Frequently asked questions, and some that should be.
Some questions are easier to answer than others. If yours isn't listed here, get in touch and ask away.
Are you really just one person?
Yep. I'm Jess, writer/designer/strategist. I run this rodeo mostly solo, providing hands-on project management and over a decade of communications and production expertise. I'm not a jack-of-all-trades, though, so I bring in other creative pros when projects demand specialized attention. This allows me the flexibility to accomodate all sorts of projects, which keeps things interesting, and gets clients exactly what they need with nothing they don't.
How do you work with other creative firms?
I love collaboration, whether it's plugging into an existing team or project managing/art directing. I like to think it says something about the quality of my work and my approach to business relationships that other firms trust me and bring me into their fold.
Do you work with retail businesses or manufacturers?
Roughstock specializes in service-based organizations rather than retail. While partly a personal decision to avoid peddling more stuff to the masses, it also allows me to focus my strengths on the unique demands that service-based organizations face (believe me, it takes some skill to describe the inherent value of the unseen in a way people can really get). That said, if you think we're a good fit, I'd love to hear from you.
Do you do websites?
Why, yes. But because print is my first love, Roughstock happily uses only the most standards compliant and tech savvy programmers to handle the heavy lifting.
Are you hiring?
Nope. But feel free to forward your resume and a link to your portfolio if you're interested in potentially working as a subcontractor. Just promise you won't send a generic "to whom it may concern" email.
Anybody else think you're pretty good at what you do?
You mean other than my roster of satisfied clients? In addition to being name dropped in many fine blogs and magazines, Roughstock's work has been published in David E. Carter's Big Book of Design Ideas 3, as well as Basic Logo by Index Books and Designing for the Greater Good: the Best in Cause-Related Marketing and Nonprofit Design by Peleg Top and Jonathan Cleveland. I don't actually enter competitions, so you won't hear me calling myself "an award winning designer."
Do you do work for hire?
If your company has a legal department, you'll want to read this entire response. Work for hire is by almost any definition an inequitable arrangement (if you'd like to know why, I'd be happy to explain nicely). Since Roughstock is all about developing business relationships that benefit everyone, I generally don't sign work for hire, all rights, or sweeping IP language contracts.
So please, check with your legal department first to see if they require work for hire or if they're willing to revisit such language. I'm more than happy to work with clients to find language that works for both parties, but if work for hire language is required, be prepared for a substantially larger quote on your project (and I do mean substantial). Sorry, but them's the breaks.
Will you answer some questions for my school project/article/general curiosity?
Yep. But please dig through this site first to see if your questions have already been answered elsewhere. Keep in mind, too, that the more creative your questions are, the more effort I'll put into answering them. And finally, be sure to include a deadline for your responses!
Do you belong?
In a futile attempt to fit in, Roughstock belongs to the following organizations:
