[MindFad]

Yeah, I've been in contact with an interested software company or two about icon/interface design. People are obviously interested in my work, but I've never freelance designed, and I have no idea about how much even charging someone for this kind of work runs.

So if there are any of you out there that do this for a living, or even in their spare time, how much do you charge for youw work? How do I even go about figuring out how much I should charge?

I'd like a starting point, and I'd really appreciate if someone could help an ol' MacNN icon artist out. Thanks, dudes.

[Adam Betts]

We normally charge them by the size of their company. If it is an one-person company then we would charge around $50 - $100. If it's more than 5 guys company then we would charge them over $100. If the icon set is large, pretty complex and time-consuming then the price will go up.

We're still building our portfolio so the price will increase in the future.

[MindFad]

Thanks for the help. And a nice porofolio it's turning into, Adam. Very nice.

So $50-$100 per icon, then? That's a cool way to go about it, I suppose, based on the size of the company. Anyone else?

[Adam Betts]

It's nothing important but I just found out that the link in my signature is linking to the old websites. It has been fixed. There are several new stuffs there if you are interested

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by MindFad:
Anyone else?

I too would like to find out how much other icon designers are charging for an icon set.

I guess I'll email to IconFactory someday and ask them some questions about icons

[art_director]

Gentlemen,

I am not specifically an icon designer. I am an art director who works primarily on ads (print, ooh, posters, tv) but I also do design work (logos, web sites, brochures, etc.). I freelance for advertising agencies and I have many of my own clients ranging from healthcare providers to high tech firms with household names. My hourly rate is $100, sometimes $200 when working for clients on the coasts but the economy has stifled that to a degree. For logos I start at $4000. Occasionally I negotiate for a package rate (long term gigs, large branding systems, tv campaigns, etc.).

If a prospective client approached me about designing icons I would propose $100 / hour. If they had a need for an icon family (5+ icons) I would consider a package deal. If they agreed to a package deal I would very clearly outline the approval process and establish the project's expectations (ie. X number of rounds of icons with Y number of revisions; anything above the agreed upon numbers would be charged at an hourly rate / renegotiated.). If I agree to take on the project at an agreed upon reduced rate I would expect 50%, non-refundable payment up front. I mean BEFORE I turn on my computer.

Regardless what you do / charge remember you are running a business. While your business is rooted in art you art NOT an artist, you are a business person. You should expect to be paid like a business person performing a service and providing a product. Also, in this instance, the product you are creating will add value to your client's software. They will make money off the software and you deserve comensurate compensation your icons.

[himself]

I agree wholeheartedly with art_director. An hourly rate is much preferable to a flat rate or a per icon rate. If your client has you do numerous revisions on many of your pieces, you will quickly realize that you are getting seriously underpaid. An hourly rate makes the project more worth your time, and makes the client think twice before wasting your time. You have to be somewhat established to command the rates that art_director is asking (at least where I live), but check for going rates in your area and see what you can get away with.

I would also look at the AIGA, Graphic Artists Guild, and Communication Arts for contract samples. While this can be a big pain in the ass, you NEVER want to be caught working on a project for anyone you expect to get paid from without a proper contract in place. You'd be surprised how many folks out there wouldn't hesitate to gank you because you didn't make them agree to a contract, or maybe the found a convenient ommission in the one they signed. A must if expect to make any money.

[iT4c0]

http://graphicdesign.about.com/libra.../aa092702a.htm
here is a good article for the freelance designers. That is basically what teacher had taught me too. I would go for that

Ben
Soui Design

[art_director]

But that article and your instructor are full of ****. We are business people and we need to charge what the market will bear, not what we want / need after flu shots and rent.

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by art_director:
But that article and your instructor are full of ****. We are business people and we need to charge what the market will bear, not what we want / need after flu shots and rent.

Do you have any portfolio I could check? I want to see if your works is worth of high price.

[godzookie2k]

100$ an hour isn't too far fetched depending on a) where you are and whether the market _there_ can support it, b) your experience and whether you can justify those rates. As a entry level designer, a hundred bucks an hour is a bit steep, but as a "respected"/a few years in the buisiness designer, its not unreasonable.

[MindFad]

Thanks for all of the info, guys. Things are going well. I've found an interested company and we've been having discussion about the project. Very cool.

Keep it coming, though, with the helpful info. And keep my thread flame-free? Thanks.

[art_director]

godzookie2k is absolutely right, $100 / hour is high for entry level. after that it depends on your experience and portfolio. where i live, in minneapolis, $100 / hour is the going rate for advertising and design work. anything less would be theft.

adam: in the past i've had people misrepresent my work for their own. for that reason i'm reluctant to share my book in such a fashion. i can tell you i've had work in the minneapolis show, print magazine, graphis, archive, the one show, communication arts and some obscure japanese advertising pub. my client experience ranges from high tech companies to automobiles and everything in between. i've worked for agencies in minneapolis, california, new york, europe and asia.

[art_director]

adam said: "We normally charge them by the size of their company. If it is an one-person company then we would charge around $50 - $100. If it's more than 5 guys company then we would charge them over $100. If the icon set is large, pretty complex and time-consuming then the price will go up."

i'm curious to know how that billing practice is working for you. if a client starts in the < 5 employee range and you help them grow their business so they hire more do you increase your rates? if so, how do you justify the rate hike to your client(s)? and what if a client is > 5 employees but makes some staff cuts. do you cut your rate with their decline?

please excuse my questions, but i've never heard of a fee arrangement like yours. i'm interested in learning more.

i consider my time to be worth $100 / hour. i don't think my time should be worth less because i'm working for a small client. after all, i don't get my computer, rent, electricity, etc. for less when my clients are smaller.

