Altameroy Blog

If you select a structured settlements over a lump amount payment, you may locate that you could be able to prevent certain taxes. If you have assistance in setting the payments up, you may also find that taxes can be avoided entirely. This is a little something that a tax lawyer or settlement funding provider can assist you ascertain ahead of time so you know which situation will definitely create the least taxes. Why provide any of your challenging earned money to the state or federal government if you don’t have to?

If you’re fretted that you might spend a lump sum all at once as well as locate yourself in financial obstacles again, a structured settlement might be the better option for you. The same is true if the settlement is for a minor. He or she won’t have the capability to manage these funds until older and you prefer guarantee it is there to fulfill college charges, additional educational costs or needs they could have in adulthood. A settlement that pays over time assists to ensure this takes place.

When you’re impaired and the settlement is fashioned to help purchase foreseeable future care, a structured settlement is additionally the greatest option. The funds will be disbursed over time to satisfy demands such as modified automobiles or medical equipment. When this is the situation, it is best to discuss the possibilities with an economic disability planner as a special requirements trust could be a more desirable selection. No 2 conditions are identical so yours should be looked at prior to you pick the right one. You do not need to generate more economic difficulties than the settlement fixes. structured settlement

Comments Off

For a lot of, it could really feel uncomfortable requesting a relative to signal a proper arrangement before you bank loan them money. It's going to probably feel uncomfortable to you personally too, if you are scanning this. However, if you have determined back Jan to give a family member a way to lån penge for reasons unknown, you can stop misconceptions by signing this type of legal document. The placing your signature to from the formal arrangement needs to be witnessed by a completely independent 3rd party being a attorney or perhaps comparable.
Just before proposing in your relative that they sign that loan arrangement, you ought to be ready for a rejection which is vital. Refusal on the component to be able to signal can suggest a couple of points, or even both. A single, they may be surprised and irritated that you don't believe in them, but they're supporting them in the event that one thing moves wrong. 2, they'd absolutely no aim of returning the funds in the first place. Generally it's equally. You have to be apparent about how exactly you are feeling, having understood this particular, contributing to the method that you are likely to move forward.
What if your agreement consist of. It ought to have a number of key elements, such as the type and also amount of return around the purchase. For instance, this might are the amount the loan is made for as well as regardless if you are eligible to earnings or perhaps a be part of the business enterprise. The particular agreement ought to provide info as to exactly how virtually any problems that have got arisen will probably be resolved, exactly what responsibilities you've as a possible buyer, whether you should have virtually any liabilities, or even certainly any role whatsoever in the industry. If you're able to do this you might be nyt tag priser.
If they perform accept signal the agreement, but the loans included are relatively key with regard to possibly or even you both, then you should consider obtaining advice from a specialist. You will find legal counsel on the web, or perhaps examine the phone e-book. It is possible to minimize legal costs simply by preparing any set up agreement prior to meeting with your own authorized advisor. You can also work with a promissory notice in place of a loan agreement write.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

These days, wind power plants make up forty-two percent of all new facilities in north America; but this is not the only major state which has commenced to elevate its green track record. Solar energy in the UK has actually been developing at a spectacular pace, thus England possesses over 280 functional wind farms along with close to thirty being built.

Britain has signed up to the European Union directive on renewal energy which is bound to make at the very least fifteen percent of the country’s energy sources green by the year 2020, that’s seven times the 2008 levels. Solar power is prospering and featuring virtually no symptoms of receding within the foreseeable future. Expectably, the trustworthiness of all-natural energy sources makes them an impressive option. However, it’s the surging demand for electricity combined with the financial plus the legion of badly needed eco blessings that have made hydroelectric companies UK extraordinarily well-liked. Determing the best renewable energy UK based company, though, takes a lot of work. Now don’t you despair, esteemed reader, for a no brainer solution is right here for the asking.

What you actually need is a directory site for solar energy for the simple reason that these have secured a major position in terms of the growth of the eco-friendly energy marketplace. Given that this area is really rather new as compared to the long-established electric power market place, comprehending what individuals to connect with and tracking down consultants capable of servicing your requirements may be demanding.

