What Is an Unlimited Design Agency? A Beginner’s Complete Guide

TL;DR – Unlimited design agency services help users get high-quality designs at a predictable rate every month. These platforms offer access to top design talent without having to commit to an in-house designer or onboard a freelance creative. 

First impressions matter a lot in today’s digital-first world. In fact, a study reveals that it only takes 0.05 seconds or 50 milliseconds for a website to capture its visitor’s attention before they leave.

It goes without saying that when it comes to visual assets, the stakes are high. The problem? Not all businesses have the resources to hire an in-house designer. Fortunately, that’s where the genius of on-demand graphic design and unlimited design subscription comes in.

In this outsourced graphic design guide, let’s explore unlimited design agency services, how it works, and how you can make the most out of your subscription per month. 

But, first, let’s tackle the most basic question:

What Is an Unlimited Design Agency?

An unlimited design agency offers graphic design services on subscription. That means you’ll only need to settle the flat-rate design service per month and have access to remote graphic design services without having to hire an in-house designer or a freelancer.

But what does unlimited design mean? It means you can request all the designs you need at the platform’s project management dashboard. Now, the number of active design requests or how many projects your design team works on at a time depends on the plan you avail.

Data says that 41.9% of businesses published 5 to 10 pieces of visual content per week. Another 36.2% of respondents, meanwhile, published 2 to 5 times a week. 

These numbers only go to show how valuable a monthly design service could be, especially when you partner with a graphic design service platform with a proven track record for high-quality designs, reliable support, and a seamless workflow.

How Does an Unlimited Design Agency Work?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how unlimited design works:

1. You request a project.

Your graphic design services journey starts with the creation of a project. This involves encoding a project brief within the platform’s design queue system.

A reputable unlimited design agency would acknowledge your request as part of the design request process. That means your designer would confirm that they understood the brief, and they would ask questions if anything isn’t clear on their end.

2. Your design team submits a design draft.

Once your designer receives the assignment, they’ll work on it and will submit a draft within the standard design turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours. Note that the turnaround time may vary depending on the platform, so it’s a crucial factor to review when you outsource graphic design projects. 

3. You review the draft.

Once you receive the design draft, you can either approve the design and move on to your next project (Step 5) or request a revision (Step 4). 

4. You request a revision.

Unlimited design requests also come with unlimited revisions. That means you can request revisions over and over again until you’re 100% happy with the design.

5. You approve the design.

Once you’re satisfied with the design, you can approve it, mark the project complete, and download the files. The design workflow starts over again for a new project.

What Services are Included in an Unlimited Design Agency?

A design subscription service typically offers a wide range of projects, including:

• Logos
• Packaging design
• Brochure design
• Email templates
• Digital ads
• Social media design
• Custom illustrations
• Motion graphics
• Brand guidelines

How Much Does an Unlimited Design Agency Cost?

Basic unlimited design agencies charge around $350 to $1,500 per month. The actual rate can depend on factors like:

• Caliber of designers
• Number of active projects at a time
• Creative project inclusions (some offer projects like motion graphics or custom illustrations on higher tiers)
• Support services

The subscription rates for unlimited graphic design services are already practical, compared to having each design project done separately through agencies or freelancers:

In the in-house vs. outsourced graphic design debate, meanwhile, a graphic design subscription service can be more practical if you want to avoid paying for:

• Fixed salary (Even during months when you don’t need a lot of designs made)
• PTO and employee benefits
• Overtime pay
• Hiring and onboarding costs
• Continuous training
• Software licenses

When you work with a remote graphic design agency, the company takes care of everything mentioned above. And since design-as-a-service subscriptions renew per month, you won’t have to worry about long-term commitments. This last benefit leads us to a common question:

Unlimited Design Agency vs. Freelancers: Which Is Better?

Just like design subscription service platforms, freelancers also help businesses avoid the long-term commitment of employing a designer. But is hiring a freelancer better than subscribing to unlimited design? Not really.

Data tells us that 68% of freelancers worry about unpredictable income.

 For freelance designers trying to work on multiple projects at a time while they’re available, that could mean:

• Fluctuating rates
• Seasonal availability
• Possible delays in delivery

Despite these risks, hiring a freelancer could still offer value in certain situations. Here’s a quick rule of thumb:

• Hire a freelancer if you only need one or two projects designed
• Get an unlimited subscription-based design service if you have continuous design needs.

The Bottom Line: Unlimited Design Offers Best Value

Graphic design services from unlimited design agency platforms offer the best value in terms of time, effort, and cost.

Here are a few best practices to help you make the most out of the top outsourced design services from unlimited subscriptions:

• Plan your design calendar ahead of time. Doing so will allow you to make the most out of your subscription month.
• Prioritize your projects based on urgency and impact. This is especially crucial if the plan that you availed only includes one active project at a time. 
• Write your design briefs as clearly as possible. Doing so can help avoid simple revisions and allow you to move on to the next projects on your lineup as soon as possible.
• Provide actionable feedback when asking for revisions. Instead of vague comments like “improve this,” offer specific points, such as the color or font you want.
• Attach your brand guidelines to the brief. Doing so will help prevent guesswork on the part of your design team and ensure that all the visual assets you receive are on brand.   

Need an unlimited graphic design partner? Let Penji handle your design needs. Check out Penji’s portfolio and see why Penji is the preferred graphic design agency by brands of all sizes.

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