Graphic design companies in Newcastle: six studios, in their own words.

Each entry below uses the studio's own description of itself. No opinion is offered about anybody's work, and no price appears that the business does not publish.

Listed alphabetically after the first, and the order means nothing.

The studios

• spareday works from Wickham.

  Brand, website, Google listing and the follow up handled as one monthly arrangement rather than separate jobs. Month to month, with every account in the client's name.

• Creato is based in Sydney.

  Established 2015, working nationally. Publishes a same day fixed price quote, unlimited revisions and a satisfaction guarantee.

• Graphika is in Newcastle.

  Founded 2009 by Melissa Horvat, who publishes over 27 years in design. Brand strategy, logo and identity packages, websites, signage and design retainers.

• Prism Design Studio is in Newcastle.

  Run by Danielle. A freelance studio specialising in branding and print, serving Maitland, Port Stephens, the Hunter and the Central Coast.

• psyborg works from Caves Beach.

  Run by Daniel, publishing over twenty years in business, 449 clients and more than 3,800 projects. Branding, graphic design, web design and communication systems.

• Studio Marshall is in Newcastle.

  Run by Dan Marshall. Brand identity, packaging, illustration, environmental graphics and publishing, with work listed for the Australian Museum and the Sydney Opera House.

Each of the other studios has its own site, and every description above comes from it: Creato, Graphika, Prism Design Studio, psyborg, Studio Marshall.

Match the studio to the job. A logo, a full brand and an ongoing arrangement are three different purchases.

The useful question is which of them has done the thing you need recently.

What to sort on

• Decide whether it is one job or ongoing.

  A logo is a project. A brand that keeps being applied is a relationship, and they are priced differently.

• Ask whether they lean print or screen.

  Studios lean one way or the other, and both are on this list.

• Find out who you will actually deal with.

  In a small studio it is the owner, which is often the point.

• Establish what you walk away owning.

  Ask every one of them, and get the answer in writing.

Four, and they are the ones that separate a finished job from one that has to be redone.

Ask whoever you choose, spareday included.

The four

• Ask which files come with it.

  Print, screen, one colour and an outlined version.

• Ask who owns the artwork.

  In writing, before a deposit.

• Ask what a change costs afterwards.

  The question nobody asks until they need it.

• Ask to see it small before signing off.

  On a phone, a card and a sign, not only on a screen at full size.