So bear it in mind, if you happen to be aiming for hydroelectric companies UK, a directory site for renewable energy tech will instantly help you find a comprehensive list of premium retailers and technicians. They’ll be sure to happily support you with each phase ranging from consultation services along with capital to processing and servicing pros, plus, it is possible to effectively discover just about everything you might want at one particular website at no cost. To start with a directory site of wind power you merely need to determine the appropriate area of know-how, and then the associated solutions and contact the company you prefer. And should your specifications change over the course of your assignment, you can revisit to the renewable energy address list and locate others to help!

Parsing the world wide web or phone book for the appropriate professional or supplier requires monumental levels of time and energy. So, in the event that you’re inquisitive about replenishable energy sources, investments, or perhaps working on a good solid project of your own, a directory site for renewable energy or alternative energy is seriously the best place to begin with.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

Maintaining any window appears like a fairly easy procedure. Virtually all I need is some cleaner along with a small towel right. Why would I have to hire an expert window cleaners such as Vinduespudser Gentofte to get this done job. Firstly you have to think about the need for maintaining perfect windows. They really are one of the first things the passerby or possible client will notice regarding your property, and therefore, placing the best foot ahead is critical. Inside a research carried out with a cafeteria group, scientists found that numerous clients can make presumptions concerning the hygiene of restaurants as well as stores in line with the look from the store. Not only would you lose valuable company along with filthy home windows, this downright looks poor on homes, shops as well as businesses alike.

Now you be aware of effect window cleaning might have on your home or business you have to consider the advantages of employing experts like Vinduespudser Gentofte to do the job. Windowpane cleansing could be time consuming, need a multitude of resources, and can sometimes be harmful. Do not do it your self reduces your risk and keep this particular service inexpensive as well as reliable. Hard to achieve windows can often be in higher places that need steps and stools. Furthermore, there are trees, shrubbery as well as sidewalk. This particular creates a possible health risk for the passionate windowpane solution. Probably the most persuasive aspects of hiring a professional to wash your home windows in that this particular service is quite affordable and you will continue skiferie norge for the money you secure. You can schedule of the question cleansing as often as you like, and also the price is in line with the number of windows you need maintained.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

While lots of people may not be aware of it, wind power plants make up almost half of all newly designed power facilities in the USA, yet it’s not the sole noteworthy nation which has started to improve its green track record. renewable energy UK happens to be growing at a spectacular speed too, and so Great Britain features close to two hundred eighty functional wind farms in addition to the more than 30 under construction. England has signed up to the European Union Renewal Energy Directive to boot, which is bound to make at the very least fifteen percent of the nation’s power resources eco-friendly by the year 2020, i.e. 7 times the 2008 levels. Solar energy companies are buzzing and apparently they’re featuring little or no signs and symptoms of scaling down within the foreseeable future. This trend is well established and is predicted to last for lots of years ahead.

Naturally, the stability of green power resources makes them a fantastic option. Even so it’s the surging need for energy besides the commercial plus the uncounted much coveted ecological blessings which are making biofuel energy companies greatly well liked. Picking the best electrical power UK based supplier, though, might take a certain amount of effort. But don’t despair, for an easy solution is just a click away! Well, here’s what you truly need: a directory site dedicated to solar energy as these have secured a major role as related to the financial expansion of the green power segment. Due to the fact that this space happens to be fairly fresh as compared with the conventional energy marketplace, getting to know who to make contact with not to mention finding advisors in a position to catering to your standards can easily be challenging. Thus, if you are trying to find a wind or hydroelectric energy source, a directory site for renewable energy tech will instantly furnish you with a range of prime quality organizations and consultants. They’re sure to be of assistance to you with every item from consultation services along with solutions to finance to development and repairs and maintenance teams. Moreover, you will rapidly identify all the stuff you are in need of at one internet site without cost.

To begin with a directory site of solar energy, you only require to choose the appropriate area of skills, associated with the attendant services or products and, next, get hold of the vendor you have selected. And should your prerequisites happen to change over the course of your enterprise, you may well head back to that sustainable energy tech directory to look for someone else who can help. Browsing the Net or classifieds for the most suitable specialist or supplier often requires vast levels of effort. Thus, in case you are contemplating earth-friendly sources of electricity, investment, and/or carrying out some venture of your own, a directory site for renewable energy or ecologically sound energy tech is actually the best spot to begin.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

You probably weren’t aware of this, but wind power plants constitute over 40% of all newly established facilities in North America, but this is not the only noteworthy country that has commenced to shape up its green balance. Solar energy UK has been thriving at an astounding rate as well, so England comes armed with well over two hundred eighty operational wind farms along with another thirty still being built.

