TL;DR: When choosing among the top graphic design agencies, it’s crucial to know what qualities signal a good partner and what red flags can cost you time, money, and opportunities.
How important is it to find a partner with the top graphic design agencies to boost your brand? Let’s answer this question with a statistic: 4 out of 5 small business owners and startup founders said design is crucial to success.
It makes sense: having efficient graphic design services at reach means being able to stand out in a crowded market and convert the right customers.
If you’re looking to hire graphic design agency services, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, let’s peel back the layers of hiring a graphic design agency, including how to choose the best branding agency for your unique needs.
Let’s start with the basics –
What Does a Top Graphic Design Agency Do?
Top graphic design agencies like Penji help clients communicate better with their audiences through visuals. To be clear, it’s not enough that these visuals look good; they should also be able to help define the brand identity, voice, and messaging.
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But why would brands without in-house creatives get graphic design agency services when they can simply hire a graphic designer who works freelance? It all boils down to the range of creative skills.
When hiring graphic design service agencies or platforms, you gain access to a creative team, which can include:
- Brand designers
- UI/UX experts
- Custom illustrators
- Ad designers
- Motion graphic specialists
In short, the range of design skills you’ll get when you hire a freelancer can be limited to that person’s niche and experience. On the other hand, subscribing to design-as-a-service platforms or unlimited graphic design services gives you access to a more diverse set of specialties and faster turnaround.
With data telling us that almost one in every two companies outsource to gain access to new capabilities, it makes sense that more organizations turn to on-demand graphic design instead of freelancers or in-house designers.
What Should You Look for When Choosing a Graphic Design Agency?
Choosing a graphic design services agency can be a tough task, with so many options out there. Here are a few qualities you can look for to ensure that you hire a design agency that fits your needs:
1. Strong Portfolio and Reviews
A digital design agency worth its salt would have a range of design styles and project types it can do for its clients. Take the time to browse through the agency’s portfolio to gauge if their quality of work is aligned with what you have in mind. It’s also a good idea to read reviews to see what their current clients have to say about them.
2. Transparent Pricing
What’s the most affordable design service agency? It’s the one that gives you the most value for your money without tricking you with hidden fees or surprise charges. That said, the best unlimited graphic design services agencies are always upfront with their pricing.
3. Clear Communication
Communication should be a top priority when outsourcing any task in your business. After all, data tells us that almost one in every five businesses said it’s difficult to communicate with outsourced teams.
That said, it’s best to ensure that the agency has an open communication line with its clients. This aspect can be a crucial factor in high-pressure situations, such as when you’re requesting revisions within a tight campaign schedule.
4. Scalability
The design needs that you have today might not be the same in six months. As businesses grow, they also need to scale their marketing efforts, leading to more design requests. The top graphic design agencies allow their clients to scale and empower them to reach their full potential.
What Red Flags Should You Avoid When Choosing a Design Partner?
What’s the best reliable graphic design service agency? It’s one that doesn’t create more problems than solutions.
Here are a few red flags to watch out for when choosing a design agency:
- No Portfolio. You won’t be able to trust a chef who can’t show you a single dish. For design agencies, having no portfolio means having no track record to speak of.
- Slow Response Times. When the agency takes weeks to respond to a prospect’s queries, just imagine how worse it would be when you’re already a client, and you’re trying to get your project deliverables.
- No Client Reviews. A great graphic design company will have its clients doing most of its marketing through word-of-mouth. When an agency doesn’t have any reviews, it’s either because it hasn’t had a satisfied client or it hasn’t had a client at all.
- Confusing Pricing. Unclear design rates can be a big problem down the road. When the pricing isn’t clear, you can be caught off guard by additional hourly rates, add-on charges, and rush project fees.
The Lowdown: What Makes Penji Different From Other Graphic Design Services?
What’s the best graphic design agency? Many clients say it’s Penji!
Penji ticks all the boxes in the top graphic design agencies’ green flag checklist. Backed by the world’s top 2% designers, Penji offers high-quality designs at a predictable monthly rate and with a fast turnaround time of 24-48 hours.
View a demo today and see why Penji is the preferred design platform among enterprises, startups, small businesses, and even agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I hire a graphic design agency?
When hiring a graphic design agency, start by looking at their portfolio and reviews. Then, compare rates and inclusions. You can also try their services to ensure that they fit your needs. For instance, Penji offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, taking out the risk when trying the platform for the first time.
2. Which services do graphic design agencies offer?
Graphic design agencies offer a myriad of services (Penji, for example, offers over 120 creative project types). These can include logo and branding, packaging, presentation, ads, print designs, motion graphics, illustrations, and more.
3. What is an on-demand graphic design model?
An on-demand graphic design model lets clients request designs whenever they need them, as long as it’s within the subscription period (usually a month). This model allows clients to enjoy graphic design services without a long-term commitment.
About the author
Carla Deña
Carla is a journalist and content writer who produces stories for both digital and legacy media. She is passionate about creativity, innovation, and helping small businesses explore solutions that drive growth and social impact.
