Graphic Design as a Service: What It Is and Why Businesses Use It

TL;DR: Graphic design as a service is the best approach any business or marketer can take for their design needs. This article discusses what it is and why you should be working with one, too.

You may have heard of graphic design as a service and are wondering why businesses and marketers are raving about it. It’s the most innovative way to get creative work, more than what traditional graphic design services could ever provide. Here’s what you need to know about graphic design as a service, and how to work with one.

What Exactly is Graphic Design as a Service?

An excellent way to get quality visual assets, graphic design as a service is a business model where users can get creative work through a subscription. Simply put, it lets you get ongoing design support at fixed monthly rates, anytime you need it. You don’t have to build your internal design team, hire freelancers, or pay for high agency costs.

Working with a graphic design as a service differs from traditional graphic design services in many ways. The latter charges you per project, per hour, or per deliverable. You may need to negotiate for every new design you need or contend with unreliable freelancers. With a graphic design subscription, you get continuous designs whenever you need them, for a single flat rate.

Graphic Design as a Service vs. Traditional Graphic Design Services

There are a variety of ways businesses get access to design work, from building in-house teams to outsourcing graphic design to freelancers or agencies. While they all have advantages, the subscription-based graphic design as a service model is now preferred by many business owners. Let’s look at how it is a distinct alternative you need to explore:

• In-house design team: This is where you hire a full-time staff and get brand familiarity at its best. However, it offers limited scalability and can incur higher costs, especially when your workload decreases.
• Freelancers: Freelancers can be a cost-effective option. They are flexible and affordable, especially for startups and small businesses. That said, quality and availability aren’t guaranteed.
• Agencies: Provides polished work and strategic input, but can incur high rates and take a longer time to deliver.
• Subscription-based design services: These offer unlimited graphic design services for fixed monthly rates. It also gives you unlimited revisions, fast turnaround times, and scalability.

How Does Graphic Design as a Service Work?

Following a straightforward design process, most graphic design as a service allows you to get your visuals fast and easily. Let’s use Penji’s design process as an example:

• Subscribing to a plan: Once you’ve chosen a plan that fits your budget, you’ll be given access to the Penji dashboard. This is where you submit your projects, communicate with your designers, and download your completed design.
• Request submission: Write your project brief, then wait for your first draft within 24 to 48 hours.
• Revisions: You can either ask for revisions to the draft or download it directly from the platform. You’ll get your revised design within 12 to 24 hours.
• Review: You can then leave feedback for the finished design, the designer, and the overall process.
• File ownership: Completed designs are yours to keep and use for any purpose.

What Does “Unlimited Graphic Design” Mean?

This is the part where many prospects get confused. What does “unlimited graphic design” actually mean? Let’s clarify for first-time users:

Misconceptions: Unlimited does not mean your every request will be completed instantly. It also doesn’t mean there will be no boundaries. It means you can send as many design requests as you need within the subscription at no extra cost per project.

Scope of requests: Most design-as-a-service platforms let you submit requests for common visuals like logos, infographics, illustrations, or social media graphics. For larger or highly complex requests, such as full brand guidelines or web designs, turnaround time can take longer or require special handling.

Fair usage: Explained simply, to keep the workflows smooth sailing, graphic design services usually process your requests one at a time. This assures you that the result you get is of high quality, delivered within a reasonable time.

Why are Businesses Choosing Graphic Design as a Service?

Below are reasons why businesses and marketing teams are choosing graphic design as a service instead of the traditional methods:

• Predictable monthly fees: Subscription pricing is easy on the budget.
• Faster turnaround times: Your projects are completed quickly, no more design delays or bottlenecks for you.
• No more hiring or management: Say goodbye to issues with recruitment, onboarding, training, or supervising designers.
• Quick and easy scaling: You can increase your design output without additional hiring.
• Brand consistency: Your visuals stay consistent across channels.
• Less operational friction: You save time by outsourcing graphic design instead of juggling freelancers or agencies.

Who is Graphic Design as a Service For?

While graphic design as a service offers many advantages, it isn’t for everyone. If you’re in doubt, here’s a list:

• Startups: These are the ones that need graphic design services most, but, sadly, may resort to DIY design tools due to budget constraints. Unlimited graphic design changes this.
• Small to mid-sized businesses: With predictable costs and flexible design support, these businesses can get access to great designs for less.
• Marketing teams: They can use subscription-based design services to manage overflow work, meet tight deadlines, and keep design consistency.
• Content-heavy brands: Those that require huge volumes of visual assets can benefit from outsourcing their design tasks via a graphic design as a service platform.

Final Thoughts

Graphic design as a service is an innovation that businesses should take advantage of. It offers predictable costs, faster delivery times, and more, while freeing you from the hassles of hiring or managing in-house teams. This is why Penji is the go-to design as a service platform for many business owners and marketers.

Watch our quick demo video to learn how your brand can get amazing designs quickly and for less. You can also start working with our designers by clicking this link today.

FAQs

• What types of graphic design as a service are included?

You can send requests for marketing assets, website and landing page designs, custom illustrations, and social media graphics. Penji offers over 120 design categories, covering almost all of your visual asset needs.

• Why is graphic design as a service the better alternative to hiring freelancers?

While working with freelancers offers a cost-effective way to get designs, not all freelancers are the same. You’ll find those who will leave you for better-paying projects, some will keep you chasing them for revisions, and those who will stop communicating. A graphic design as a service platform, Penji, for one, is highly reliable.

• When does working with a graphic design as a service platform make the most sense?

If you are a business with ongoing design needs, a marketing team with frequent campaigns, or brands that want to avoid design delays, you need a graphic design as a service subscription.