Great Britain has agreed to the European Union Renewal Energy Directive too, which should make some 15% of the UK’s energy resources replenishable from the year 2020, a number that in turn equates to seven times the levels of 2008. solar energy companies are growing and obviously they’re featuring no signs whatsoever of slowing down. As a consequence, irrespective of whether you happen to be an alternative homeowner, chief of some firm, or assisting a major city become self-sustaining, you will discover quite a lot of chances. As can be expected, the reliability of natural energy sources ensures they are a terrific solution. But it is the exploding need for electric power besides the economic and, obviously, the innumerous eco advantages that have merged to make biofuel energy companies extremely trendy. Choosing the best sustainable energy UK based corporation, however, can take a bit of work. Luckily, a great solution is right here.

In any case here’s what you actually need: a directory listing for wind power as these have secured a significant role as related to the rate of growth of the natural energy market. Due to the fact that this marketplace is regarded as rather novel in comparison to the orthodox electrical power market place, realizing what people to contact as well as determining companies proficient at meeting your wants and needs may well be laborious.

Now, if you happen to be seeking wind energy companies in the UK, a directory listing for ecologically sound energy will instantaneously furnish you with a comprehensive list of top notch organizations and experts. They will support you with all of it from consultation and solutions to finance to construction and upkeep management. To get going with a directory listing of solar power you merely require to pick the appropriate area of experience, as well as the complimentary solutions and speak with the agency you selected. And should your needs and wants change at some stage in your undertaking, you can get back to that renewable energy technology directory to find another person to offer assistance. And thus, in case you’re inquisitive about eco friendly energy resources, investing, or simply concluding some venture for yourself, a directory listing for solar power or sustainable energy tech is literally the number one place to set off.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

Gay surrogacy could be the answer for gay couples to start their own family. Adoption and surrogacy are both options for gay couples who want to raise a child together. Surrogacy could be the answer to one’s desire of becoming a parent. The process of surrogacy might bring stress and confusion at some point, that is why it is advisable to work with a trusted surrogacy agency that could help you find enjoyment along the way. Deciding to achieve parenthood through gay surrogacy is a challenge itself. In short, gay surrogacy is an agency that provides assistance to varying needs of every couple while maintaining the best standards and performances in the surrogacy field.

There are a number of other resources online designed to help you find a West Palm Beach electrician. Search engines make finding people in this profession and area really easy and simple. Just like any other profession, ratings for electricians are also provided in some sites. Ratings are obtained from past customers who are either satisfied with the electrician’s service or not. Such ratings will save you from availing the service of an electrician who might provide low-grade quality.

Every electrician in West Palm Beach> should be licensed. Each electrician should pass the licensure exam for the profession and should meet experience requirements. Experiences are obtained through trainings and supported by certificates. They’ll also have a valid permit from a building inspector. Most electricians use this to prove their credibility even prior to starting work. For others who wouldn’t do such, it is always proper to ask for it before hiring.

Make sure you know what exactly you want to work on before hiring an electrician in West Palm Beach. Be detailed enough on what you like and how you like it done so you’ll know the skills you should require. Little repairs and maintenance can be handled by not so experienced electricians who would eventually charge you lesser. Obviously, you’ll be needing the expertise of higher paid electricians to do major works like construction and remodelling. Improper wiring can be very dangerous and can lead to fires, putting everyone at risk.

electrician in Ft Lauderdale

Comments Off

Publishing is a part of our culture that should remain alive and well for ages but the mechanism by as much as which book, newspaper, and magazine publishers convey information on their readers could undergo a dramatic translation in the coming years. In a substantial endeavour to diminish the destructive environmental effects of developing printed raw materials eco-friendly publishing advocates are proposing that firms look for kinder means to issue their publications. This site can give interested readers more information about carbon neutral publishing concepts and technologies.