[iT4c0]

Originally posted by art_director:
But that article and your instructor are full of ****. We are business people and we need to charge what the market will bear, not what we want / need after flu shots and rent.

I was just trying to help him out by giving him information that is all. chill man...
please do not insult our instructors. Our school has pretty good graphic communication program in San DIego

[art_director]

"I was just trying to help him out by giving him information that is all."

-- my goal was the same. the difference being that mine advice is from real world experience rather than second hand.

-------

"chill man..."

--my post was not meant to be insulting. if it came across that way i apologize.

-------

"please do not insult our instructors. Our school has pretty good graphic communication program in San DIego"

-- that may very well be true. i don't know where you go to school so i cannot say. that being said, i disagree with the billing advice on that site and / or from your instructor. it makes for poor business practice.

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by art_director:
adam: in the past i've had people misrepresent my work for their own. for that reason i'm reluctant to share my book in such a fashion. i can tell you i've had work in the minneapolis show, print magazine, graphis, archive, the one show, communication arts and some obscure japanese advertising pub. my client experience ranges from high tech companies to automobiles and everything in between. i've worked for agencies in minneapolis, california, new york, europe and asia.

Sad for you. Being selfish isn't going to help anything.

I really don't care who you worked for. All I'm interested in is your creativeness.

Originally posted by art_director:
i'm curious to know how that billing practice is working for you. if a client starts in the < 5 employee range and you help them grow their business so they hire more do you increase your rates? if so, how do you justify the rate hike to your client(s)? and what if a client is > 5 employees but makes some staff cuts. do you cut your rate with their decline?

please excuse my questions, but i've never heard of a fee arrangement like yours. i'm interested in learning more.

I don't have to answer that. I'm interested into checking your portfolio but you refused so I'm not going to waste my time for you.

p.s. You should learn how to quote properly since you already have over 200 posts

[art_director]

adam:

the original post was asking advice. i gave some as did you. i disagree with your advice. simple as that.

-------

you said: "I want to see if your works is worth of high price." and "All I'm interested in is your creativeness"

-- i see no point in trying to convince you that i'm qualified to charge the rates i do. i get my rate, that's all you need to know.

being that you live in rochester, i suggest you survey the community to make sure you're being paid enough. some former colleagues i worked with in nyc are freelancing in rochester and commanding rates higher than $100 / hour. judging from your site you appear to be specialized in smaller companies, perhaps that's why we see the rate difference.

-------

it appears you took my post as a slam. i apologize for it was not mean to be.

[godzookie2k]

[zipped]

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by art_director:
you said: "I want to see if your works is worth of high price." and "All I'm interested in is your creativeness"

-- i see no point in trying to convince you that i'm qualified to charge the rates i do. i get my rate, that's all you need to know.

I'm curious if it's okay if people with horribly low art skills to charge $100/hour too?

If you want people to take your advice, you should show them your past experiences so people can trust you. If you don't want to, you shouldn't be giving advice at all

Originally posted by art_director:
being that you live in rochester, i suggest you survey the community to make sure you're being paid enough. some former colleagues i worked with in nyc are freelancing in rochester and commanding rates higher than $100 / hour.

Heh, really? Interesting. The graphic design market is way too over-crowded here. Lot of freelancers are having difficult time finding a clients around here. Trust me, I know. Probably your former colleagues are lucky enough to secure *few* clients.

Originally posted by art_director:
judging from your site you appear to be specialized in smaller companies, perhaps that's why we see the rate difference.

True, you do have a point but I think it's kinda unfair that you can make a judgment on our business and I can't on your.

Originally posted by art_director:
it appears you took my post as a slam. i apologize for it was not mean to be.

If you learn how to use smiley, nobody would take your post as a slam. I'm unable to tell if you are being rude or nice.

p.s. again, please learn how to use the quote properly. It's easy, really Just type [.quote]original poster's message here[./quote]

(remove period and that code will work)

[godzookie2k]

oh jesus... alright you two simmer down this aint osx-general.

[art_director]

adam: the people i know in rochester are working for agencies and kodak primarily. they aren't in the same realm as what you show on your site. also, they're ad folk, not interactive designers. unfortunately there are too many interactive designers in the market and the rates have been driven down. that's the bummer for people who chased the dotcom gold rush. i know a lot of interactive people around the country who are working at starbucks.

in my case i have diversified my offerings and do anything from corporate id to print ads to tv to web sites to collateral etc. lucky for me that makes it easier to keep the checks coming in. even so this year is slightly softer than last.

[MindFad]

Well, $360 for 6 icons.

$1500 for 20.

How about that?

[art_director]

Originally posted by MindFad:
Well, $360 for 6 icons.

$1500 for 20.

How about that?

If you're going to go for a package rate / try to get more work you should offer an incentive. At the prices you have here you're doing 6 icons at $60 / each and 15 icons at $75 / each. The "bulk" package price should offer your client a cut rate.

How much time do you anticipate spending on each icon design with revisions and meeting time?

[MindFad]

$360 and $1000, I meant. Whoops. We're still working out the project details. Hopefully this will work out.