WELCOME TO SPECIAL FORCES ART DEPARTMENT
ABOUT SpecialForcesAD.com:
My name is Todd Siatkowsky, a Freelance Graphic Designer (or Graphic Artist as some people call it) and Illustrator from Baden Pennsylvania. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Design and I have worked professionally in the Graphic Design field for more than 10 years. I have also been illustrating professionally for more than 15 years. You can view or download my resume here or view my portfolio here.
SpecialForcesAD.com is my web site offering professional Freelance Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) and Illustration services for projects like logo designs, brochures, book layouts, sign designs, custom made illustrations and really any design work needed for printed advertisement.
This is a place to get the blood pumping through your projects again with clean, crisp and powerful printed advertising and illustration created by a real Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) / Illustrator. I approach every project with a military sense of leaving a real impact on the target. If you feel that your current Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) is just not trying (or just not trying anymore), then maybe it's time to bring out the Big Guns... the Dogs of War... the SPECIAL FORCES.
ABOUT GETTING STARTED:
To get started on a Graphic Design or Illustration project just request a quote using my Request a Quote Form. You could also send me an email describing (in as much detail as possible) everything you can tell me about your Graphic Design or illustration project.
In addition to requesting a Graphic Design or illustration quote, you can use this site to view my portfolio or list of services. Feel free to keep reading this about page to learn more about Graphic Design, Illustration and how they are offered here.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SPECIAL FORCES ART DEPARTMENT:
This site is intended to provide professional Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) and Illustration services to individuals and companies seeking designs that show real experience and produce actual results. Companies that already have their own Art Department can also use my services when there are too many orders for their Graphic Design department alone to handle. My skills and years of experience in the Graphic Design and Illustration field are here when you need them. My hope is that you will view my services and continued support of your projects, as your very own Art Department (or an extension of your existing Art Department, as the case may be).
At Special Forces Art Department I treat every project seriously with a carefully thought out, strategic plan of action developed to produce real results. If you are looking for the fastest turnaround or the lowest quote then there are plenty of imitation Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) sources ready to give you exactly what you pay for (or less). If you would rather use the term "I got what I paid for" in a good way, request a quote here to see what properly developed Graphic Design and Illustration can really do.
Here every Graphic Design project is created to print at the highest level of quality possible for its intended printing process. All files are prepared using printing industry standards to insure that your printing company will have no problems reproducing your designs. If there is ever a problem with your files, you or your printing company can always contact me to get the problem resolved. In addition to continued support of your files, I keep a backup of every Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) and illustration project that I work on (excluding handmade artwork) in case you ever lose your copy.
Like my Graphic Design services, every Illustration project is constructed to produce the highest print quality possible. Unless you request a handmade illustration, all illustrations are created in the computer as fully or mostly vector artwork depending on the project's requirements. Vector artwork is basically any design or illustration that is created using a computer program. Vector art will print at the highest possible image quality and it has a number of other advantages that make it a superior format for illustrations.
Every Graphic Design or illustration project you order here is custom developed through a careful process of proofing. The Proofing Process is critical to a successful Graphic Design or Illustration project. It is a visual way to verify that everything is going according to plan and that nothing has been misunderstood along the way.
The rough draft proof is how every Graphic Design or Illustration project begins here at Special Forces Art Department. Most of the research and concept development is handled in this proofing stage. The rough draft proof usually takes the form of several very simple black and white design options that almost always end up looking quite different by the final draft. This first proof is only intended to get us moving in the right direction indicating a rough plan of action or general structure for your project.
The Second Draft Proof is when most of the shaping of your Graphic Design or Illustration project takes place. Typically the Second Draft Proof is near completion however there can be as many revisions as are needed before the proof is considered a final draft.
Most average size Graphic Design or illustration projects take about 3 to 5 business days to complete depending on the complexity and/or the number of revisions required. Quick revisions are usually returned the same day they are requested depending on my workload at the time. Initial proofs are typically ready within 1 to 3 business days after your down payment has been received.
The chart below shows some typical turnaround times for average sized Graphic Design and Illustration projects. Every project is unique and turnaround times may vary from this chart depending on job complexity and my workload at the time. This does however, draw a pretty clear picture of how long projects usually take to complete.
