to expect a graphic designer to be able to read their design to see if it's grammatically correct?

[HollyMiamiFLA]

So someone is designing an email for me.
He's sent me a few proof copies - I've sent them back and he's modified them.

He seems incapable of actually reading it to see if it makes sense. The 3rd one is going back as there's an obvious spelling error on it.

He's a designer in a company I am using for some marketing.

YABU. Graphic designers design: they are not copywriters or proofreaders. One of the best designers I know is severely dyslexic and would never notice a spelling error. His visuals are sublime, however.

I'm pretty sure it's your job to proof read. A graphic designer is in charge of the graphics, not the wording. Also, i know 2 graphic designers and they're both dyslexic!

when i get promotional stuff designed it's me or the marketing manager in charge of the copy. i would never expect the graphic designer to check it

Is he originating the copy text??

I'd expect someone who is writing the text in to at least notice if it seems correct.

He took some stuff from my ideas and adapted it.

YABU - not their job in the slightest. Copywriter or proofreader checks spelling, or if you're doing it on the cheap, the client does it!

It is your responsibility to ensure it is spelt correctly. Are you supplying the text? Is he a copywriter?

According to the company, he's the person who will prepare your email for you.

A bit of a vague description.

And of course I will check the spellings and grammar.

YABU. That's why people should employ copywriters and editors.

Or you either supply the EXACT text you want used, or proof it yourself. Their job is, clue's in the name, designing the graphics.

You or the copywriter from the marketing company ought to be writing the text.

That said, FWIW, I'm a professional graphic designer and a spelling and grammar pedant. So while it's not specifically within the expected remit of a graphic designer to be adept at copywriting, it helps.

Send it to me, I will copyeditor for you ;)
Not his responsibility, sorry.

YABU. Graphic designers are not copywriters or proof readers. It's their job to stick to the brief.

If I sent something to studio and someone took it upon themselves to change my copy I would not be amused.

Um, I will copyedit. And rather better than my mumsnet posts might suggest!

haha! Didn't like to say bigbadbarry

The company said - give them some ideas and this person will use them, write the email and design it.

So he's not just a graphic designer. He looked at my website, looked at the ideas and used them to create it.

Vivi is a rare beast - most designers I know can 'see' fonts but not words thankfully, said the copywriter

Are they quite cheap Holly?

They gave me the impression that they know how to market and design emails with the right kind of language.

Not just relying on me to do the text. The impression was they would create an effective email.

I wouldn't want anyone but me writing the copy for a document representing my business.

DH designs and manufactures exhibition stands. He receives copy from his clients. Times he has to return it back to them to correct errors he has found. And they're paying him just to design. They keep coming back though for his attention to detail.

Thank goodness there is no autocorrect at work, eh?!

Vivi is a rare beast ha why thank you. Available for weddings... bar mitzvahs... freak shows et cetera et ceteraaaah

If his job includes 'prepare your email' - which obviously involves words not just graphics - then either he should leave the text alone (i.e. not introduce errors) or check it. TBH it is so easy to run something through a spellchecker nowadays that whether historically it was a graphic designer's job or not, I'd have thought anyone who cared about doing a good job would do it.

Yep, but the fact a designer is working on your copy suggests they don't know how to use the right kind of language as they are two entirely separate disciplines. Which is why I wondered if they were cheap... Using a 'man and a mac' is quite a common way to cut costs but you don't get the all-round expertise you would in a larger agency.