Since the mid-1800s, paper has traditionally been created via squeezing wood pulp through a machine that withdraws all of the stored moisture until the resultant fibres are entirely desiccated. This particular process needs a constant supply of trees to withdraw virgin fibre, utilising environmentally disturbing practices that destruct existent residences and reduce natural resources. Additional to the instant repercussion of logging trees, paper production typically demands additional kinds of energy resources when run paper mills, printing, transporting final products and cleaning up waste.

Environmentally-conscious publishing can be found in various varieties but at the head of the movement are the use of recycled paper and electronic publications. Green publishing takes on the pitfalls of the paper-making technique by cutting back pollution from the production process exploitation recycled rather than virgin fibre, and employing non-chlorine-based additives to decolourise paper. Green Press Initiative reckon that replacing post-consumer recycled paper for virgin fibre may safeguard twenty four trees per ton, reducing the resultant greenhouse gas discharges by as much as 38%.

However, numerous companies view electronic publications, such as the Internet and e-books, as the prime resolution. By significantly lowering deforestation, as well as carbon and nitrogen oxide discharges caused by paper mills, carbon neutral publishing has the capability to make the business greater sustainable. While utilising digitised mechanisms fosters a different bunch of energy issues the shift from print could help principal bodies to inject more effort in to reforestation schemes.

There are several measures acquirable to both commercial professionals and private people wanting to cut down their carbon footprint. Large printed materials corporations have given publishers the choice of employing purely% post-consumer paper, while more and more paper mills are powered with carbon neutral renewable electricity. To channel their materials straight to consumers companies can simply employ carbon neutral publishing sites like Yudu.com, which provides a multimedia library of computerised content, including top magazines and e-books.

Young initiatives from within the print industry have illustrated that green publishing is certainly not an infeasible objective but publishers the world over must collaboratively adjust their business systems for green publishing to triumph.

Comments Off

Everyone remotely interested in private planes will no doubt have heard of the Gulfstream name, but what is it that puts the revered G550 apart from its various opponents, and for what reasons can the Gulfstream G550 make a brilliant executive jet for those that can fly on a private charter?

Utilising private jets has a lot of plus points, from having the ability to fly in ultimate comfort, straight through to having the possibility to attend that important convention in another nation.

To numerous important businesswomen and international corporations, the private jet has become an essential part of company life, where the high costs related with using an executive jet balanced the efficiency saving abilities, allowing businesses to do business worldwide.

With the rise of the G550 from Gulfstream, passengers can benefit from the elongated cabin, long-distance abilities and its greater levels of luxury.

The G550 is propelled by 2 Rolls-Royce turbofan engines, has a range of 6,750 miles (nautical) at Mach 0.80 and a top speed cruise ability of mach 0.87. The far-reaching range ensures it’s able to make trans-atlantic flights with ease, increasing a customer’s ability to attend conferences internationally, whilst the Gulfstream G550’s larger interior gives it the capability to sit fourteen customers in unmatched comfort and luxury. Find the best private aircraft companies by searching online.

For a large proportion of women, owning a G550 is out of reach, but since the introduction of fractional ownership, the possibility of travelling on one of these great jets has become a lot more realistic.

Fractional private jet ownership is a relatively new system set up in the 1990s to give passengers of private jets a larger variety of planes, whilst minimising the total cost of private flight.

Should you not buy a plane but rather subscribing to a membership scheme with a fractional business jet ownership corporation, clients aren’t faced with the added expenses of the plane’s maintenance, employing a wholly qualified pilot crew and all the other expenditure that is coupled with operating a private aircraft.

As well as reducing spend on maintenance and crew fees, associates of a fractional aircraft membership can select a private jet from a fleet of private jets, depending on the flight length and type they require. At the end of the day, the G550 is able to carry up to and including 14 customers; but you may not always require all of that room. By taking a smaller private jet, a smaller amount of fuel is used, meaning a trip will not cost as much and will be more considerate to the environment.

Comments Off

“I don’t know the first thing about professional design!”

You say your MBA program didn’t include training to work
with creative professionals? Perhaps your degree is from
the Seat-of-the-Pants School, and didn’t include experience
in outsourcing creative work. Don’t know what a designer
actually does? Don’t even know where to find one?

