I think more than one set of eyes is a fine idea. Being human, mistakes do get past us, and it never hurts to have additional quality control.
There can be multiple reasons why it’s smart. A person can be overworked, sick, going through something major, any of which can contribute to missed errors.
What I read is the OP wants to be sure there aren’t misspellings and other clear errors. I wouldn’t think it would be necessary to debate design decisions, unless there’s a potential problem.
As someone who oversees the work of writers, copy editors and designers, there’s a difference between writing and design that would make a the concept of a freelance, remote design editor problematic.
Copy editing is mostly divided between checking for errors and clarity. The rules of grammar, usage, punctuation, style, etc., are consistent. If there’s a question, there’s a style guide with the answer. Things like clarity, brevity and tone are a bit more fluid, but even there, it’s reasonably obvious to a good copy editor when something can be written better.
Even in a freelance situation, those rules stay just about the same, and when they differ, they differ consistently from one country or style book to the next.
Design is different in the sense that it’s more subjective. Changes would entail more problematic procedures and consequences than adding a semicolon or tossing a period into a run-on sentence in a Word document.
Design files are also often printer-specific. One printer might require an eighth-inch bleed, while another might ask for a quarter inch. Various settings, like dot gain, need to be adjusted for different stocks and presses, but the editor wouldn’t have this kind of information unless the designer communicated it. Of course, the designer probably wouldn’t need the help of the design editor if she knew enough to tell the editor to check for it. Fonts would need to be sent, which gets into licensing issues. Software version compatibility would also be an issue.
A bigger problem, still, would be the liability issues of a botched print job. When a freelance copy editor sends back edited copy, the client is expected to read through it, then sign a statement acknowledging that all changes meet with the writer’s or publisher’s approval. This would be problematic for a designer checking the work of the design editor, since the designer wouldn’t know what to check.
An experienced designer wouldn’t need this kind of design service anyway. There are only a few dozen things to check for to make sure files are set up correctly, and most good, experienced designers know those things in an out. With writing, however, there are millions of potential problems, and even the best writers need a second and third look through their work.
I don’t think the concept of a freelance design editor/proofer is out of the question, but it comes with more problems and gotchas than editing a few pages of copy.
This article was in my LinkedIn newsfeed just now. What timing, given this discussion, right?
Thank you B. You explained that far more eloquently than I could manage.
The rule here where I work is “never read the copy, never criticize the design, and if you make a mistake fess up fast so it can be remediated before it gets to a client.”
Proofreading is an add-on service and design is the job of the designer.
In fact, if you wanted to pay us as your print service to do a “design check” and wouldn’t be offended by a comment here or there, we would do that too. I bet any print vendor would, if you asked.
Sure if I see something, I say something. But it’s rare.
I am in a weird corner of the industry though. Most of the stuff we print has gone through so many layers of approval, it’s odd to see an error. But they do happen even with all that. We just make sure we have sign off on the proof. Contrary to that article, if it’s the client’s fault, it has to be noted at least to the point that we aren’t doing a free reprint. Might cut them a break (ie “second print” charge or no set-up etc.)
Mistakes happen all the time. Learn and move on.
Copy editing issues are far more objective than layout issues. There’s no such thing as a subjective mistake. A subjective proofer is not a proofer. It’s an art critic. Call it what it is.
As someone who has been copy editing for two decades and has also designed book covers, brochures etc. I wouldn’t completely dismiss the idea of a proofreader for text-heavy design jobs.
I think the need for a proofreader would depend on the nature of what is being produced/designed. And I’m only talking in terms of text and text formatting here. Usually a proofreader does not have the expertise to comment on design.
If it’s a logo or a label with minimal amount of text, I would suppose all errors can be taken care of between the client and designer before the final files are handed over.
If it’s something that has more text, like a brochure or book cover or flyer, then unless either the designer or client has a proofreader on staff (or in their freelance database), chances are mistakes will creep in. And these mistakes might not necessarily be typos, but issues with consistency, use of quotation marks, italics, punctuation – basically things that only a trained eye will be able to pick up.
This is usually true. And I don’t claim to be a professional proofreader. But as a designer, I also happen to have that red pen mentality.
