FAQ
Thinking of Hiring a Graphic Designer, Web Developer, Photographer or Skilled Creative Partner? You’re in the Right Place.
If you’re here, chances are you’re looking for a graphic designer, web developer, event designer, photographer, videographer or someone who blends those skills into one creative partner. That’s where I come in. Clients often say I’m easy to work with, that I listen closely, and that I “hit the design out of the park” quickly—bringing that special “Ziel behind their creative”. I believe great design has a purpose. It should be thoughtful, strategic, and tailored to move your business forward while inspiring your audience to take action.
Whether you’re hiring a designer for the first time or looking to collaborate on a more complex project, my goal is to make the process smooth, creative, and aligned with what you truly need. And yes, I believe we can enjoy the process along the way. I work with clients throughout the U.S., but I’m always excited to partner with local businesses here in Las Vegas. These days, creativity travels—so no matter where you’re located, I can help you get there.
Trust me… I know we’re hard to find!
A creative, collaborative designer who’s fast, who truly listens, and who can intuitively translate your vision into strong, strategic design? That’s rare.
I’ve heard the horror stories: affordable rates that turn into costly delays, endless revisions, and designs that miss the mark. I work differently. I get to the heart of what you need quickly, often nail it in the first round, and make the process efficient, enjoyable, and worth your investment. Whether you’re launching something big, updating a single asset, or just exploring possibilities, I support projects of all sizes and welcome new clients.
Here’s What It’s Like to Work Together.
Think of me as your boutique creative studio: personal, collaborative, and built around your needs and always on-call. You’ll work directly with me, ensuring a tailored experience and clear communication every step of the way.
Got questions? You’re in good company.
Choosing a designer is a big decision. It takes trust, clarity, and a bit of courage to invest in your vision and share it with someone new. I understand that—and I’ve designed this process to be supportive, transparent, and genuinely collaborative from the very first step. Here are answers to some common questions clients ask before getting started.
FAQs About Working with Troy Ziel at ZielCreative
I’m Your Creative Swiss Army Knife
Getting Started & Working Together
Yes, a discovery call is a great opportunity for us to connect and explore how we might work together. I’m genuinely interested in learning more about you, your project, and what you’re hoping to achieve. It’s a relaxed, no-pressure conversation where you can share your goals, ask questions, and get a sense of how I can best support you.
Schedule a Free 30 minute discovery call.
You can contact me in the following ways:
– You can fill out my contact form below
OR
if you are interested in a website, I do have a dedicated website questionnaire you can fill out prior to our call.
– Email me directly
It begins with a discovery call. From there, depending on the scope, we either get started on an hourly basis or I’ll provide a custom proposal. Most projects follow a natural rhythm:
Discovery – understanding your goals and audience
Design – creating concepts, reviewing, refining
Implementation – whether that’s preparing final files, launching a website, or delivering assets
Throughout the process, we stay in close communication. You’ll always know what’s happening, what’s next, and when to expect it.
That’s completely okay. I’ll guide you every step of the way. You don’t need to have everything figured out before we begin—that’s part of what I’m here to help with. Whether it’s understanding your goals, shaping your message, or making confident design decisions, I’ll meet you where you are and help bring clarity to the process. I keep things organized, collaborative, and transparent so you always know what to expect.
I work with small businesses, entrepreneurs, event producers, and creative teams on projects that include branding, website design, print collateral, packaging, photography, and video. Whether you need a full launch or a design refresh, I can help.
You can browse my Capabilities List on the Services page, which outlines the full range of services I offer along with real project examples from my portfolio.
Most larger projects start with a proposal, especially if there are several moving parts. After that, many of my clients continue working with me hourly as needed. Everything is tailored to what works best for your project, your workflow, and your budget. I’m happy to be flexible and find the structure that makes the most sense for both of us.
Scope & Services
Yes I work individually as well as in teams. Sometimes you already have a designer or a website developer that needs updated graphics. Or sometimes you need another designer at the table to furnish designs to add to the presentation.
