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Tajem

Notes

Notes

What design work costs, why it costs that, and the occasional argument with the rest of the industry.

Two routes, not fourteen17 September 2026 Two routes, not fourteenA wall of logos means the studio has not made a decision and is asking you to make it instead.The year we took fourteen projects17 September 2026 The year we took fourteen projectsWe did four of them badly. Here is what that cost, in money and otherwise.Why our prices are on the website17 September 2026 Why our prices are on the websiteA discovery call whose only purpose is working out what you can afford is a negotiation, not a process.What a brand guideline is actually for17 September 2026 What a brand guideline is actually forNot for you. For the person who has to use it when nobody from the studio is around.Get the printer in the room in week two17 September 2026 Get the printer in the room in week twoFour packaging projects, and the one that went wrong is the one where we did not.

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Are those prices real?
Yes, and they are fixed before the work starts. Scope changes are quoted separately and in writing. Nobody here has had an argument about an invoice since 2019.
Why only nine projects a year?
Because five people can do nine properly. We took fourteen in 2017 and did four of them badly, which cost us more in remade work than the four projects were worth.
Will I see lots of options?
You will see two routes, with the reasoning written down and one of them recommended. About a third of clients take the other one, which is fine; being handed a wall of logos is not.
Do you do naming?
No. We have tried and we are not good at it. We will happily recommend two people who are.

Two of this year’s nine are still open

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