Every company needs design services from time to time or on an ongoing basis.
In fact, studies show that design has a bigger impact on your customer’s first impression of you than any of your written content.
The Different Types of Graphic Design Services
Outsourced graphic and web design services come in several flavors, and which one is right for you depends on the specific needs you have in your business.
A la Carte Design Services
When you’re starting out, you might just need a one-off design created. It might not need to be overly complex or expensive, but it doesn’t make sense to sign up for a recurring service at this point.
Crowdsourced Design
One popular model in the graphic and web design space is the crowdsourced competition model.
With this set-up, you submit your design brief and multiple designers throw in their ideas and essentially compete for your business.
Unlimited Design Services
Pioneered by Design Pickle but mimicked by dozens of competitors, “design as a service” has become a serious option to get graphics created on an ongoing basis.
These types of companies are best for businesses or marketing agencies that have a constant need for fresh graphics. They normally charge a flat monthly fee and accept unlimited design requests, processed on a first-in, first-out basis.
AI Design Services
The final entry worth mentioning is artificial intelligence logo design. These types of services are kind of a hybrid approach to traditional design, and appeal to budget-minded customers and do-it-yourselfers.
How these work is you choose some basic design elements (shapes, graphics, fonts), and the machine will spit out a bunch of different logo options for you. You only pay once you have a logo you’re happy with.
| Fiverr | Penji | 99designs | Design Pickle | Looka | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Rating | |||||
| Established | 2010 | 2016 | 2008 | 2015 | 2016 |
| Minimum Cost | $5 | $399 per month | $299 | $399 per month | $20 |
| Type of Service | A la carte design | Unlimited Graphic Design | Crowdsourced design | Unlimited design | AI logo design |
| Best for | Fast, cheap designs | On-going design needs | Higher profile work | Ongoing design needs | Affordable DIY |
| Notes | 15-day money back guarantee. | 100% money-back guarantee | 14-day money back trial; 30% off first month w/ code VA30 | Don't pay until you love your logo | |
| Learn more | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More |
Advantages of Working with Graphic Design Services
There are a few advantages to working with graphic design services that can help your business with its design needs.
Cost-Effectiveness
One of the biggest advantages of outsourcing graphic design projects is the lower cost you have to pay compared to hiring a full-time design team.
With no overhead expenses like office space and rent to worry about, you’re bound to save more money while still getting the output you require.
You can even save more if you choose to work with someone from another part of the globe like the Philippines or India because their rates are relatively cheaper compared to freelancers located in the US.
Efficiency
Working with design services gives you a competitive advantage because you’re dealing with people who have years of experience.
Having worked with bigger and reputable brands sets them apart from your average graphic designer. They’re the cream of the crop, so to speak, which means you’re more likely to get top-quality work every time.
With better quality work, there’ll be fewer revisions which means fewer hours spent working on the design and not having to pay a bigger amount.
Flexibility
One of the reasons why business owners outsource projects to graphic design services is because of the convenience and flexibility it has to offer.
Unlike in-house teams or local graphic design agencies that are only open during work hours, graphic design services often operate on-demand.
This goes a long way for business owners because it can help you prioritize the more pressing tasks during the day and focus on your design projects at a more convenient time.
If you are very particular with details, design services are perfect for you because you can send revisions in real time.
Just make sure to agree on a specific schedule before the project kicks off because these freelancers have personal lives too.
More Ideas
In the case of services like 99designs and DesignCrowd that use the crowdsourcing model, the biggest advantage is the variety of designs you can choose from,
While you may already have a specific design in mind, seeing other designer’s take on your requirements can give you some fresh perspectives you’ve never considered before.
Security
One of the risks of outsourcing is the possibility of your project being abandoned for no apparent reason. Freelancers going AWOL on clients happens in outsourcing but this is something you don’t need to worry about with design services.
This is because these companies have backup plans in place in case the designer assigned to you “disappears.” You’ll have a replacement ready to take over as soon as possible which means business continuity would not be affected in any way.
Most of these services either have a pool of designers or a team working on different projects so finding a replacement should be the least of your concern.
Drawbacks to Outsourcing Graphic Design Services
While there are glaring advantages to working with design services, it also comes with its share of disadvantages and below are some of them:
Reputation
Outsourcing itself already poses some risks and one of them is that you’re putting your reputation in the hands of people you barely know.
Yes, there are measures in place to ensure that you’re getting the right person. Most of these individuals are even pre-vetted but the fact still remains that you do not have much control or involvement in the production process.
They may have an impressive portfolio to show but it doesn’t help much when the person you’re working with is sitting halfway around the world and you only get to talk to them over the Internet.
The point is, building a successful working relationship takes time.
Communication
With most of the freelancers of these design services located in different parts of the globe, one of the biggest drawbacks would have to be communication.
Spoken or written English wise, they are mostly above average and can hold a decent conversation with clients when needed.
The conflict lies in the cultural and social differences which may take some getting used to. Americans can be more direct.
Combine with that with the more sensitive and emotional upbringing of Asians and Middle Easterners, differences in views and perception are bound to happen.
This is especially true when it comes to design projects which are more detailed and intricate.
Subjective Output
Graphics can be challenging to delegate because the output is so subjective. What makes a great design? We all have different opinions.
To set your designer up for success, you’ll want to be very specific and meticulous with your requirements and instructions to avoid misinterpretations and misunderstandings.
Provide feedback every step of the way.
How Much Do Graphic Design Services Cost?
These design services come with their own pricing plans.
Depending on the complexity and the perks included in the package you choose, the price could start anywhere from $5 to something as high as $1,199.