I usually handle most creative needs myself, but if your project requires something beyond, I can bring in trusted partners to fill in the need. For example, for large-scale events like SAGE Concord, I brought in an experienced event producer to round out the team. I’ve also worked with copywriters (both human and AI-assisted) when projects call for strong messaging and voice. Just let me know what you need—chances are, I have the right collaborator in my corner.
I support projects of all sizes—from one-off design needs to full-scale branding systems and campaign rollouts. Whether you’re launching something new, refreshing an existing brand, or just need help with a single piece, I’ve got you covered.
You can browse my Capabilities List on the Services page, which outlines the full range of services I offer along with real project examples from my portfolio.
I offer creative photography and video services for a wide range of projects, from event coverage and product photography to custom visual storytelling. Visit the “What I Capture” section of my Services page to learn more and see examples of my work in action.
Absolutely. I prefer to manage the final production process so you can relax knowing everything is handled correctly. I work with trusted print service bureaus and can also coordinate with your preferred printer. Either way, I’ll make sure the design files are built to spec, formatted properly, and delivered with care.
Nope. When you work with me, you’re working directly with me. I don’t contract out to overseas teams or anonymous freelancers. Every project is personally crafted, reviewed, and delivered with care—and if a project calls for extra help, I only bring in trusted collaborators I know and work closely with and I’d let you know when and if that needs to happen.
Website Design & Development
I specialize in WordPress (including Avada), Squarespace, and Shopify—depending on your goals, budget, and how much flexibility or control you want after launch. I’ll help you choose the right platform for your needs. If you already have a developer but you just need me to provide them new design files for the front end of your website, I can do that too.
Yes. I can guide you with a content framework and prompts—or work with trusted copywriters or AI-based tools if you need more support. I’ll also help organize your content for clarity and user flow.
That depends on your current platform, goals, and how your site was originally built. Sometimes an update makes sense; other times a rebuild is the cleaner, more future-proof option. I’ll let you know what’s best after a discovery call.
Timeline depends on the size and complexity of the site. A smaller brochure-style website can take just a few weeks, while larger, multi-page builds with custom features typically take closer to two months. I’m fast, organized, and communicative—I’ll give you a realistic timeline up front, keep the project on track, and keep you informed every step of the way.
First we talk strategy. Then I design a homepage layout for review before anything gets built. Once you approve the direction, we move into design for the other pages. After that, I develop the site, test it across devices, and launch when you’re ready. I’ll also train you on how to make updates if you want that option.
Yes. Every website I design is fully responsive and looks great on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Yes—absolutely. A well-designed website isn’t “set it and forget it.” It requires regular updates, security checks, and backups to stay running smoothly and safely. That’s where my maintenance service comes in.
I offer proactive monthly maintenance so you don’t have to worry about things breaking, becoming outdated, or getting hacked. Here’s what I do behind the scenes:
- Backups: I run automated daily backups and keep a secure monthly copy in my private Dropbox, so your site can always be restored if needed.
- Plugin & WordPress Updates: I log in manually several times a week to update plugins, your theme, and WordPress itself—testing everything after each update to make sure nothing breaks. If it does, I roll back and wait for stable versions.
- Security Checks: Daily scans flag malware or threats. If anything is detected, I restore a clean version and get your site back to safety quickly.
- Spam Management: I routinely clear spam comments and trash to keep your backend clean and performing well.
- Reporting: You’ll receive a monthly report summarizing everything done to keep your site secure, current, and reliable. Prefer weekly or biweekly reports? That’s an option too.
This service saves you time, prevents headaches, and protects your investment—so you can stay focused on running your business while I handle the tech.
That depends on the platform and your needs. When I build in WordPress, I create fully custom designs—tailored to your brand with no reliance on pre-built templates.
For platforms like Squarespace and Shopify, there are some design constraints due to their drag-and-drop nature (like columns and strict theme capabilities). However, I never let a template define the final result. Even within those platforms, I customize layouts, design elements, and brand presentation so that your site looks and feels like you—not like a cookie-cutter theme.