I don’t think the OP is debating whether or not to hire a proofreader. With copy heavy design that can sorta go without saying.
At issue here is a design proofer. Or as more aptly suggested, an art critic (art director.) Someone who will catch the mistakes a designer isn’t supposed to be making.
I don’t know why I get this persistent feeling this is a means of foisting responsibility on others and failure to own one’s work. Designers are supposed to be paying attention to details. That is what they are being paid for. If they want to pay someone else to do it, I suppose that is ok. But if something goes wrong, who gets to take the blame? The one who missed it in review or the one who made it to begin with?
I just want to clarify a few things because I think i’ve created some confusion. I’m really talking about my own personal projects–I’ve been creating print keepsakes for my family and am doing it really just for us (illustrated family trees, infographic style visualizations of my daughter’s year…etc). I guess what I’m talking about is more along the lines of an “art critic” because I just don’t feel objective about my own work at this point after working on it for so long. It’s also a little outside of the realm of the types of projects I typically do (it’s my first time incorporating my own illustrations in). I can’t even tell if it looks good anymore–I don’t feel this way about professional, paid projects because those aren’t personal to me and I know very well how to pre-flight designs and have a great relationship with the printers I work with. It’s funny that personal projects bring me outside of my comfort zone even though there’s nothing at stake. I’ve never felt a desire for these services in a professional context or needed them. There’s just a lot of emotional weight attached to the personal projects I’m doing and I want my daughter to love it someday and for it to be completely perfect. I don’t think I’m capable of being my own art director.
I see your point, PD. But graphic design isn’t as simple as it used to be, as I’m sure you know.
These days, some companies try to hire designer/developers. I think this is ridiculous, but it’s one example of where a second design-proofing set of eyes could be worth the extra expense as an additional level of quality control. It depends on the circumstances; the clients, the project, the designer, the setting, the company…
Also, I don’t mean critiquing the subjective design decisions. (Well, unless a developer did the design!) But mainly calling out potential technical issues that could cause errors or issues.
We’re human, and a second set of eyes could prevent costly mistakes.
This is a crucial question, glad you mentioned it. If I was proofing, it would be as a service, but not legally for final output.
I don’t know why I get this persistent feeling this is a means of foisting responsibility on others and failure to own one’s work. Designers are supposed to be paying attention to details
In the world of copy editing, every time you go through a manuscript you will find something you need to correct. Conversely, your ability to spot errors in that manuscript reduces drastically every time you go through it.
Could one say the same thing about design?
Graphic Design has never been “simple.” Imagine making a mistake back in the 70s during paste-up or type-setting.
It’s just a different skill set, and I’d expect a professional level of attention to detail even with today’s “complex” work. Design itself hasn’t changed. Just the output methods.
On a professional level, offering a service also carries with it certain expectations. Why would someone want to pay for an extra set of eyes if those eyes don’t have a vested interest in being correct?
I see the OP has downgraded this idea of proofing to a personal project rather than something at a professional level. I suspect the post was made more out of a sense of frustration with this personal project than any real desire to hire a “graphic proofer.”
Loving things one’s parents put together for them doesn’t depend on perfection — it depends on the love that went into making it. An outside professional critic couldn’t add anything to that.
I think so — at least to a some extent.
There are finished projects I was pleased with at the time. Looking at them a few months later, however, made me question my judgment.
The reverse can be true too. I’ve sometimes abandoned ideas out of frustration that weeks later seemed much better than what I remembered.
Really the best way to get “feedback” might be to run a digital press proof of your work. That way you can see things you need to fix. In addition, if you do run a press proof, ask the printer what the max safe art area is and use it all for experimentation. Do 2-3 of the same design with different blacks, techniques, design elements…
If you are asking someone, or if you yourself want to “fix” your files, that is what production artists/designers do.
Tell me about it.
“I have this graphic I want to print. Can I see a proof at actual size on these 10 different media so I can decide which works best?”
“Uh…that costs money.”
“Oh.”
Yeah I always tell clients if they think of it, we can probably do it. The real question is “Does the customer want to pay for the time it takes to do it right?”
It’s amazing how running off a $75 press proof can save $1,000’s down the road on color matching.
I need to reassess my pricing structure…
I should stress that is a digital proof.