Is outsourcing design work worth it? Whether brands need graphic, app, web, product, or branding designs, the deliberation to hire third-party design services stays up in the air for quite some time. While hiring in-house designers comes with long-term benefits, some brands find this option too expensive in the long run. Studies show that businesses reduce costs by 57 percent when they outsource graphic design. So why do brands outsource design work? In this blog we’ll cover:
- What is Outsourcing Design?
- Why Outsource Design Work?
- Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Graphic Design
- 4 Ways to Outsource Graphic Design
What Is Outsourcing Design?
Graphic design is an integral part of any brand. With how consumers purchase nowadays, most marketers and entrepreneurs strive to make graphic design their top advertising priority. But this time-consuming process requires an entire team of creatives to bring design work to fruition. This is where outsourcing design work comes in.
Graphic design outsourcing involves working with third-party design services to create a company’s graphic assets. Depending on the chosen design service, the client pays the designer per hour or project.
Brands outsource design work if they don’t want to hire in-house designers, which can come with high financial responsibilities. Monthly or yearly bonuses, healthcare, and paid time off are some of the benefits companies cover when hiring in-house designers. Outsourcing graphic design doesn’t require these; clients only have to shell out a one-time fee or fixed monthly rate.
Why Outsource Design Work?
On top of graphic design outsourcing’s financial benefits, here are some reasons why brands outsource design work.
1. Cost-efficient
When you outsource design work, you’re not responsible for paying regular benefits and bonuses to designers. You only have to pay them when working with them or when they create your designs.
2. Hassle-free
You no longer have to go through employee onboarding when you outsource graphic design work. You can submit the design brief, and the designer will give you the draft in a few days.
3. Flexible setup
One of the reasons why brands love to outsource design work is due to flexibility. You will have the freedom to stop or pause your subscription and resubscribe when you need the service. This is how on-demand graphic design services work. Working with freelance graphic designers also means you will only have to pay them after completing a project. You don’t have to put them on a retainer, saving you money in the long run.
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4. Diverse skills
Imagine working with an entire team of creatives, similar to a design agency, without the steep professional fees! Working with third-party design services means you’ll be assigned the most suitable designers for the project.
For instance, on-demand graphic design companies assign a project manager and one or two designers to work on a project. With a handful of creatives, you’ll get more design concepts or ideas for a more impactful design outcome.
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Graphic Design
If you’re still hesitant to outsource design work, here’s a list of the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Flexible setup
- Specialized and versatile skills
- Unlimited designs and revisions
- Streamlined design process
- Fixed monthly rate
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not suitable for one-off projects
Who Should Outsource Graphic Design Work
Here are the types of teams and marketers who should outsource graphic design for a more efficient workflow.
- Marketing teams: A company’s marketing team runs on various departments. They connect with production teams and customers to get the sales going. This job can be time-demanding, making them one of the suitable teams to outsource design work.
- Digital marketing agencies: Some brands work with digital marketing agencies for their online and print ads. With multiple brands to create designs for, it’s easier for digital marketing agencies to outsource the design process.
- Web design agencies: Some graphic design services offer various design categories. Penji, for instance, includes web and app designs in two of their plans. Web design agencies can work with on-demand design companies to reduce their load.
- Startups and businesses of any level: Whether you’re a startup, small-, medium-, or large-sized business, outsourcing design work lets you focus on other more essential aspects of the company.
4 Ways to Outsource Graphic Design
With the adage of technology, brands will have multiple options to outsource design work. It all boils down to the frequency of design requests, project type, collaboration preference, and budget. Here are four ways to outsource graphic design:
1. Freelancers
You won’t find a shortage of freelance graphic designers online these days. Selecting the best freelancer platform and scrutinizing their portfolio is the way to find the most suitable one. Most of these freelancers are paid by the hour, which is at least $25 to $30.
How does it work:
Find the best online job platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Behance. Check each freelancer’s portfolio and asking rate to see if they match your needs.
Pricing:
- Affordable to expensive
2. Design agencies
Working with design agencies is one of the most hassle-free ways to outsource design work. You will be backed by an entire team of creatives, including a creative director, account manager, designers, copywriters, producers, web designers, etc.
How does it work:
You select the design agency, discuss the project in person or online, and then leave everything in their hands.
Pricing:
- Expensive
3. Design contests
Opting for design contests is the fastest way to outsource design work. Most of these contests require you to pay a one-time fee ranging from $100 to $200 or more.
How does it work:
Once you’ve paid, you can create your brief and post it on the platform. Designers will start submitting their designs within 24 hours. You can choose which designer and design you like. You may also have the option to work with the designer long-term after the contest.
Pricing: Mid-priced
4. Unlimited design services
One of the most popular ways to outsource graphic, web, and app designs nowadays is through unlimited design services. These companies offer unlimited designs and revisions, with most companies offering a custom design platform. You get to do the design process, communicate with designers, and keep everything in one place.
How does it work:
Select the on-demand graphic design service you prefer, choose a plan, and start submitting unlimited design requests. You’ll pay a fixed monthly rate with no hidden or additional fees. You can also cancel your subscription anytime and resubscribe if you need the service again.
Pricing:
- Affordable
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best way to outsource design work makes this colossal part of branding and marketing easy. Before jumping on to the next solution, assess your design needs and budget. Having your designs ready allows entrepreneurs and marketers to breathe and eliminates bottlenecks in a company.