Relax. You’re not alone. Few executives are trained to make
these kinds of decisions or to work effectively with creative
professionals. This puts them at a distinct disadvantage
when hiring creative consultants.

We’ve run into this situation with many of our clients. That’s
why we’re offering this white paper to fill in this critical
information gap. What you learn from this paper will give you
the power to approach marketing projects with confidence. It
will help you understand:

• The benefits of hiring a professional designer

• Where to look for the pro you need

• How to choose the right one for each particular project

• How to work effectively by taking a sensible approach to
project management:

Establishing clear project parameters and expectations

Maximizing the talents of your chosen designer

Setting an optimal amount of your own involvement in the
project

Designating appropriate liaisons to your designer and
other creative talent

When do I need a designer?

Unfortunately, many business owners know little to nothing
about what a designer actually does. This results in them
making the mistake of not knowing when they need one.
Design professionals are still sometimes referred to as
“graphic designers,” based on the old definition of their duty:
to attract attention to the message. However, with the advent
of digital technology, they have become so much more than
creators of a pretty layout.

Today’s successful graphic designers are actually
information managers, using visual techniques to corral
similar ideas together, then lead the reader’s eye through
the material in the most efficient and effective way. After all,
they not only need to make sometimes dry information
interesting enough to read, but also fight the time deficit that
every busy, modern person deals with. If your designer
doesn’t know how to hold the interest of the reader and
move the eye along at a reasonable pace, the reader may
just give up and your entire investment becomes just
another expense…and a wasted one, at that.

Those professionals able to not just attract a reader’s eye,
but also to hold it until the end of the message, are true
communications designers. Their skills make sure the
communication that elusive connection between words
and visuals and the reader’s mind actually happens.

So, the answer is: You need to hire a professional
communications designer when you want to produce some
kind of material, whether traditional print or new media, that
must communicate to today’s preoccupied, harried
audiences.

What should I look for?

Communications designers bring all the talents, knowledge
and understanding of the graphic designer to the table:

• effective information layout

• readability through sound typography

• color theory and psychology

• effective use of illustration and photography

But then they add the expertise of someone who
understands the purpose, potential and the limitations of
digital media:

• the Internet, intranets and extranets

• email

• CD-ROMs & DVDs

• Touchscreen technology & kiosk displays

Communications designers are familiar with the many
different programming languages and “applets” that allow
such media to work. You may be familiar with some of their
names:

• Java

• CGI/Perl

• Shockwave

• Flash

• Cold Fusion

This knowledge doesn’t necessarily equate to the ability to
perform such coding themselves, but some really advanced
communications designers are also proficient
programmers in these languages. When you hire these
well-rounded individuals, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

But do I really NEED to hire a professional?

Some business owners and managers, even when they
need top-flight communications materials, opt not to hire a
professional designer. They mistakenly believe they are
“saving money” by using a staffer who may have some
creative ability, or by trying to do the work themselves.
Usually, the results make them regret such a decision.

The fact is, really good communications design is an
alchemy of art, science, training, experience and creativity.
Simply having access to the tools of the designer’s tradea
computer and some page layout softwaredoesn’t make
someone a designer, any more than owning a toolbox
makes one a mechanic, or having a piano makes one the
next Beethoven. We’ve all seen the sorry results of “garage
design,” and the proliferation of low-end desktop publishing
software has only exacerbated the problem.

The argument that professionals cost too much money is
one that doesn’t hold much water. The fact is, you get what
you pay for. So if you’re tempted to go “on the cheap,” ask
yourself if it’s worth saving a few bucks to negate the impact
of the rest of the budget. Remember: No matter how much
time, effort and money is spent crafting the message, if no
one reads it everything is wasted.

When a real designer is brought in at this point, much time
has frequently been lost, tempers are frayed, and everyone
is beginning to feel under the gun. Now-looming deadlines
frequently require lots of budget-busting overtime on
everyone’s part. The designer must be brought up to speed,
and then come up with the creative concepts that should
have happened at the beginning. And face it: no one
produces their best work under unrealistic pressure.

Okay, we want a pro. But how do we find one?

There are many places you could start your search. There
are trade associations whose members include
professional designers, and membership in such
organizations usually signals a certain seriousness about
the members’ careers. Many of these associations have
websites, several of which even feature search criteria for
member specializations.

