FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Have questions and need immediate answers? Please have a look through our FAQ and see if your question has been answered here. Please contact Circus Creative for any other enquiries.
I want to work with you! What are the next steps?
Great! Please fill in the quote form on our website with as much information about your project as possible. Don’t forget to tell us your budget. We will get back to you in 48 hours.
Who designs all the artwork?
Circus Creative is run by Suvi Tikka. All artwork in the portfolio is designed by Suvi.
If the project completion on time requires more than one person, we have trusted designers on hand we can call in to help get the project done faster. All the work we need to hire extra hands for is art directed, supervised and approved by Suvi.
What is your turnaround time?
You will usually receive your first drafts in around two weeks. That depends on the size of the job and Circus Creative’s current workload.
If your project is a larger document such as a book, magazine or a report, the entire project could take 4-8 weeks.
How long will a logo design take?
Do you do rushed jobs?
Yes. However, we only accept rush jobs if the schedule allows. To pay for the costs of having to reschedule our other projects (and potential overtime), we charge +25% more for prioritising your project in this way.
A project is considered a rush job if the total turnaround time is two weeks or less.
Can I get my project finished during the weekend?
Do you offer retainer contracts?
Yes! In fact, we prefer working using the retainer model. Why? It allows us to develop a relationship with you and create even better artwork for your needs. At the same time, you don’t need to constantly ask for quotes or search for a new graphic designer. The clients on retainer contracts always take priority.
The retainers are billed monthly and include a set amount of hours that is invoiced in advance. If you are interested in a retainer, please contact us now!
VIP Service
Would you like to have a professional graphic designer on call? Circus Creative is excited to offer a VIP service to one lucky client per month.
VIP Service is a one day a week retainer, that includes our full service just for you, from 9am – 5pm. All the design work, except website design, is included in this package. The retainer is not based on a certain amount of hours, but rather, we are “on call” to fulfil your design needs. Unused days do not roll over to the next month.
The investment for this service is $1000 AUD + GST/ day. We only offer this service to ONE client per month.
THE BASICS
Is there a contract?
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. The policy is 50% of the project total in advance and 50% upon completion. The deposit is non-refundable. Once the deposit is paid, your job is scheduled in. This ensures that your project remains a priority, and provides peace of mind and security for both parties by adding accountability. Once the project is complete, you will receive and invoice for the remaining 50%. After we receive the payment, you will receive your final artwork files.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept electronic fund transfer at this point.
What if I need to cancel?
You are welcome to cancel the project at any time. However, keep in mind that after first 48h the deposit is non-refundable, as it will help us cover the costs of work already done on your project. If we have already worked on your project more than the deposit would cover, you will be invoiced for the work already done.
How are the quotes calculated?
We will do our best to quote you as accurately as possible, based on your design brief. All the quotes are calculated based on an hourly rate. If the project looks like it’s more work than estimated, we will let you know in advance to discuss the options. We will never go over budget before talking to you first.
Hourly rate or project rate?
For most projects we work with project rates as it is easier for our clients to budget in. We use hourly rates when doing extra changes to design work or when a client prefers an hourly rate to a flat rate.
Can I have the working files?
No. Working files are not included in our quotes and they remain the property of Circus Creative. However, if you require the working files, please mention this when asking for a quote. Please note that including the working files will add +50% to the total of the quote.
Keep in mind we only use professional design software and you will likely not be able to open the working files, unless you have subscribed to Adobe CC.
Do you design editable Word Documents or Canva Templates?
No. We do not offer Word document design or Canva Templates at this time.
THE PROCESS
What’s the process of getting a design for my business?
- To get the ball rolling, fill out the quote form on our website. This gives us an idea what your needs are and helps us give you as close to accurate quote as possible. We will get back to you in 48 hours.
- Once you have accepted our quote, we will send the contract for you to sign. Upon signing, you will be required to pay a 50% deposit to secure the work into our schedule.
- Once the deposit has been received, your project will be scheduled, and work on your concepts will start.
- When all concepts are ready, they will be emailed to you for a review. We will then discuss either via email, phone or Zoom which one you like and whether there are any changes to the chosen design.
- The changes are then made, and revised artwork is sent back to you for final checkup.
- Please note, it is your responsibility to go through the artwork carefully, and make sure all the information you have given us – phone numbers, names, spelling etc. – is correct. Circus Creative does its’ best to correct any obvious mistakes, but the final responsibility lies with you.
- Once everything is approved by you in writing, we’ll go ahead and prepare the final files. You will receive an invoice for the remaining amount, and once it’s been paid, we send you the final files.