When someone tells you that they have 10 years of experience in their field, it automatically generates some reliability. So you let the person do his job, because you can trust him. Or can you? But different people from different cultures have their own way of thinking.

Using a bit different approach this time, here is an actual screenshot with a dialogue.

To save the buyer from any harassment, this time there will not be any picture or names, but we let the dialogue speak for itself. The following material used, is for educational purpose only.

The white box is the designer with 10 years of experience, as he claims.
Green box is another designer.

click to enlarge

Now about the mentioned clip art. Picture of two men in suits, reaching for a star.

Person who claims having 10 years of experience in graphic design, will make you a logo, using a picture that has been used literally over hundreds of times all over the web.  That’s something you don’t see everyday, yet it still happens, everyday.

Get cheap labor force from India, pay 100$, this is what you will get.

No need for 10 years experience when 5 minutes in ms paint will be enough for that. You get the same results and it costs you absolutely nothing, except loosing your potential clients. But still, the designer and all his experiences, and the price is good, so how can it be wrong?

Now, the purpose of this post will stay in educational purposes only. Philosophically speaking – there is no right or wrong. Integration in different ways has always been there, and it will be there in future.  Creating effective communication between people from different cultures can be challenging. Sometimes it’s the ego, that stops doing it, to become aware and try to see things from another point of view. Accepting those views and moving on with more experienced state of mind. Having the knowledge of what you can expect from different situations.

To speak it more clearly, when buying or using a service from another country, you cannot expect that product or service to have the same impact in your country, in your culture.

Like the example here with a logo design. You can get your logo designed even for as low as 5$, so why would you even think about spending 500$ or 1000$, maybe even more?
But is that 5$ worth logo a great deal? Sure it is, but now looking it from another point of view, can it have the same impact in your case?

Here is when the cultural difference comes in. In some less developed countries, that 5$ logo can make a big impact. Because the living standards and values are way more different. There is no need for thorough researches, days of sketching and exploring every aspect of the company, just to draw some identify for it. If the average salary all around you is 100$, then who really cares how it’s going to look like.

A shopkeeper in Africa wants to have his business identity on the wall of his newly opened place. Will he hire some European designer and pay 1000$ for it? No, he will take that old bucket and just paint the name there. After all, someone has taught him how to write, what else does he need. Will it harm his business? Absolutely not, it has a big impact on the whole village, everyone will respect him.
Now that shopkeeper is applying the same measurements, but doing it so, in some big city. He takes that bucket and paints the business name. Then what happens? People will probably get scared even entering that place.

It’s an extreme example, but the meaning will be the same. The shopkeeper from that African village would not understand, why hes measurements will not work in the city. It’s because people from different cultures, with different backgrounds, have all different perspectives and values.

Now looking back at the screenshot that was provided in the beginning. Designer with 10 years of experience. Coming from a society, where having the knowledge of how to find a picture from web. Add some text, maybe modify it just a little. And if that’s all what it takes, for making a logo that will make a great impact around there. Then there is no need to take any extra steps.

But now you know that the same tactics will not work for everyone and everywhere. And it could also make more harm than good. In short - don’t make people scared to enter your shop. And that’s what must be considered, when making any decisions based on prices. First get to know the values around yourself, then find someone who will understand and share the same values. And then based by that, it’s time to make further decisions.