What Questions Should I Ask a Print Designer?
What to Discuss Before Hiring a Print Designer for Textiles and Wallpaper
If you’re a business owner or interior designer, looking into custom design work and wondering what questions to ask before hiring a print designer for textiles or wallpaper, here’s exactly what you need to cover to avoid costly mistakes and ensure a smooth project.
1. What product is the artwork designed for?
Specify if the design is for upholstery, curtain linen, bedlinen, bath towels, wallpaper, or another product?
This matters because the end product determines:
Scale and repeat size
Colour tolerance and resolution
Printing method (digital, rotary, screen)
Durability and washability requirements
2. What do you need from me before starting?
Ask what the designer requires from you to begin. You should be ready to provide:
A clear theme as a starting point
Style preferences (e.g., botanical, geometric, vintage, modern)
Preferred colours or a colour palette
The size of the product the artwork will be printed on
Clear tile repeat dimensions
The intended printing method (digital, rotary, screen)
Colour specs: RGB, Pantone, CMYK, etc.
The more you give them upfront, the smoother and faster the project will be.
3. Have you done similar work for this product and printing method?
Ask for:
Portfolio pieces that match your product type (e.g., wallpaper vs. dress fabric)
Examples using the same printing method you plan to use
Evidence they understand the technical requirements (repeat, scale, colour tolerance)
Different products and print methods have very different constraints. Experience matters.
4. How do you handle revisions, feedback, and technical adjustments?
Ask:
How many revision rounds are included
How feedback is given (written, annotated images, calls)
What happens if the design doesn’t work in the first strike-off
5. What’s included in your price?
Ask:
Whether source files are included
If you get editable versions
Whether they provide files in the correct colour mode and resolution
If strike-off adjustments or production support are included
Hidden fees often come from unclear deliverables.
6. Can you meet my deadline, and what’s your timeline for each stage?
Ask for a rough timeline:
Initial concepts
First repeat test
Refinements
Final artwork for production
Strike-off (if applicable)
Make sure they have availability and understand your time needs.
What Your Brief Should Include
To make the project go smoothly, prepare a brief that includes:
Theme: A starting point for the design (e.g. “coastal botanical”, “mid-century geometric”)
Style preference: What you like (and don’t like) visually
Preferred colours: Specific colours or a colour palette
Product type: What the artwork is designed for (upholstery, wallpaper, etc.)
Product size: The size of the final printed item
Tile repeat dimensions: Exact repeat size and type required for manufacture.
Printing method: Digital, rotary, screen, etc.
Colour specs: RGB, Pantone, CMYK, or other system
One client who provided clear tile repeat dimensions saved weeks of back-and-forth and multiple revision rounds. That’s the power of a precise brief.
Final Thought
The right questions don’t just help you screen designers, they set the stage for a professional, efficient, and successful collaboration. In print design for textiles and wallpaper, the difference between a beautiful sketch and a production-ready pattern is all in the details: repeat, scale, colour mode, and product.
Ask these questions early. Build a strong brief.
