Looking to hire a fashion print designer? Here’s how to prepare before reaching out

Custom tropical floral print for Rumored

Every week I receive enquiries from small brand owners looking for a designer who really gets their brand. Here’s some common themes that pop up.. 

Some brand owners enquire about custom prints after having had a past negative experience.

Some enquire with incredibly low budgets because they weren’t aware of the industry standard pricing for custom fashion prints. 

Some have amazing ideas and great visual references, but don’t always know how to communicate exactly what they want. 

Some underestimate the planning and time it can take to create a custom design, which results in last minute enquiries and rushed changes, leading to a lot of unnecessary stress. 

Relate to any of these?

Keep reading if you’re a brand owner who would like to feel more prepared, confident and excited when hiring your next print designer. 

Firstly..prints should never be an afterthought

Here’s why I reeeally don’t recommend leaving your print designs until a couple of months before launching..

AVAILABILITY

There’s a high chance that the designer you want to work with is booked up. We’re usually planning months and seasons ahead, allowing plenty of time to give to each client. I suggest giving yourself a minimum of 6 months before launching your collection when reaching out to a print designer. 

RUSHED DECISIONS

Rushed briefs and not leaving enough time for revisions after your print is complete may leave you feeling disappointed with the final design. Last minute changes are never ideal, but ensuring you have plenty of time to revise the designs or fix any issues will ensure you are happy with the outcome. 

STRESSFUL DEADLINES

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘as soon as possible’ and felt that familiar wave of panic set in.

Designers can’t work magic overnight, and it’s not worth our mental and physical health by stretching ourselves too thin just because a client didn’t plan in advance. 

I love giving clients 110%, but I can only do that when I’m well-rested and not stressing about meeting impossibly short deadlines or juggling too many projects at once.

You’re at the right stage to work with me if…

YOU’VE BUDGETED FOR AN EXCLUSIVE CUSTOM PRINT

Understanding industry-standard pricing for custom prints helps you budget confidently and avoid surprises. I’m always transparent about my pricing and happy to share my rates with any potential client.

Download my free pricing guide to get a clear picture of what to expect.

Get the pricing guide HERE

YOU HAVE A TIMEFRAME

Having a clear deadline makes it much easier to plan and pace your custom print. Don’t forget to allow time for design development, revisions, and sampling.

Tip: I recommend getting in touch at least 6 months before you need the final artwork to secure a custom booking.

YOU HAVE YOUR TARGET MARKET PINNED DOWN

You already know where your brand is positioned in the market, and who your customer is. You’ve done market research, including who you’re competitors are. 

These are all essential for the print designer to get a clear idea of your brand and how they will approach the design. It allows us to choose the right mediums, motifs and colours. 

YOU HAVE A DESIGN DIRECTION

You’ve pulled together visual references like colour palettes, moodboards, style inspiration, or even just a few keywords. This gives me a sense of your vision right from the start. Don’t worry - even if you have some vague concepts, we can refine this during our meeting.

Need a starting point? Download my free client checklist HERE to help make organising a little easier.

If you’re looking to work with a designer who 

• Prioritises your brand/print identity 

• Allocates plenty of time for creativity and revisions 

• Offers a  smooth and stress-free collaborative design process

• Creates beautiful, high-end prints that are custom-made for your brand

Get in touch by emailing me at studio@karinaduncan.co.uk or fill out the contact form here, and tell me a bit about you and your brand.

And if you are in a bit of a time crunch and need a beautiful, exclusive print in a hurry - i’ve got just the solution.

My online print shop is reserved for brand owners and print buyers who like to browse their prints. Sometimes you don’t know what you need until you see it.. and that’s totally fine.

Sign up to the print shop here.

If you’re all about fresh, fun and feminine prints, then you’re going to love my ready-made collection. Still exclusive. Still on-trend. Just all the hard work done for you.