Sign Criteria

Branding for the Built Environment — Sign design, wayfinding, and brand management. Join our LinkedIn group —listen to our podcast. #signage #graphics

[DANN© @DannPetty]

I think designers are charging too little.

Now days, every designer seems to have a “studio” and charges $5K a month per client.

$5K!!!!??

Y’all. My friends and I were charging $7K-$10K a WEEK consistently, as freelancers working like agencies (2-3 projects at once).

If you’ve never worked at a real agency you wouldn’t know, but designers work on 2-3 projects at once almost all the time there. Sometimes more.

As an example, at one agency I worked on NFL + ESPN at the same time. At another BMW + EA Sports + Priceline.

So while freelancing I’d work on Airbnb + Google + some start-up. This is all I knew because I spent years in agencies doing this.

Granted, our portfolios acted as marketing for clients and start-ups so there was a premium involved they would pay, but now it feels like a race to the bottom for some reason.

Inflation is higher and prices are lower.

Some of you are way more talented than I ever was. I was never the best. I just knew what clients wanted. They wanted high quality design yesterday.

Y’all are so much better but charging less collectively and burning yourselves out.

I lasted about 15 years before was like man, I need a break. And I was making reallllllllly good money.

I was doing too much design though and that can crush you mentally. Even if you love what you do you can do too much of it sometimes.

I could have hired a team, I did at times, but I never wanted that. I freelanced for freedom.

All I’m saying, charge more. Especially you super talented ones that are always busy. Charge more until you hear “no” on repeat.

Either way we work too hard. Charge more you’ll want more. Charge less you’ll want more but have to do more.

I guess what I’m really saying is…don’t over work yourself. Be sure to live and go outside.

Maybe charging a little more can help you do that if you’re smart about it.

[reenafriedmanwatts @reenareena]

@SignCriteria Kasey makes the coolest moss signs!!!

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

Moss walls that don’t need water, reduce noise, and look great? Yup. 🌿🔥

On the latest Sign Criteria episode, Kasey Riley from The Fat Plant Society breaks down moss science, pricing (~$115/sq ft), lightweight panel design, and sustainability in action. Check it out! #BiophilicDesign #MossArt

https://t.co/wPhe0vJpAa

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "Biophilic Design That Breathes w/ Kasey Riley from The Fat Plant Society" on @Spreaker #branding #design #plants https://t.co/vCBCkPFu6r

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "The Case for Hand-Painted Signs w/ Heidi Wolfe" on @Spreaker #craftsmanship #letterheads #signage https://t.co/E6RnNEBSHu

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "The Case for Hand-Painted Signs w/ Heidi Wolfe" on @Spreaker #craftsmanship #letterheads #signage https://t.co/E6RnNEBSHu

[Industrial Light & Magic @ILMVFX]

From Director @JimCameron, watch the trailer for #Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Experience the film only in theaters December 19.

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

Do you remember when you joined X? I do! #MyXAnniversary #PERSISTENCE

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

@SignCriteria is in good company @GoodpodsHQ ✨ #design #podcast

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

Let the Weirdos In: Fixing Hiring, Pay, and Perception in the Sign Industry @SignCriteria
https://t.co/a2deOvi0xa

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "Let the Weirdos In: Fixing Hiring, Pay, and Perception in the Sign Industry w/ John Lilly" on @Spreaker #podcast #signage #workforce https://t.co/a2deOvi0xa

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

@mattiaswikman bathing sounds more low-effort than walking. kids today are lazy-cool like that.

[reenafriedmanwatts @reenareena]

@SignCriteria @spreaker Love what you turned this into thank you

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

Here's the Coca-Cola sign in NYC we were talking about on @signcriteria this week ...

https://t.co/6iuIlczDEJ

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "Times Square, Fish Bones & Wayfinding Woes: Signage Lessons from NYC" on @Spreaker #nyc #signage #timesquare https://t.co/B0iuX8vShX

[daniel scott mitchell @danielmitchell]

i’ll let you in on a little secret - plant managers/shop owners aren’t the luddites you think they are

they’re just tired of buying bloated tech that doesn’t work

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

@GuyDealership "Supply and Demand" — Lower the prices until they sell. Keep it moving. Hoarding is un-American.

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

@BrettFromDJ Thanks, Brett! 🇺🇸
I'm John w/ @SignCriteria
I design scale drawings for all types of signage—logo signs, wayfinding programs, and illuminated electric signs. From sales presentations to permit-ready shop drawings, I support sign builders with fast, reliable sign design. 👌

[Sign Criteria @SignCriteria]

📣 New Podcast! "From Banners to Braille: How Tech is Shaping the Modern Sign Shop w/ Ted Redmer" on @Spreaker #franchise #signage #technology https://t.co/l2jz74utz0