Egads! Now I know why people cringe when I tell them I'm a graphic designer.

The entry threshold is low. Anyone can say they're a designer. However, if you do a more thorough vetting up front, you can steer clear of part-timers or people who are between jobs and find a dedicated designer or firm that has a proven track record of sticking with their clients over many years.

I pick up a lot of projects from clients who went through a stream of "designers" and "developers" and were always left in limbo when the contractors moved on.

If you call a few of the designer's clients and ask them what kind of long-term and ongoing service they receive and how happy they are with the results, you won't have to deal with fly-by-night con men.