Graphic Design Outsourcing: A Practical Guide for Busy Businesses

TL;DR: Graphic design outsourcing has been proven effective by many successful businesses. This article delves into what it is, what it offers, and why it is a wise business investment for many modern brands.

Nowadays, a modern business is synonymous with a busy business. Studies show that almost 40% of brands struggle to create consistent designs. This is when the demand for it outpaces what your design partner can deliver (whether your own team, a freelancer, or an agency you work with), that’s where the problems come in. And so, this is the best time to do what successful businesses have already done: outsource graphic design services.

What is Graphic Design Outsourcing? (And How It Really Works)

In a nutshell, graphic design outsourcing means delegating your business’s creative work to an external team. It initially started as a backup to support brands with overwhelmed design teams, unreliable freelancers, or expensive agency contracts. Now, it has evolved into a strategic move to deliver designs quickly, flexibly, and customized. What began as getting “cheap labor” has turned into getting access to scalable design talent on demand.

Let’s compare the different methods of outsourcing graphic design services to show you what’s the best option:

Outsourcing to Freelancers

This is when you hire graphic designers online, mostly for one-off projects.

• Pros: Affordable, flexible, and a vast talent pool to choose from.
• Cons: Quality can vary, availability may be inconsistent, and managing more than one can be time-consuming.
• Ideal for: If you need occasional designs, such as a new logo or a single campaign asset.

Outsourcing to Agencies

This is when you hire full-service design teams.

• Pros: Provides strategic input, has polished processes, and a wider range of creative capabilities.
• Cons: More expensive, longer timelines, and less flexibility for quick tasks.
• Ideal for: Large-scale projects, rebrands, and major campaigns.

Outsourcing Through Graphic Design Subscription Services

Platforms like Penji, where you can send as many design requests and revisions for a fixed monthly fee.

• Pros: Fast turnaround times, cost-effective and affordable plans, and no contracts.
• Cons: Not suitable for those with few design needs each month.
• Ideal for: Busy businesses with ongoing design needs.

As you can see, the last option is the easiest, most cost-effective way to outsource graphic design services today.

What are the Common Problems Businesses Have with Design?

Now, let’s look at some of the most common problems business owners experience with design. These are real-world pain points that outsourcing graphic design solves:

Slow Turnaround Times

• The problem: Internal teams often juggle multiple campaigns, leading to delays or bottlenecks in design delivery.
• The fix: Outsourcing to graphic design subscription services assures you of faster delivery times, thanks to dedicated designers who work exclusively on your projects.

Inconsistent Quality from Freelancers

• The problem: Freelancers are not made the same. Their skills, styles, and reliability vary, resulting in inconsistent work.
• The fix: Outsourced services have vetted designers who follow standardized processes, which guarantee consistent quality.

High Costs of an In-House Design Team

• The problem: Full-time salaries, benefits, software and hardware, and overhead expenses.
• The fix: Graphic design subscription services offer designs at a fraction of the cost.

Scalability Concerns Especially During Peak Seasons

• The problem: Holiday seasons and product or campaign launches increase design needs.
• The fix: Outsourcing allows you access to diverse talent pools. This means you can quickly hire graphic designers online, providing your staff with support to avoid burnout.

No Creative Guidance

• The problem: With no creative guidance, there is no direction, resulting in revisions piling up.
• The fix: Graphic design subscription services have structured design processes, dedicated account managers to help you align your designs with your brand goals and vision, and significantly reduce revisions.

Lacks of Brand Consistency

• The problem: Different designers result in mismatched visuals, which can weaken your brand identity.
• The fix: Outsourcing teams typically learn your brand and its guidelines to create a consistent style across all design assets.

What are the Benefits of Outsourcing Graphic Design for Businesses?

Aside from the fixes outsourcing graphic design helps solve, there are plenty of benefits to working with one. Below is a shortlist:

Cost Reduction

Reducing costs to maximize profits is on every business owner’s mind. But to make your cost reduction effective, your design has to be of quality, not mediocrity. An in-house team isn’t exactly the definition of cutting down costs, with salaries and other expenses adding up.

Hiring freelancers may cost less, but the unpredictability and unreliability aren’t worth it. Outsourcing to graphic design subscriptions provides professional designs for less. Flat pricing makes budgeting easier.

Access to a Full Team of Designers

Outsourcing graphic design grants you access to every design specialist possible: logo design experts, killer illustrators, top-notch ad creatives, and many more. Most of the time (in Penji’s case), they have everything you need.

Flexibility and Scalability

Graphic design subscription services are built for speed. You can get your first draft within 24 to 48 hours, allowing you to start that email campaign as early as tomorrow. In peak seasons, a graphic design service platform can adapt to the fluctuations of your design needs. You can also pause your subscription when the workload decreases.

How Do I Choose the Right Outsourcing Model?

Each outsourcing model has its own strengths and weaknesses. Below is a detailed framework that can help you choose what’s best for your brand:

First Option: Freelancers

• When it works: You need occasional, one-off designs.
• When it doesn’t: You need continuous, high-volume designs.

Second Option: Traditional Agencies

• Pros: Strategy, polished design processes, and full-service capabilities.
• Cons: Higher price tags, slower delivery times, not suitable for quick requests.

Third Option: Outsourcing to Graphic Design Subscription Services

• Flat monthly pricing plans: Predictable costs.
• Unlimited requests and revisions: Send as many design requests and revisions as you can.
• Fast delivery times: 24 to 48 hours for first drafts, 12 to 24 hours for revisions.
• Consistency: Designers follow brand guidelines.
• Scalability: Handles peak seasons without needing extra hires.
• Flexibility: Pause, upgrade, downgrade your plans as needed.

Fourth Option: Build Your Internal Team + Outsourced Support

• Form your own design team and outsource your less crucial design projects to an outsourced team. Your in-house staff tackles brand oversight while delegating the volume tasks to your outsourced partners.

What Do I Look for in a High-Quality Graphic Design Subscription Service?

Now, let’s talk about what you need to look for in a graphic design outsourcing partner:

• Fast turnaround times: We can’t stress this enough, busy businesses need their design fast. A reliable design solution should deliver your projects fast to avoid design delays.
• Clear communication and collaboration workflows: Smooth collaboration and efficient communication are the key to doing your projects right the first time. This prevents revisions, which can take up a considerable chunk of your time and resources.
• Diverse design specialties: The right graphic design subscription service is one that can provide you with all the design types your business needs. This leaves you more time to manage your business instead of searching for freelancers for a specific style.
• Transparent pricing: Choose one without hidden charges that can throw your budget off track. 
• Strong portfolio: Review past works to see if their style is what you need.

Final Thoughts

Outsourcing graphic design may just be the best thing you can do for your business. With its many benefits, you can get your design assets quickly, efficiently, and at a lower cost. You can now review your options, choose the graphic design subscription service that works best for your business, and see your business visuals grow.

For faster campaigns, stronger branding, and cost-effective designs, there’s Penji. Watch our demo video here to know more, or send your first design request through this link.

FAQs

• What design tasks can I outsource?

You can outsource graphic design services such as branding, marketing graphics, presentation designs, illustrations, social media graphics, and many others.

• What is the future of graphic design outsourcing with AI around?

AI design tools can never replace human designers. They will only be used to improve workflows and speed up repetitive tasks. This means businesses will get their designs faster, with more options, and at lower prices.

• Is outsourcing graphic design really cheaper than traditional methods?

Yes. Graphic design subscription services offer a single fee each month that provides unlimited graphic design services. This contrasts with hiring freelancers or agencies that charge per hour or per project.