One such organization is the American Institute of Graphic
Arts (AIGA). You’ll find an interesting treatise on information
design, and other useful topics on their Clients page at
http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm?alias=clientsview.

Other organizations that will help you locate professional
designers include:

• International Association of Business Communicators
(IABC) at www.iabc.com

• Graphic Artists Guild (GAG) at www.gag.org

• Creative Business at www.creativebusiness.com.

There are many websites that help you locate freelance
designers that allow you to key in your project specifications
and let the designers contact you. Two of the most reputable
of these are

• VendorSeek at www.vendorseek.com

• Elance at www.elance.com

The very best way to find professional design talent,
however, is the same way you find other critical service
providers: leverage your professional network. In other
words, ask your colleagues whom they recommend.

But you mentioned all the different things designers might
know. How do we find the RIGHT one for our project?

Hiring the designer that fits any given project is equally as
important as making sure the candidates are professionals.
Just as there are different kinds of designers for certain
kinds of clothing (fashion designers), automobiles and
other products (industrial designers), and buildings
(architects), there are different types of designers for certain
kinds of communications materials.

Step #1: Project Parameters

Project Planning & Management Structure

The first step in hiring the right designer is to determine your
project’s parameters. Once you decide on the end result you
want, it’s fairly easy to use logical processes of elimination
to decide who is most likely to help you reach it. The most
logical way to establish parameters is by using the “five
W’s” system: Who, What, Why, Where, When (and How).

Who

• Ask who comprises your target audience. Establish a
primary and secondary focus; all other audiences are
extraneous to this project. The rule for your most effective
piece is “one piece, one audience,” whether you’re talking
about a brochure, an ad, or a website.

• Ask who in your organization will be responsible for
gathering all the data, information and images that will be
used in the piece. This is your content point person, and is
critical to getting things moving.

• Determine who in your organization will be responsible for
final approval of the piece. Try to assign this responsibility to
no more than three people: “Design by committee” is the
kiss of death to fresh, creative ideas.

• Who in your organization will be responsible for acting as
liaison between the person providing data, the designer,
and the approval panel? This project manager or
coordinator should be highly organized, a good listener,
personable, and capable of impartiality.

What

• Decide what is the most important overall message your
piece must communicate. All other messages should be
subordinate to this message, and should be few, if any.

• What is the end result you hope to achieve with the
production and distribution of this piece? State your goal in
a measurable way, so you’ll be clear about whether or not
the piece was successful.

• What is your budget and timeline for producing the piece?
Include everything from preparatory staff meetings through
delivery of the finished piece to the end user.

• What is the critical buying path (CBP) of your primary target
audience? Knowing where to find your targets when they are
in an information-gathering (shopping) or decision-making
(buying) frame of mind, and intercepting them with your
piece at those points, will give your campaign a much
greater chance of success.

• What is the format for this piece? Print advertising, direct
mail, brochure, catalog, website, opt-in email blast,
CD-ROM, stationary on-site kiosk? This determines much of
the form the content will take.

Why

• Why have you chosen the proposed format for the piece?
Does it really make sense, or would it perhaps be more
effective in another form? Weigh all characteristics against
the result you are trying to achieve.

• Ask yourself why you have chosen the people designated
for the approval board and liaison positions. Make sure it’s
because their skill sets and availability match the needs of
the project, and not just because someone’s ego needs
servicing.

Where

• Where will the different facets of the project’s development
take place? Consider where you’ll hold meetings for
in-house project prep, designer interviews, concept
brainstorming, incremental project review, and final
approvals. Logistics are important to efficient administration
of a project, especially one that may run over an extended
period of time.

• Where will you want the actual creative work to take place?
If you feel you need a great deal of control and so require
on-site work, be aware that you are setting up a
work-for-hire situation according to federal government
definitions. This will likely limit the range of professionals
who will be willing to work with you.

• Where will your piece be distributed? This, along with
target audience and format, determines much of the form
the content will take. For instance, catalogs that mail to
a list of upscale office buyers will be designed very
differently than those mailed to a list of hair salon
managers.

When

• Determine when your project will need to start and end.
Establishing and adhering to a schedule will make
everyone’s job easier along the way, by establishing
measurable production performance expectations.

