1.) Make a list of candidates and review their portfolios
This can be accomplished by opening your eyes and finding work you appreciate. Once you find work you admire make a few calls and find out who created it. Call and ask for the marketing manager of the company whose work you like, normally they will be more than happy to let you know who their designer is.

Once you have a list of 3-5 graphic designers, give each one a call or email and briefly describe the project you are working on and ask if they are interested. If they are interested ask them to provide you with samples of a wide variety of designs and the associated design fees.Make sure you speak with the designer you will be working with. Large design studios will often impress you with their principals work and then pass you off to a junior designer once they have secured the project. Make sure the projects shown were completed by the designer who will be working on your project. Do the pieces themselves communicate the intended marketing message? Ask if the pieces came in on budget and on time. Are the pieces unique and memorable?

2.) Discuss their billing structure
You will want to determine how and when you will be billed. Some studios charge half of the approved fees up front and half on delivery, others a third at the start, a third on design approval, and a third on completion. Determine if the designer will pay all vendors out of the approved design budget or will you pay cost directly. Ask about mark-ups on buyouts, industry standard is 17.65 percent. Ask for vendor references and se if the designers pay their bills, the last thing you want is a project held up because a vendor holds your work hostage

3.) Once you have selected a graphic designer
Have the Graphic Designer provide you with a contract determing all costs and the anticipated timeline for design, production and delivery of final materials. Make sure your designer and your roles are clearly defined, and your goals and objectives are clearly laid out. Understand that the budget and timeline can change if the scope of the project changes.

Be sure to include anyone who will be in the decision making process early in the project. Input from new sources once the project has been defined can be costly and force the project off schedule.

4.) The design process
With the problem clearly defined the designer will now create a range of possible solutions for your review. From these you will select a solution that best solves the problem. At this point refinements to the selected design will be implemented, this is the point where any details will be worked out. With your approval the designer will then move on to the production phase of the project.

5.) Project production
The designer now directs the final production of your piece. This can include the hiring and directing of illustrators, printers and other specialists to ensure you projects success.