How to Hire Professional Graphic Designers for On-Demand Designs

TLDR: Learn how to hire professional graphic designers for your on-demand graphic design needs. We’ll also show you why Penji is the reliable design support you need.

One thing seasoned entrepreneurs can tell newbies about graphic design is this: it is strategy, not decoration. So, if you’re a startup launching your first product or an established brand refreshing your brand identity, you need a dependable graphic design service. Here’s how to hire a professional graphic designer for on-demand designs.

What Does On-Demand Graphic Design Services Really Mean?

There are several ways of getting graphic design services. You can hire freelancers, build your own design team, or work with agencies. All of these have their own pros and cons, but for many business owners, on-demand graphic design services are the best option. It’s the business model where you can get graphic design done as you need it. 

On-demand graphic design services let you send requests for all your design projects. The platform does the work for you, and all you do is wait for the first draft, which takes around 24 to 48 hours. You can send the following project brief and so on. It’s that easy. You won’t have to hire or find designers, the platform does it all for you.

What Do I Look for When Hiring a Professional Graphic Designer?

But first, let’s look at what you need to look for in a design partner. This way, you’ll work with the best fit rather than waste your time and creative energy on work that does your brand no good. Below is a shortlist of things you need to look for when hiring a professional graphic designer:

• A strong portfolio: The first thing to look for is a robust portfolio. It should show a designer’s versatility to be able to do what your brand needs. You want someone who can easily adapt to your brand’s voice and personality.
• Marketing skills: Graphic design isn’t just about looking pretty. It also has to perform to be effective. Look for designers who understand how great visuals have the power to drive clicks, convert, and be engaging, whatever platform they are on.
• Professionalism: There are graphic designers and then there are professional graphic designers. The latter are those who deliver consistently, quickly, and with the highest possible quality. Don’t settle for less.
• Fluency in reading brand guidelines: A reliable designer is one who can understand and interpret what you have in mind. They should know what designs you need, whether you have a brand guideline or a simple mood board.

Where Do I Hire Professional Graphic Designers?

Graphic designers abound, and finding the best fit is only a matter of using the right platform. Below are a few of the most common sites where you can find and hire professional graphic designers:

Freelancer Platforms:

These are online marketplaces such as Upwork, Toptal, or Fiverr. These sites have databases filled to the brim with designer profiles from across the globe. You can view portfolios, rates, locations, and expertise to find what you need.

Pros:

• Huge talent pool with varying styles and rates
• Flexible pricing and project scopes

Cons:

• Hit or miss quality and reliability
• Vetting is difficult and lengthy

Creative Agencies:

These are the companies that provide full-service graphic design services, typically bundled with strategy and marketing support.

Pros:

• Professional-grade work and strategic input
• Access to full-creative designs

Cons:

• Higher price tag
• Less flexibility for small requests or minor edits

Design-as-a-Service Platforms:

These are the platforms that offer subscription-based graphic design services. Most of these operate on an unlimited design model, meaning, you can send as many design requests as you can for a flat, monthly rate. 

Pros:

• Unlimited requests and revisions
• Fixed monthly rates

Cons:

• Not for businesses that need only a few designs each month

How Do I Evaluate Graphic Designers Before Hiring?

Choosing a designer isn’t just about finding the least expensive option or the most impressive portfolio. It’s about finding one who can deliver what you need, when you need it. Here’s how to vet prospects before you sign them on:

Review Past Work and Client Feedback: Look for variety in their portfolio. See if their work aligns with what your brand needs and its relevance to your industry. You may also want to review case studies to show how they approach a problem and what the results were. Client testimonials are also good indicators of a designer’s communication, reliability, and overall satisfaction.

Asking the Right Questions: When interviewing a prospect, it’s best to ask them as many questions as you can, not just “Can you do this?”

• What is your design process?
• What are your revision policies?
• Can you tell me a design challenge you faced and how you solved it?
• How do you handle tight deadlines?

There may be more, but these are enough to tell you how they think, not just what they can do.

Test for Speed, Creativity, Problem-Solving: You may want to give them a small paid test project to get a glimpse of their fit and process. This can help you gauge how fast they work, how they read your project briefs, and how creatively they solve visual problems.

Why is Penji the Top Choice for On-Demand Graphic Design Services?

If you’re looking for no-fuss graphic design, then Penji is the design-as-a-service for you. It offers on-demand graphic design services that deliver consistent, high-quality creative work. From branding assets and landing page designs to infographics and custom illustrations, Penji has got you covered. 

In addition, you won’t have to hire a graphic designer, the platform has done it for you. Penji has a team of professional designers who are experts in over 120 design types. Whether you need a logo or a billboard ad, you can submit your request through its intuitive dashboard. You’ll then receive your first draft within 24 to 48 hours.

For the budget-conscious, Penji is your best bet. For fixed monthly rates, you can send as many design requests as you can. Revisions are also included in the mix, letting you get the exact designs you want and need without the extra cost.

And, as on-demand means getting your designs when you need them, Penji has a quick turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours and 12 to 24 hours for revisions. Say goodbye to design delays and bottlenecks. Plus, Penji’s designers will make the effort to understand your brand. This allows them to craft designs that align with your goals while adapting to your pace.

Final Thoughts

Growing a business means moving fast: launching that new product, sending those email campaigns, or simply refining your brand. Delays in design can hamper your brand’s progress, which any business cannot afford. This is why working with a reputable design-as-a-service company is a necessity.

Penji’s on-demand graphic design services are fast, reliable, and high-quality. It enables you to get all the visuals your brand needs without the added work for you. Watch our demo video here to learn how Penji can transform your brand’s overall look into one that impresses, converts, and increases your revenues.

Click here to get our designers started.

FAQs

• How is Penji different from hiring a freelancer or agency?

Penji offers unlimited design requests, fixed-rate pricing, and fast turnarounds. This is in contrast with hiring freelancers, which can be unreliable, or working with agencies that charge expensive fees.

• What design types can I request from Penji?

You can ask for logos, social media graphics, landing page designs, custom illustrations, and more.

• Can Penji handle ongoing design needs for my business?

Penji is built for these exact reasons. Penji can craft all your campaign assets while scaling with your workflow.