Searching for the right Design Agency is a minefield that needs careful negotiation. Especially as there are many 'designers' out there who are offering up cheap deals and others who are at the other end of the spectrum.

There has been a surge of 'designers' working from their living rooms and offering cheap work without the necessary design expertise and it can be difficult to separate the good from the bad. Before you sign up a designer you need to ask a few questions:

What are you getting for your money?
Will your design grow with you in the future or just look good today?
Will you relate to the designer and share your ideas?
Will you be able to make constant contact with your designer for future changes?

How Much?
Many companies offer deals for under £100 but what does this buy you? In terms of creativity unfortunately not a lot.

Once you receive an agency's portfolio check the similarity between each piece of artwork. What you need ultimately is a design to make you unique and different from everyone else and to enable you to lure potential customers with your innovation and creativity. Cheap designers often re-use templates, colour palettes, images and styles with all their clients.

A cheap deal will probably only get you two pages on your website. Avoid companies that charge per page and choose one which give set estimates based on actual hours worked. Don't limit your company on the number of pages and ensure any additional pages will not incur extra costs.

Originality
The cheapest end of the market will probably present you with something generic instead of a punchy, unique design which will enhance your business.

As you are the paying client you must explain your ideas clearly and succinctly to the designers. Always use an original design and use nothing that is re-hashed. This will make you stand out from your competitors and enable the designer to create something that is tailor made to your specifications. Design should never be about remade templates and lowest common denominator work - even in the corporate world. Avoid agencies that don't comply.

Working with the Designers: Communication
Throughout the design process you must be sure that your designer is never more than a phone call away. This is obviously so you can chart the progression and incorporate any new input. Most of the design parameters will have been set at the beginning of the brief so any other ideas you have should be discussed to check feasibility. Communication is key.

The Future is Bright?
So you have a marvelous design which is trendy and looks outstanding. But will it look as slick two years down the line? It may not be compatible with new internet browsers and become outdated. Check that your designer can make changes and has the capability to design and produce flyers, posters and web advertising banners.

Ask yourself these questions now. The answer lies in choosing a creative team that will not only work with you at the start, but throughout and incorporate any changes or additional ideas you decide upon. Aim to build a close relationship with your designers, who should value both your custom and your opinion - and be open new ideas. This will then benefit you in brand consistency, cohesion and work out to be more cost-effective in the long run.