• When will you need to meet with the designer to interview
and issue a work order, then for status reviews as the
project progresses? Use common sense to establish these
benchmarks: Make initial meetings coincide with in-house
prep meetings, and progressives coincide with such things
as receiving final copy from your copywriter; delivery of first,
second and possibly third-round proofs; and perhaps a
press check, if your designer is to be involved in that phase.

• When will the finished product be needed at its final
destination? This date will most likely act as the control for
the final project schedule, as you back all other activities off
from it.

How

• How will your project team, including your designer and
any other creative professionals you hire, work together?
Avoid having meetings be the only time your project team
communicates. Such a scenario will rapidly deteriorate into
one of missed deadlines and finger-pointing. Keep the lines
of communication open and active by encouraging regular
updates via phone, fax or email.

• How will you decide whether unscheduled extra meetings
are necessary in the process? Most obviously, the liaison or
project manager should be empowered to make this call,
but you may find that other project team members also need
this ability.

Now that you’ve established your project parameters, it’s
time to consider hiring your designer.

Step #2: Hire a Designer

Choosing Your Communications Designer

Much of what you’ve established about your project
parameters will have shaped the decision about the kind of
designer you need. This section will discuss details of other
considerations you’ll need to make regarding which
designer to choose.

Once again, the Five W’s really help you ask the right
questions about design candidates for your project. A
traditional mainstay of journalists everywhere, the Five W’s
method is actually a great approach to defining any task. If
you don’t want to follow it all the way through, it’s at least a
great starting prompt for discussion of another strategy.

Who

• Ask yourself: Who is this person? What are her/his
professional credentials and experience? What kind of
personality traits does s/he exhibit that will work for or
against the success of your project? You need someone
who is comfortable with a lot of give-and-take.

What

• What kind of designer is s/he? Does s/he specialize, and if
so, in what area: graphic; logo/corporate identity; illustration;
information-intensive (catalog or interactive database);
website; intranet? Each of these areas requires a different
(though often overlapping) skill set, personality and way of
thinking. Whatever the specialty, look for a person who
enjoys a challenge, and sees the work as more than just

functioning as a pair of hand, but as a problem solver.
• What kind of samples does the candidate offer? Give
his/her portfolio a thoughtful review, and look for work
similar to that which you need for your project. Be aware
that many professionals now keep their portfolio in digital
format. They may hand you a CD-ROM or ask you to view
their portfolio on their website.

• What specific services will you be buying from this
designer? Print only? Print that carries over to an online
presence? Interactive forms backed by a database? Will the
designer also be acting as a pre-press production person
for print and/or coding a website? Does s/he know HTML
and related applet programming? Does s/he understand
the limitations of the medium you need her/him to work
within? Does s/he have the ability to work with other creative
content professionals if needed, such as copywriters,
printers and web programmers?

Why

• Why will you hire this particular designer? Keep your
decision-making based in logic and good business
practices. Will s/he be working solely on this project, or do
you want to establish a long-term relationship for an
ongoing campaign? The latter is attractive because a single
designer working on many marketing pieces can most
easily establish and reinforce a consistent visual corporate
image for your company.

Where

• Where did this person receive her/his education and
experience? If the person has little or no real-world
experience, s/he is going to be learning on your dime. That
means extra headaches and hand-holding for you, and
perhaps a longer project timeline because efficiency is
nearly always tied directly to experience.

• Where is this person located? If you require someone who
can make it to a lot of meetings, you need someone nearby.
However, if you really think it through, your best value in
hiring a designer is NOT to tie that person up in meetings.
Make as many decisions as you can (without pre-empting
necessary creative input) before pulling the designer into
the process, and then keep the meetings to a minimum.

Generally, today’s communication technologies allow
someone far away to do just as thorough and effective a job
without being located in the immediate vicinity. However, for
some projects, location is an important consideration. If you
do choose someone with whom you will work from a
distance, make sure that person not only has access to the
kinds of technology you’ll need conference calling, email,
FTP sites, Acrobat/PDF software for proofing, overnight
delivery but also knows how to use it.

When

• When will you need this person to be available? What are
your project meeting schedules and delivery deadlines?
What kind of turnaround times do you expect, and can this
person meet them? Consider that a successful design pro
will have other clients besides yourself, and will need to
juggle your project among others.

