Graphic Design Services

How to Find the Best Graphic Design Agency

What do you want out of a creative when designing something? What if we told you there was no right or wrong answer? It all depends on who will be using the final product or service.

If you have a logo in mind but aren't sure which direction to go with colour theory, perhaps you should consult a colour specialist. If you're going for business cards, maybe you need someone who knows about typography. A web developer may not know where to start when creating interfaces, so ask them to look at your existing web design. The list goes on.

The point is this: you shouldn't feel overwhelmed by the wide selection of available talent. Instead, focus your search on finding people who specialise in exactly what you need. While generalists might be able to work their magic on specific projects, they'll often have little experience working within specific industries or fields. 

This leaves room for mistakes since they don't always understand best practices for your industry. On top of that, many specialists tend to charge higher rates because they offer better quality and support.

Here are four different kinds of designers – from freelancers to full-service companies – that can help give your next creative challenge its due. Read more to learn how to choose the type of graphic design service perfect for you!

Freelance Graphic Designer Platforms

These guys typically have a limited skill set, but they're great for smaller jobs. Freelancers usually don't hold contracts or sign legal agreements, so expect high turnover rates and low salaries. 

They also can be challenging to reach (especially overseas) and won't necessarily provide references or testimonials. However, these factors make them affordable compared to other options, like hiring a professional agency.

Pros: Freelancers can deliver results quickly without needing approval processes. In addition, the cost can vary greatly depending on your needs. For example, a £500 job could quickly become a £5,000 contract. Some freelancers even offer discounts based on the volume of orders.

Cons: Since they don't operate as businesses, they can struggle managing budgets and timelines. Also, freelance workers are self-employed and responsible for meeting deadlines and producing quality products. There's no guarantee that they'll meet those goals. Finally, they may not produce long-lasting relationships with clients.

In short, freelancing has pros and cons. Use caution before signing away control over your designs to a random person online. But if you need quick results, it's worth considering!

Online Graphic Design Services

This option works well for small or simple graphic design projects. Online designers can create logos, banners, infographics, social media graphics, etc., and sometimes include templates for things like brochures and newsletters. These professionals often use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva, Crello, Visme, Invision, etc.

Pros: Because web-based designers only deal with websites, they have extensive knowledge across various platforms. They are experts in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, SEO, WordPress, Twitter Bootstrap, Google Analytics, eCommerce integrations, etc. This means they can handle everything related to making a site function properly.

Cons: When designing for the web, speed and performance matter much less than they would otherwise. Web-only designers probably won't care too much about accessibility guidelines. And while they may be skilled enough to create beautiful designs, they're likely not experienced enough to build fully functional sites.

For larger projects that require collaboration with developers, read below about a design team.

Professional Graphic Design Agencies

Agency-style creatives usually work closely together with client representatives throughout the entire process. Most agencies have a dedicated design team focused on brand identity, UX/UI design, website design, digital marketing, packaging, advertising, illustrations, etc.

Pros: A graphic design agency can access multiple resources, including tools, equipment, materials, production facilities, art libraries, research staff, etc. Not every company has all of this stuff lying around, after all. Plus, being part of an established team provides stability. Lastly, agencies typically have deep pockets, so they can afford to pay premium wages to their creative director.

Cons: Agency fees depend primarily on your budget and the scope of work involved. Unfortunately, this can add costs to your overall budget.

Also, you must consider whether or not you'd prefer to receive individualised attention versus group efforts. You may get feedback from dozens of employees with an agency instead of just one expert. It can sometimes be hard to distinguish one employee's ideas from another's, so keep that in mind when choosing a firm.

Specialty Graphic Designers

An emerging category, speciality designers, are talented individuals who focus solely on particular areas like brand development, illustration, web design, UI/UX design, photography, motion graphics, animation, etc. Specialists generally have formal training in their respective field(s), unlike regular freelancers.

Pros: Specialists are incredibly knowledgeable about their areas of expertise. Their years of education mean they have plenty of practical experience helping others accomplish similar tasks. This leads to faster turnaround time and increased efficiency. Moreover, specialists can usually develop new concepts or improve upon old ones.

Cons: Working with a specialist requires patience. You may encounter delays during the prototyping phase unless you hire a reputable firm. Additionally, weighing the risks associated with outsourcing work to foreign locations would be best. Don't forget that non-specialist firms exist.

Lastly, while specialisation can lead to greater productivity, you still may pay comparable prices to more giant corporations. The benefits of having a single person who understands your requirements far outweigh the drawbacks. So, if you're interested in sticking to a singular vision, try specialising first.

How Do You Choose Your Designer?

There's no set rule for determining which kind of designer to hire. We recommend starting with basic questions until you precisely determine what you need. Then narrow down your choices by focusing on price range, location, skill level, etc. 

Ideally, it would help if you spoke directly with prospective candidates via phone or email. Make sure you're comfortable communicating through text and voice chat, particularly if you plan to request changes later.

Once you've found potential partners, compare graphic design portfolios and samples. Look for evidence of past successes, customer satisfaction, and longevity. Check testimonials from former customers. Ask yourself if you trust them. 

Afterwards, contact each candidate personally to see if you think working with them would be fun! Only engage with people who seem reliable and easygoing.

And lastly, never jump straight into a large order without proper market research. Find out what other companies in your niche are charging. Compare their portfolios side-by-side. See if they fit your ideal specifications. If you're unsure, ask your friends and family for recommendations.

We hope our guide helps you decide whom to call when you need a graphic designer next. We are just a click away!