Average Completion Times for Typical Graphic Design Projects:
|
|
·Logos
·Business Cards
·Letterheads
|
·Envelopes
·Flyers
·Inserts
|
·Direct Mailers
·Signs
|
typically 3-5 business days
to complete
|
|
|
·Complex Logos
·Identity Systems
·Magazine Ads
·Brochures
|
·Menus
·Calendars
·Programs
·Book Covers
|
·Newsletters
·Poster Ads
·Billboards
·Point-of-sale Displays
|
typically 5-8 business days
to complete
|
|
|
·Manuals
·Children's Books
·Trade Show Presentations
·Power Point Presentations
|
·Booklets
·Complex Misc Projects
|
|
typically 2 or more business weeks to complete
|
|
|
Average Completion Times for Typical Illustration Projects:
|
|
·Product Illustration
·Concept Illustration
·Building Drawings
|
·Portraits
·Figure Drawings
·Presentation Graphics
|
·Instructional Graphics
|
typically 5 business days
to complete
|
|
|
·Collages
·Landscape & Drawings
·Product Diagrams
|
·Infographs
|
|
typically 5-8 business days
to complete
|
|
|
·Children's Book Illustration (10 Pieces)
·Children's Book Illustration & Page Decoration (10 Pieces)
·Complete Children's Book Illustration (10 - 15 Pieces)
·Custom or Handmade Artwork
|
typically 2 or more business weeks to complete
|
|
|
When final payment has been received, you will receive your completed Graphic Design or illustration project in the form of digital files along with instructions on how those files can be used. You will also receive a copyright release letter giving you full rights to use your Graphic Designs or artwork in any way that you see fit (please note this letter does not copyright your design but you will need it if you decide to have your design or artwork copyrighted in the future). In the case of handmade artwork, your final piece will be shipped to you. It can also be signed and dated upon request.
ABOUT GRAPHIC DESIGNERS (GRAPHIC ARTISTS):
A common misconception about Graphic Designers (Graphic Artists) is that the word "Graphic" in Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) is a noun. This suggests that Graphic Designers (Graphic Artists) only design graphics. This is incorrect. The "Graphic" in Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) is an adjective. Graphic Designers actually design a wide variety of things including graphics, logos, brochures, booklets, advertisements, signs and a great deal more, but we design them in a way that is vivid and memorable (in other words - graphic). More than that, Graphic Design is a complex combination of advertising principles, psychology and art used to communicate to large masses of people or perhaps a more specific audience.
Real Graphic Design done by real Graphic Designers (Graphic Artists) is well planned out and custom fitted to appeal to its intended audience. There should be a logical balance of information and visual persuasion. A Graphic Design for a travel brochure for example, would be full of persuasive photos but would not hold every detail of information about the destinations (it uses its design to persuade you to go there - form over function). A design for an employee handbook on the other hand, would use very little persuasion as most of the Graphic Design work would go into the organizing of all the information making it easier to read and use (function over form). Graphic Design should never be mass produced or quickly slapped together using templates or other shortcuts. Rather, it should be developed through a careful process of proofing and feedback between Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) and client.
ABOUT ILLUSTRATION:
Illustration is a powerful weapon to have in your advertising arsenal. There are the obvious reasons to utilize illustrations in your Graphic Design projects. To enhance the look of a product, provide more vivid imagery and color than most photographs can, or to produce the cleanest reproductions are just a few examples of its power.
The real power of illustration is that it provides limitless visual possibilities. I am not limited to just anything you can photograph or find an image of, I can illustrate anything you can think of. Ideas, concepts, things that don't really exist can all be brought into existence through Illustration. Not only that, but imagery can be made precise. We don't have to settle for a photograph getting as close as possible to what we are trying to say, but rather I can illustrate exactly what we want to say to produce accurate communications with the most impact.
Thank you for your interest in my website and I look forward to taking on your next Graphic Design or Illustration project... WITH BOTH GUNS A BLAZIN'!
Disclaimers:
New customers will receive 50% off my services for your first order. The 50% off savings applies to your first item ordered only. If multiple items are ordered the item with the highest cost will receive the savings. Savings does not apply to any extra expenses that may be required to complete your project.
The money back guarantee means that if you are unsatisfied with my services you will be refunded any deposit made towards your project.
This refund does not include any extra expenses that may have been purchased for your project.
Once you have approved your final draft proof (by making your final payment) your purchase becomes non-refundable.
Extra expenses could include but are not limited to; stock photography, specific type fonts, shipping/handling or miscellaneous art supplies.
This is a place to request Graphic Designer (Graphic Artist) and/or Illustration services online and receive your artwork as digital files that meet or exceed printing industry standards. In the case of handmade artwork, the original artwork will of course be shipped to you. This is not a printing company and no printed reproductions will be provided as part of your purchase. The digital files you purchase here are made to work with any printing company you choose. If your printing company ever has a problem with one of your files they can always contact me. Projects are not copyrighted here however every project is accompanied by a letter allowing you to copyright your design or artwork upon final payment. In the case of embroidery your files will need to be digitized by your embroidery company (which they may charge you for). The files offered by Special Forces Art Department are not embroidery files.
If you request a physical print or disk of your project from me, or you have ordered handmade artwork, it is Pennsylvania law that I add an additional 6% Sales Tax to your original quote. The services offered by Special Forces Art Department are for Graphic Designs and Illustrations in digital form and do not include prints or reproductions of any kind. In the case of handmade artwork you will of course receive the original artwork.
|
|
