Did you see what’s new? Yup, you can’t find this post without seeing MY NEW BLOG LOGO!!!!! I am so happy to debut my awesome new design! A graphic designer named Laurissa van der Walt from South Africa created the design and I couldn’t be more pleased. She took my preferences into consideration and added her own touches that just blew me away.

What should you take into consideration before hiring a graphic designer for your blog logo?

Read on!

I gave Laurissa some guidelines and a few of my ideas, and like the true pro she is, she came back with this killer design that had me smiling from ear to ear. I told her I wanted something with the blog’s name as well as something to represent France and my dog Dagny — that it could be figurative, and nothing too childlike or clip art-y. She understood exactly what I was looking for. A red, white and blue French flag wouldn’t have the same feel, nor would block letters or something without Dagny!

The new blog logo is everything I could have wished for and more, and I hope you all like it! I wholeheartedly recommend Laurissa. You can view her portfolio here.

Here’s a variation of the main Oui In France logo you see up top. I love it just as much:

If you’re looking to hire a graphic designer for your project, I know how you feel. It is kind of a nerve-wracking process, right? Your business/blog/project is your baby and how do you know the graphic designer will deliver? You really don’t, but here are three things to keep in mind when deciding on who to hire:

1) Does the designer listen to you? This is important. A designer could have all the accolades in the world, but if he or she doesn’t “get” what you’re looking for, the process will be stressful and you may not even like what you end up with. A good designer should be able to listen and add to the client’s vision — not steamroll it and go in a different direction.

2) High prices don’t always mean quality. In most cases, you do get what you pay for, but don’t think that you have to pay a ton of money to get a great design. On the flip side, a logo for $20 probably won’t be that memorable.

3) Research. Does the designer have a portfolio? Look at it! Have they worked on projects similar to yours? Are they versatile? Often times, a portfolio trumps fancy credentials. Someone’s work speaks for itself, so make sure you like what you see before you hire someone.

Merci mille fois, Laurissa! 😉