FAQs
1. What kind of design do you do?
I offer these Web, Internet, and Print services to my STEM clients:
- Website development. Creation of new sites and makeovers of existing sites. All sites are designed to conform to Web Standards. This means that they’ll download and display quickly, work in all the major browsers, and be easy to update and maintain.
- Analysis of existing websites. The analysis covers written copy, layout, graphics, download speed, navigation, calls to action, and comparison to competitors’ sites.
- E-commerce. Shopping cart setup, product database creation, preparation of product images.
- Blogs. Setup using major blog hosting services like Blogger and Typepad, or on your own website.
- Multimedia. Web-enabled audio, video, slideshows, other animations.
- E-mail newsletter design and distribution.
All of my websites are designed so that you don’t have to call me to do routine updates and maintenance. I set things up so that you can perform these tasks yourself. All you’ll need is your browser.
I also offer these print design services:
- Advertisements
- Logos
- Stationery systems, which include letterhead, business cards, envelopes
- Posters, brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials
- Postcards and other direct mail pieces
2. I’m not the greatest writer. Will you help me with my website content?
Sure can! In addition to working as a designer and photographer, I am a contributing writer for Freelance Switch. To sample my writing style, check out my articles.
3. What kind of photography do you do?
My photographic experience stretches back to high school, when I was on the yearbook and newspaper staffs. After college, I bicycled and photographed my way around the United States and Canada. Some of my travel images can be seen in the bicycle, nature, and travel photography portfolios.
My style is candid and unposed. It tells the story of anything from a building renovation project to a major event like a festival or a concert. My photos can stand by themselves or be used on your website and in print.
I also have a stock photography collection that covers a wide variety of topics – everything from the back roads of rural America to urban street scenes. These photos can be used in your print and website design projects.
In addition to doing shoots for clients’ print and Web design projects, I photograph community events and construction projects.
4. What makes you unique?
I have the ability to fit into almost any kind of situation, anywhere, anytime. My varied background includes bicycling and photographing my way around the United States, studying economics at the University of Michigan, volunteering on everything from post-Katrina reconstruction to community emergency response, and living and working in the East, Midwest, and Southwest. I bring this diversified background into my graphic design and photography, which draw on my skills in business, computers, and publishing.
5. Tell me about your clients.
Most of my clientele comes from:
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. I’ve done projects for the Universities of Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Northern Iowa, Vanderbilt University, and the Professional Science Master’s Degree Program.
- The companies that spin off from STEM programs – or work closely with them.
6. How much do you charge?
For design projects, I work on a per-project basis, rather than an hourly rate. My fees are based on the size, complexity, and timeline of the project.
In other words, the larger and more complex the project, the higher the fee. Web and graphic design projects requiring fast turnaround will be subject to rush charges. These charges will vary with the speed of the requested turnaround.
Assignment photography pricing is based on several factors, including creative fees, production charges, and image licensing. Stock photography is sold in the following ways:
- Personal use licenses for educators and consumers
- Photographic prints in a variety of sizes
- Rights-managed licenses that is based on how the image will be used, e.g., geographic distribution, company size, media placement, and number of copies needed
- Royalty-free licenses
7. What kind of business relationship will we have?
I will serve you as an independent contractor on an as-needed basis. During our work together, I will be dealing directly with you, and only with you. This will avoid the "multiple inputs from multiple people" problem that arises when dealing with committees.
8. How do I pay you?
Payment terms are negotiated at the beginning of each project. As a general rule, I require a 50% deposit before work begins on a design project, with another 25% due after the concept is approved, and the rest due within 30 days after project completion.
I accept payments by check, money order, or credit card through PayPal.
9. How long have you been in business?
I started my studio, under a different name, in 1995.
10. Where are you located, and what are your hours?
Address and Phone:
Western Sky Communications
Post Office Box 43161
Tucson, Arizona 85733 USA
Web: http://www.WesternSkyCommunications.com
Phone: 520-690-1888
The delivery address is available on request.
Business Hours:
The studio is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Since Arizona does not use Daylight Saving Time, we are in the same time zone as California between April and October. This means that we’re three hours behind New York in the summer, and two hours behind during the winter.
11. You say we can enter all our own content, thus don’t need you. This is confusing. If we hire you, aren’t you still our webmaster? How do we work this out?
Website maintenance is one of those things that’s much faster and cheaper to do in-house. Especially if your site content changes more than once a month.
In order to help you maintain your site, I’ll set you up with a Content Management System (CMS). I’ve worked with many of the major CMS packages – including Drupal, Website Baker, and WordPress. They look and function like a word processor that lives inside a Web browser.
Once your CMS is up and running, I’ll provide you with all the training you’ll need to manage your site.
12. What if I have a question that isn’t answered here?