Web Designer Freelance Question:

Reviewing a web designer's portfolio is the main way to get a sense of their overall design style. If you don't like their style, or know that it wouldn't be a good fit for your brand, then they're probably not the right designer for you.

When reviewing examples of a designer's past work, look for variation across their design projects. If they are fairly "cookie cutter," consider whether they will be able to adapt their style to fit your brand and audience profile.

Try to get an idea of whether they pay attention to detail in their designs. For instance:

☛ Are they consistent with their use of fonts, colours, and styles throughout the entire site?
☛ Have they considered the "little" things like appropriate font selection, line height, and text spacing?
☛ Is there a common theme carried throughout all pages and sections of the site?
☛ Do you find their sites easy to use and navigate?
☛ If you said yes to all or most of these questions, then the decision will come down to your personal preference and taste. It's natural that the work of some designers will simply appeal to you more than others.

Also note that if your designer is bringing in a photographer or copywriter to develop content for your site, you may want to see samples of their individual work as well, again looking to make sure that you like their overall style and approach.