Imagine trying to cook a meal with only some of the ingredients, or paint a picture with access to only a few colours in the beginning and the rest when you are half-way through. Technically possibly but far from an ideal workflow. By the same token, it is very difficult to create an effective design without all the components that will eventually be present. Having access to all the elements from the outset allows us to make better design decisions and results in higher quality work and less stress.

A common maxim in the world of design is that a camel is a horse designed by committee;  It is very hard to make efficient and effective design decisions when there is a lack of a unifying vision from the client. This often results in a compromise between the requirements and viewpoints of the participants which is not the best course of action for a given project. We recommend having one key decision-maker from your end who can work with us on the project.

While layout is an art form in itself, it can only ever be as good as the design template on which it is based upon. While many aspects of the layout process can be automated to some degree, the initial design requires much more care and consideration in order to be effective. It takes many years to understand and effectively apply principles of design and as with any creative discipline involved not just the time spent on that project but many years of experience.

Like most creative disciplines, you aren’t just paying for the final product; you’re paying for the hours someone put into learning their expertise. While the same can be said for graphic design as well, illustration also requires a certain natural propensity to the art form that not everyone possesses and is harder to master than software. While we have multiple designers on our team we have only one illustrator and as a result, their work comes at a premium. The hand-drawn illustration is also more time consuming and harder to edit compared to vector-based visuals.

Yes, sometimes if a project resonates with us or represents a cause that we feel is worthy we do consider reduced rates and even in some rare cases pro-bono work. Please do keep in mind that we only take on one or two such projects per year at most and are therefore extremely selective about the ones we do.  

We have flat rates for our most commonly requested projects and custom quotes for jobs with unique requirements. We like to discuss each new project with you to determine its scope, how much work will be involved, the timeline, etc. Once we have a thorough understanding of your needs, we can suggest a quote that will encompass all of your needs. We usually quote on a set project fee, based on the initial scope, so that you know the costs upfront.ity work and less stress.

Apart from certain exceptions, unfortunately not. This is the traditional fast/cheap/good dichotomy in action. A project can only be completed faster by increasing the budget or cutting scope. Similarly, an increasing scope may require equivalent increases in budget and schedule. Cutting the budget without adjusting the schedule or scope will usually lead to lower quality.

If we have been provided with a clear brief with visual references and constructive feedback on the initial drafts this is usually not an issue. If we have reached the agreed-upon limit and you are still not satisfied we are happy to discuss what went wrong. If we have somehow misunderstood or misinterpreted your needs we will of course provide you with additional options. However, if the reason lies on the client-side (change of heart, lack of clear vision etc) we will be compelled to charge for additional versions.

Your project will be assigned a dedicated project manager who will serve as the primary point of contact at FOLD. We have a small team of full-time employees as well as a network of associates who come on board part-time on a per-project basis. You can learn more about our structure here.

FOLD was founded to be more than just a faceless agency, we are a close-knit group of like-minded creative people who love what they do and enjoy the act of creation for its own sake.  As such, we are very much open to collaborating with artists, musicians, designers or really anyone who has a project in mind. Feel free to write to us if you have a non-commercial project that you think we might be able to work together on.

We know that things get delayed sometimes. A few days here and there are not really an issue, and even slightly longer delays can sometimes be okay as long as clear communication is made. However, longer delays and/or lack of communication will start affecting our timelines and may even result in additional fees if the designated project period is breached.  

That depends entirely on the project! Our ability to complete a project also hinges largely on your response time, so the sooner you respond to us, the faster we can move forward. We will be able to discuss a more concrete time frame during your consultation. Your project timeline will depend on the scope of work, our availability and how quickly you’re able to provide feedback for each phase of the project. We would recommend planning for at least a month for most projects; websites and full branding suites can take close to three months and book design projects even longer, usually at least six months. We can offer a fast turnaround service for some projects but this will be reflected in the cost of the work. (See also: Fast/cheap/good.)