A design project is extremely complicated because it requires a lot of technical and theoretical work that prompts a person handling it to charge more per page written. In order to ensure clients receive better treatment for design projects, the following should be done. Charges should be calculated per project rather than hourly charges. Per project charging is the best option for person handling a design project because it creates a common base for both the designer and the client. The client has the opportunity to decide whether the chargers are fair or not depending on the desired output. On the other hand, charging per hour has drawbacks because the researcher has an opportunity of utilizing as much time as possible in order to acquire more from a client. Alternatively, per project charges ensures the client does not pay more because the researcher values the project’s demands and quotes the price that is agreeable between the two parties (Webdsigner deport, 2013).
Fixed pricing and calculating the exact labor and resources given for any project has both risks and rewards. Firstly, fixed pricing benefits the writer because it pays for all work design work done irrespective of the amount of output, nature of research or the amount of resources required. On the other hand, calculating the exact labor benefits the client because it ensures every activity is accounted for and the client has to make a decision on whether to pay for the project or not to pay. Secondly, fixed pricing allows a client to set a budget in advance of the work that requires an assistance of a researcher. Fixed pricing makes the client aware of the total cost of writing a given design project thus limiting the number of occurrences that might trigger a state of misunderstanding between the client and the researcher. Fixed pricing also has some risks to both the client and the contractor. Firstly, fixed pricing poses a greater risk to the researcher when it comes to managing changes and requests by a client. A requirement arising during the research calls for the researcher to incur extra cost, but the client is not affected by the additional cost (Sweet, 2011).
On the other hand, calculating the exact labor benefits both the client and the researcher in various ways. Moreover, the process has various risks for both parties. Firstly, both the client and the researcher undertake calculations for a given design project and come into terms on the total cost of the project. Unlike the fixed pricing process, calculation gives a chance for the researcher to ask for more payments from the client in case of additional materials. Secondly, calculating the exact labor and resources necessary for carrying out a design project provides a chance of manipulating prices in case the cost of implementation rises within the implementation period. The client has a risk of incurring more costs in case of increase in prices, or benefits from paying less in case the costs go down (Sweet, 2011).
A freelance consultant has different pricing for a design project compared to an advertising agency. A design project proposal should contain all the information regarding the calculations made, various drawings for all designs, and the total cost of acquiring materials for implementing the project (Ogaja, 2011). According to Robin (2013), freelances tend to charge less for a design proposal as compared to agency consultants. On the other hand, agencies produce quality work because they are more proficient in design work compared to freelance consultants.
References
Ogaja, C. A. (2011). Geomatics engineering: a practical guide to project design. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Robin. (2013). Freelance Marketing Consultants vs. the Agency: What You Should Consider Before Choosing. Retrieved from:
http://www.promomanagersblog.com/2011/05/16/freelance-marketing-consultants-vs-the-agency-what-you-should-consider-before-choosing/
Sweet, D. (2011). Charging for freelance design: by the hour or per project? Retrieved from:
http://www.graphicdesignblender.com/charge-for-your-design-time
Webdesigner deport. (2013). Charging per hour. Vs per project. Retrieved from:
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2010/10/charging-per-hour-vs-per-project/
