Anyone that's been working in this area for a while has success stories to use for references or testimonials. No one in their right mind, however, will give you failure stories. This seems counter-intuitive at first... but while portfolio sites can give you design examples, they can't give you a complete picture of what the designer is like. The only way to find out if a designer is good or not, before you choose them, is to talk with them and ask them direct questions. Even if you don't understand the buzzwords of the industry you'll still be able to tell if they're paying attention to your needs. Anyone that's willing to take the time to understand your business and become involved in the project with you is going to be more invested in your success.

A professional designer should: