What does the hourly fee charged to clients reflect?

The hourly fee charged to clients is representative of the firm's direct personnel expense. This fee encompasses the costs associated with the time spent by designers and staff on a project, which includes their salaries, benefits, and additional overhead costs directly related to personnel, such as office space and equipment. This means that when a designer bills hourly, they are essentially reflecting the amount of time and expertise invested in the project, which corresponds to the firm’s operational expenses.

While a designer's experience level and the value of materials used can influence project costs, these factors are not directly linked to the hourly fee structure. The overall project timeline also affects the total cost but does not specifically determine the hourly fee itself. Thus, the hourly fee primarily serves as a measure of the direct costs incurred by the firm due to the personnel involved in the project.