What Is a Graphic Design Subscription—and Is It Really Worth It?

Every day, we get bombarded with content from a wide variety of sources, mostly from brands looking to capture our attention. According to studies, over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created each day. This may not tell us the actual number of content we see daily, but you get the picture. So, if you’re a business owner, how do you stand out from all that noise? The simple answer is: great graphic design. This is why working with a graphic design subscription service is a smart business investment. 

What is a Graphic Design Subscription Service?

To begin with, a modern business model, a graphic design subscription service, is a company that provides graphic design services for a fixed monthly fee. You no longer have to build your own in-house design team or hire freelancers, which can both be time-consuming and costly. Also known as graphic design as a service, these companies eliminate all the hassles associated with traditional methods of obtaining graphic designs. 

Furthermore, a graphic design subscription service combines all that’s good with these traditional options. It offers the professionalism of an agency, the flexibility of a freelancer, and the consistency of an in-house design team, but without the overhead. Here’s a chart to show you how a graphic design subscription service compares to other design solutions:

Feature	Freelancers	Agencies	Graphic design subscription services
Pricing	Hourly or per-project	Project-based or retainer	Flat monthly fee
Turnaround Time	Varies	Typically slower due to scale	Usually 24 to 48 hours
Revisions	Limited or extra cost	Limited	Often unlimited
Brand Familiarity	Depends on relationship	May vary by project	Dedicated team or designer
Scalability	Limited by freelancer’s time	Requires larger budget	Easily scalable with plan tiers

How Does a Graphic Design Subscription Service Work?

Built around the convenience and scalability of the subscription economy, a graphic design as a service puts a modern twist on traditional creative support. Operating like software as a service (SaaS), this model gives you access to professional graphic design on demand. This means you get your design when you need it, not five days or a week after.

Additionally, graphic design subscription services are a cost-effective and convenient solution. You only need to pay a recurring monthly fee instead of negotiating for per-project rates or managing multiple freelancers. It also saves you from paying the high costs of an agency, utilities, employment benefits, and other overhead expenses.

Moreover, graphic design subscription services offer various plans that are based on:

• The number of active requests
• Turnaround speed
• Scope of services
• Dedicated designer or team access

More often than not, you send your requests and communicate with the designers via platforms like Trello, ClickUp, or specialized dashboards. Typically, you will wait 24 to 48 hours after you send your first design request. You can then approve it or send it for revisions. Once happy with the design, you can download it from the platform. It’s that easy.

Why You Need to Use a Graphic Design Subscription Service

Aside from the convenience and affordability, a graphic design as a service offers a myriad of benefits. They are as follows:

• Unlimited Requests and Revisions: Firstly, many of the platforms offer unlimited design requests and revisions. This allows you to achieve the exact design you have in mind without the fear of added costs. It is a breeze compared to traditional models, where each revision incurs additional expenses.
• Predictable Pricing: Agencies can be expensive, and freelancers typically charge by the hour or per project. A subscription to an on-demand graphic design service allows for transparent and predictable pricing. 
• Access to a Full Design Team: Finding, vetting, and onboarding graphic designers can be a time-consuming and laborious task. With a graphic design subscription service, you won’t have to deal with these. It’s like having a reliable and creative team of designers without the hassles.
• Faster Delivery: Lastly, graphic design subscription services are built for speed. They typically provide your design within 24 to 48 hours, while revisions can take between 12 and 24 hours.

Who Should Use a Graphic Design Subscription Service?

While a graphic design subscription service isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it can be a game-changer for many businesses. So, if you are one of the following, you should definitely work with one:

• Startups and Small Businesses: These often work on tight budgets, and a graphic design as a service is the best route to take.
• Marketing Teams: For marketing teams that require a steady stream of content, a graphic design subscription is highly recommended.
• Agencies: Creative agencies that work with multiple clients often experience fluctuating workloads. An on-demand graphic design service can help them scale up their operations.

Is Graphic Design Subscription Service Really Worth It?

To determine whether a graphic design subscription is truly worth our attention, let’s examine a few key factors. More than the monthly fee, consider the full scope of what you’ll receive: speed, consistency, scalability, and superb creative support. According to studies, businesses waste up to 40% of their marketing budget on inefficient design workflows. Therefore, if you’re one of them, you can reclaim that value by working with a graphic design subscription service.

When to use a graphic design subscription service:

• Your brand needs designs for all platforms regularly
• You want to save on time and money
• You hate managing freelancers and in-house designers

When not to use a graphic design subscription service:

• You only need a few designs each month
• Your business requires a deep, creative strategy 
• You want full-time, embedded creative collaboration

To summarize, if your business requires visual content that is fast, consistent, and cost-effective, a graphic design subscription service is a wise investment.

Final Thoughts

Making your brand stand out in this digital-first world can be a huge challenge. To succeed, you need visuals that drive engagement, brand recognition, and conversions. However, this is a task that can only be done by a professional graphic design subscription service. Leave it to the professionals to get optimum results.

This is why Penji is your best bet. Watch our demo video here to learn how your business can get amazing visuals without the hassles associated with traditional graphic design services. Or you can send your first design request through this link.

FAQs

• What types of design work can I request from a graphic design subscription service?

It varies depending on the company, but for Penji, you can send requests for billboards, online ads, infographics, animated logos, and more than 120 others.

• Are revisions really unlimited?

Yes, most on-demand graphic design services include unlimited revisions in the plans.

• Do I get full ownership of my designs?

Absolutely, most graphic design as a services grant full ownership of the designs.