When flexibility, scalability, or advanced features are needed, I typically recommend WordPress. But great design is about matching the right tool to the job—and sometimes a template-based platform is exactly the right choice when you need something fast, affordable, and easy to maintain.
Budget & Turnaround
With decades of experience, I know how to get to the heart of a project quickly. Once we’re aligned on the goals, I can usually deliver strong creative early in the process—often in fewer rounds than expected. I focus on clarity, communication, and efficiency, so the work keeps moving forward without unnecessary delays. I also offer real-time screen share sessions if you prefer to review and refine designs together. Projects move at your pace, and I’ll always keep you informed about what’s next.
That depends on the size and scope of the project. After a discovery call to better understand your needs, I’m happy to provide a detailed quote or estimate. Some clients prefer proposals for larger projects; others work with me on an hourly basis. I’m flexible and transparent with pricing and always aim to create a structure that works well for both of us.
I work with all kinds of clients—from nonprofits and startups to established businesses—and I always respect the resources you have. After we talk about what you need, I’ll propose an approach that aligns with your priorities and fits your budget.
I’m here and remain available to clients before, during, and after a project wraps. Many continue working with me for updates, new initiatives, or ongoing creative needs. I’m deadline-driven, I schedule efficiently, and I don’t disappear. If you need something, I’m just a message away.
Communication & Revision
I’m responsive and easy to reach. Most of my clients prefer email or scheduled calls, but I also offer Zoom sessions with screen sharing if you’d like to review designs together in real time. It keeps the process efficient, collaborative, and aligned as we go.
Most projects include 2–3 rounds of revisions, depending on the scope. That said, I’m flexible with small changes and won’t nickel-and-dime you. My goal is the same as yours—to complete the project in a way that feels right. For websites, I structure revisions in stages: we fine-tune the homepage first, then a key subpage, and after that, the design naturally flows across the rest. If revisions begin to extend beyond the agreed scope, we’ll talk about it before anything adds up. No surprises.
That’s totally okay. My process is designed to give you confidence as we move forward. For example, on websites, we finalize the visual design before any coding begins—so you’ll know how things will look and function early on. If the direction shifts significantly midstream and additional work is needed, we’ll chat about how to adjust the scope, any additional costs and timeline together.
Absolutely. In fact, I encourage them. Screen shares are a great way to review design work, make edits in real time, and speed up decision-making. They’re especially helpful for clients who like to collaborate closely or want quick results without lots of back-and-forth.
Style & Fit
Yes. My job is to understand your brand—its personality, tone, and goals—and create visuals that reflect that. I study your existing assets (if you have them) and ask thoughtful questions to ensure everything I create is aligned. Whether you’re starting fresh or need something on-brand, I tailor every design to fit.
Absolutely. I’m experienced working with detailed brand systems and enjoy finding fresh ways to stay on-brand while elevating the creative. If you don’t have guidelines, I can help create a consistent system to move forward with.
Yes—definitely. No one likes surprises that come too far down the line. My process is collaborative, and I’ve refined it over years of experience. You’ll see drafts and design concepts at key checkpoints so we can align early, shape the project together, and avoid wasted time. You’ll always know where things stand.
My work is tailored and strategic—never cookie-cutter. I focus on clean, professional design that communicates clearly and effectively. Every project is thoughtfully crafted with your audience in mind, whether we’re following existing brand guidelines or creating something entirely new. The goal is always the same: to create design that works, feels right, and makes an impact.
You can get a feel for my style by browsing my Graphic Design Projects and my Website Design Portfolio. You’ll see a range of approaches, each customized to the needs of the client and the story being told.
Book a Discovery Call with Troy
Have a project in mind? Not sure where to start? Let’s talk.
This free 30-minute call is a chance for us to connect and explore how I can support your goals. We can meet over video or chat by phone if you leave your number. Either way, it’s a relaxed, no-pressure conversation focused on you and your vision.
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