Guiding Principles

  • Deliver design that makes an impact, always on time and within budget. 
  • Build on McGill's look to find fresh ways to communicate effectively. 
  • Really listen to what our clients need and turn their ideas into visuals that connect. 
  • Always learn – from what's new in the industry, from each other, and from our clients – so we can offer smart, effective solutions. 
  • Be environmentally responsible whenever we can, because it matters.

Concept to Realization

Effective communication, not just aesthetics, drives our graphic design. As McGill’s central design studio, we're a key part of an integrated team, ensuring a consistent and powerful university brand. We strategically use design — typography, visuals, and colour — to maximize impact and bring professional credibility to our clients' communications. Our expertise builds trust and our focus on achieving results together fosters strong, lasting client relationships.

Step 1: Initiation

  • Fill in a Creative Brief Form to inform us about your project's scope, timelines, and constraints. We plan the production of your project based on other projects we have on the go.
  • Send text, or copy, after submitting the brief. This allows us to estimate the work involved and understand if the constraints you’ve provided are realistic. The text can be sent by e-mail, as an attachment.
  • Meet the designer assigned to your project for a free 30-minute consultation. You can raise any concerns and specify the tone and voice of your project.
  • Estimates for design and printing can be provided in advance of starting the work. Once the estimate is approved, the design can begin. Please note that our estimates do not reflect printing charges. Please request printing estimates if needed.

Step 2: Creation

  • Provide the designer with updates to text and, if needed, high resolution images for the project.
  • The designer will present one or more initial concepts, depending on budget and time. The chosen design will be finalized.
  • Carefully proof and sign off on the final artwork. It will then be prepared for press or web.
  • As we bill by the hour, it is good to involve all decision makers in the review of drafts from the beginning. Starting over later in the design process due to an unsatisfied stakeholder can be expensive. Hence, we recommend having text, images, and drafts approved before initiating a project as much as possible.

Step 3: Delivery

  • Our designers work with both external and internal printers. Clients are advised to coordinate purchase orders for external suppliers themselves to keep costs down. If a client prefers to print using McGill Printing Services, a purchase order is not required.
  • For print jobs: The printer's proof is verified and approved by the designer and, if desired, by the client. Changes can still be made at this stage but could possibly involve extra charges from the printer.
  • Final product is delivered. For print jobs, the printer will deliver to the requested address. For web, the final artwork will be sent electronically.

Step 4: Billing

  • Our design rate is $50/hr. Once the project has been completed, it will be closed and the design (and, if applicable, printing) fees will be charged to your FOAPAL account.
  • We charge clients for actual hours spent working on a project. In cases where the original estimate is higher than the tracked hours, the bill will reflect the lower amount.
  • We include a survey with the e-mail confirming the close of a job. Please send us your feedback. Our designers enjoy hearing what they did well and where there is room for improvement.