How

• How will you work with this person? Will you be working
directly or through a liaison? Whatever the logistics, be clear
about your expectations.

• How will delivery of the finished design be made? Do you
expect the designer to act as project coordinator with the
printer? For web-based projects, will the designer also code
the pages, or simply turn over templates to a programmer
for posting? Again, establishing a very clear workflow and
structure for responsibility is your best insurance against
misunderstandings and unpleasant situations down the
line.

Step #3: Fee Structures

Discuss Fee Structures and Terms

Though most people rarely enjoy negotiating terms of
business compensation, it’s necessary to make sure that
everyone’s on the same page from the beginning. Clearly
delineating how and when your designer will be paid for his
or her services, what rights are being transferred, and what
constitutes a satisfactory finished product will help eliminate
misunderstandings, unhappy participants and potential
legal liability further along in the process.

Of course, there is always the fee structure to consider. Most
freelance designers bill for their time on an hourly basis,
which can vary widely. However, for some projects that have
a significant duration, retainer structures or flat project fee
arrangements are not out of the ordinary. Spell out clearly
the duties and responsibilities expected of the designer,
and establish a structure for reporting on the work’s
progress that everyone understands and embraces.

Legal Considerations

Congressional legislation regarding copyright to intellectual
property was significantly updated in 1992 and again in
1996 to reflect the changing nature of technology. The issue
continues to be in a state of flux, but right now it remains
fairly stable. In essence, the law states that intellectual
property such as writing, illustration and design belongs
inherently to its creator from the instant of creation. It states
clearly that such rights are only legally transferred with an
explicit written notice, such as a contract, usually in
exchange for some kind of material consideration.

If the designer will be working for you as a freelancer or
consultant, you need to specify who will own distinctive
rights to the materials being created at the end of the
project. Most designers realize the client’s desire to own all
rights, especially to proprietary material, and are willing to
transfer such rights upon payment in full of their invoices.
However, many designers will wish to retain the right of self
promotion for their creations, meaning they are allowed to
reproduce such works in their printed and digital
promotional materials. As long as such activities don’t
infringe on or reveal trade secrets, this is common practice
and should not be considered dangerous or over-reaching.

You need to protect yourself and the designer from potential
trouble with the IRS by determining at the project’s
beginning whether s/he will be working with you as a
consultant (freelancer) or as a temporary employee
(work-for-hire). The IRS has fairly clear-cut standards that
determine the nature of the relationship.

Essentially, if the person works on your premises, using
your equipment and is under direct and close supervision,
that person is considered an employee by the IRS. This
means that person is entitled to the same benefits as your
permanent, full-time employees. If the person works
primarily off-site at their own place of business, using their
own equipment and more or less unsupervised, they may
be considered a freelancer.

Don’t make the mistake of trying to play it both ways: If you
get audited by the IRS, you will lose this game and be liable
for fines and penalties which can be significant. It’s not
worth the hassle, and most design professionals won’t
willingly participate in such an arrangement anyway.

Time to Get to Work

Having moved this far through the process, you should feel
confident in the needs of your project, and about the
communications design professional you’ve chosen to help
make it a success. It’s time to get started on the project you
hope will generate lots of new business!

Good luck, and remember: Cavanaugh Interactive is your
one-stop shop for results-driven,
professional communications design. Visit our Website at
www.cavanaughinteractive.biz or call toll-free at 877-771-8906 to put our
quarter century of experience to work for you.

Nancy Cavanaugh has been designing communicatons
material since 1982. One of the first freelancers to adopt
desktop publishing technology in the Milwaukee area in
1986, she became known for newsletter pubications and
marketing-oriented pieces. In 1995, she tackled the Web
and by early 1996 was designing Websites — long before
applications such as Dreamweaver, Fireworks and
Flashwere even available. Like print materials, she used
marketing principles to measure the success of each
project. In addition, all Web interfaces are designed and
tested with user friendliness and results-oriented content in
mind. Her company, Cavanaugh Interactive, has endured
for almost a quarter century because of her uncanny ability
to navigate the sometimes uncertain course of emerging
digital technologies.

Comments Off