Premium and platinum plans obviously provide the best value with some offering handpicked, expert designers and your own account manager to work with which is exemplary and definitely worth the price.
It’s important to have an idea of how much money you are willing to spend on outsourcing so you can choose the best package for the right price.
My Experience with Outsourcing Graphic Design
I’ve tried several different options for outsourcing graphic and web design over the years. My first experience in this was in hiring a web development company, and not really realizing that design was a separate skill.
Thankfully they had someone in-house that did a passable job, but it admittedly wasn’t the world’s best designed site.
Next, for many graphic design projects I turned to Fiverr. My results were all over the map, with some graphics being simply unusable and others I’ve used prominently for years.
Then I tested the crowdsourcing site DesignCrowd for another book cover, and was happy with the results.
And lately, I trialed an unlimited graphic design service called Delesign, which is an interesting alternative to hiring a dedicated designer. The price point for these types of services is likely lower than if you hired someone in-house directly, even part-time.
Which Graphic Design Service is Right for You?
Outsourcing projects to design services can do a lot for you as a business owner and your business as a whole.
The choice of design service to work with will depend on your needs and budget.
To help you decide which one suits you best, we’ve listed down some of the top graphic design services today with accompanying reviews to help you narrow down your choices.
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There Is Talent is a US company that offers virtual assistant services and specialized remote talent to entrepreneurs and business owners primarily located in the US. About The company is managed by Claudia Real (CEO) and Paul Urwin (CFO). 6 […]
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Ministry Assistant Services is a virtual assistant company that provides cutting-edge solutions for churches, non-profits, and Christian business owners looking to outsource tasks. The company is headquartered in South Carolina. Ministry Assistant Services’ virtual assistants work across many states in […]
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DotYeti is an on-demand graphic design platform. Users can request unlimited designs for a flat monthly fee. The company is headquartered in Singapore. DotYeti’s team of designers work remotely from several countries across the world. About DotYeti The company started […]
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Launched in January 2015, Design Pickle is a cloud-based graphic design company that specializes in providing personalized graphic design support for small to medium-sized design jobs. Design Pickle’s physical headquarters is in Scottsdale, Arizona but, as they are an entirely virtual service, they […]
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99designs is the crowdsourcing design marketplace that is probably first-to-mind for most people. I first learned about the company at a conference in 2008, and since then the Melbourne, Australia-based business has grown by leaps and bounds. In fact, 99designs […]
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Delesign is a subscription-based unlimited graphic design service. The company started operations in April of 2018. They complete all kinds of graphic design work, website design mockups and UI/UX, illustrations, branding, and video and motion graphic projects. Most projects can […]
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20four7VA (EconMobile LLC dba 20four7VA) is an American-owned virtual staffing agency licensed and insured in Maryland, USA. Their staff and virtual assistants (VAs) are based all over the world and work remotely. Read on for a detailed 20four7VA review. 20four7VA […]
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48HoursLogo.com is a crowdsourced marketplace for custom logo, web, and print graphic design services. The company began in 2010, is headquartered in Shanghai, and has hosted more than 15000 design contests so far. The target clientele is small business owners […]
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Designhill is an online crowdsourcing design platform. You can submit any graphic design tasks and choose the design(s) you like most from a pool of results. Crowdsourcing marketplaces have grown in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to understand […]
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UPDATE: It appears Crew.co has changed to Dribbble.com. Please consider one of these alternatives. Crew.co is a marketplace that provides a platform for freelancers, or “members” as they refer to them, to connect with business owners and entrepreneurs. They specialize […]
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UPDATE: It appears HiretheWorld is out of business. Please consider one of these alternatives or see below. If you own this listing or this information is incorrect, contact me here. HiretheWorld is a crowdsourced design marketplace. The company was founded in 2009 […]
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Pebbled.io is a subscription-based design service company offering unlimited graphic and web designs and revisions for a flat monthly fee. The company started operating out of Australia in 2016. They’ve since grown to a team of 20+, with most of […]
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Brandmark is a logo design company that uses AI technology to generate logos based on some color and design specifications from you. They are one of the newer AI-powered logo design companies in the space starting operations in August, 2017, […]
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crowdSPRING is a freelance marketplace for graphic design, web design, and logo creation services. While other freelance sites try and be everything to everyone, Chicago-based crowdSPRING focuses on these creative niches. The company was founded in 2008, and has attracted […]
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I was surprised to learn that Deluxe has been in business since 1915 — 100 years! They started back in the day making checkbook holders and are still one of the leaders in check production today. Naturally, the business evolved […]
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Whether you’re just starting or looking to refresh your brand, Design.com offers simple, effective solutions to help you stand out and succeed. Explore their offerings and see how they can help you take your brand to the next level. About […]
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Witmart might be the biggest crowdsourcing platform I’d never heard of. The company is apparently huge in China, and counts their large Chinese userbase in their advertised 6-million service providers. The US-operation is based out of the Houston, TX suburb […]
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DesignCrowd is a marketplace for crowdsourced graphic design contests. The Sydney, Australia-based company has been around since 2008 and has facilitated more than 350,000 design creations during that time. In fact, they boast over 750,000 designers on their platform ready […]
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FlexJobs is a leading jobs board for telecommuting and work-from-home jobs. The company began in 2007 to provide a central hub of scam-free, personally reviewed remote job postings. Although headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, FlexJobs practices what they preach and have […]
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Dynamite Jobs is an online platform aggregating and sharing the best remote jobs from hundreds of sources, posting over 300 new remote jobs each week. If you’re looking for a position where you can work remotely or if you’re a […]