduling policies?
What happens is the event runs over the scheduled time? Or finished early?
If working with an agency, is the artist of your choice available? If not, do you know who will show up to work with you?
What is your preferred mode of communication?
What is the artist’s preferred mode of communication?
Does the artist respond in a timely manner?
Is the communication clear? Do you understand what they are saying?
Are your questions answered? Do they ask clarifying questions when needed?
Is the communication transparent? Or do you feel like they are hinting at things or purposely omitting things?
Is the artist discrete? Or do they freely talk about private details where others can hear?
Do you like their social media presence?
How many years have they been doing this work? Full time?
Who do they work with? Former clients?
What types of work do they do most? What materials do they generally use?
What formats do their work generally take? Online? In person? Presentations? Discussions? Interactive? Workshops?
Are they comfortable working quickly? How much time is needed before and after to prepare or finalize the images?
What do they need from you before the event or project? What paperwork is involved?
Do they have a website? Do you like it?
Do you feel comfortable with them? Are they comfortable with the type of event or project you are hiring them for?
What is their professional background?
What degrees do they have? From what schools?
Do they have any additional certificates or certification?
Have they taken any additional classes, courses or continuing education?
What relevant books have they read? Have they read a book or heard of an author important to you and relevant to the job? Listened to talks or seen related videos? Interested in doing so?