About Liz Lord (the Founder of Design Bees)
After a career of 25 years in marketing ranging from British Airways, Virgin Mobile and finally being the Australian CMO at PayPal I transitioned to consulting roles within Australian businesses in 2022.
It was here that I noticed a considerable shift in daily marketing activities. With the advent of self-design tools, marketers spent much of their time designing content rather than focusing on the results and business growth.
This guide aims to weigh up the options available providing marketeers, business owners, entrepreneurs with insights into achieving affordable, high-quality design without losing sight of core business objectives. In particular we dive into the relatively new concept of on demand graphic design services.
The Challenge of Balancing Cost vs Quality In Graphic Design
For many Australian businesses, the challenge is balancing the cost of design services with the need for high-quality output. When considering how to meet your design needs, there are four main areas to evaluate: quality, cost, consistency, and scalability. Let’s now explore the advantages and potential challenges associated with the various graphic design solutions you or your team have available to use.
In house graphic designer
While hiring an in-house designer might seem like the ideal solution on paper, there are some negatives often overlooked when taking this path.
Benefits
Consistent design work
A readily available designer
Seamless collaboration
MINUS
Budget constraints: Costs can easily reach $85K per year or $7K per month.
Insufficient workload: You might not have enough projects to keep a single designer fully occupied, which could lead to difficulties in keeping them consistently engaged.
Skillset limitations: Finding a single designer with expertise in all areas can be challenging. You may still need additional designers for specific tasks such as branding, video/animation production, or web designBudget constraints: Costs can easily reach $85K per year or $7K per month.
Insufficient workload: You might not have enough projects to keep a single designer fully occupied, which could lead to difficulties in keeping them consistently engaged.
Skillset limitations: Finding a single designer with expertise in all areas can be challenging. You may still need additional designers for specific tasks such as branding, video/animation production, or web design
Self-Design Tools
Self-design tools like Canva and Adobe Spark have democratised design, making it accessible for non-designers to create graphic designs.
These tools offer:
User-friendly interfaces
A plethora of templates
Customization options
Yet, they come with their own set of challenges:
Time-consuming : Designing can consume up to 40% of a resource's time, or even more.
Expensive Resources : The hourly rate for a marketer in Australia typically ranges from $50 to $100, making 'self-designed' creative an expensive hidden cost.
Sacrificing Business Results : Wouldn't you prefer your marketing team to focus on growing your business with more campaigns rather than spending time on design?"
Freelance Graphic Designers
Freelancers offer a more personalised approach to design without the overhead costs associated with agencies. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer connect you with talented designers worldwide.
Benefits:
Competitive pricing
Flexibility in project scope
Direct communication with designers
Requires Time: To set up & select the right freelancer.
Quality can vary: There is no vetting of their work before it is delivered to you. Limited Australian
Experience: Can vary a lot , check out their portfolio and seek reviews from previous clients
Delivery deadlines: Can be missed, as they juggle multiple projects. Language barriers: May be problematic.
On Demand Graphic Design as an Affordable Alternative for High-Quality Design
Fortunately, there is a cost-effective alternative that provides professional design services without breaking the budget.
Australian owned Unlimited Graphic Design services offer an affordable alternative for high-quality design. They provide access to professional designers on a flexible basis, typically through a subscription model with various packages to suit your needs.
Benefits
Cost-effective compared to hiring in-house Access to a pool of multi- skilled designers Flexible plans that can be adjusted as needed
Affordability With Design Bees an unlimited* subscription
Art direction and quality control review on each job
Design Bees was created by identifying the shortcomings in existing design subscription models. We are made for Australia, by Australians.
Our designers are only human and, like anyone, can make mistakes—they’re not AI robots just yet! Each design goes through our Quality Assurance process to ensure it meets your brief, aligns with Australian market requirements, and corrects any glaring errors.
Why Choose us as your Australian Unlimited Graphic Design Subscription Service?
On Your Time Zone
Our office and team operate on Australian time zones, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This means you can reach out to us during regular business hours without needing to set your alarm clock!
Full-Time Employment to Design Bees
All our designers are hired full-time, allowing us to coach them and run daily stand-ups to review, guide, and nurture their creativity.
Quality Control
Every job is internally reviewed by your Account Manager (and amended if necessary) to ensure it meets your brief and brand requirements before it reaches you.
All About Australia
All our designers are hired full-time, allowing us to coach them and run daily stand-ups to review, guide, and nurture their creativity.
Every job is internally reviewed by your Acocunt Manager (and amended if necessary) to ensure it meets your brief and brand requirements before it reaches you.
Australian Experience
While Australian experience is not compulsory, we find that designers who pass our tests often have some form of exposure to the Australian market, which helps them better understand and meet local preferences. All our designers undergo Australian induction training as part of their on-boarding. They gain an understanding of our seasons, landscapes, culture, and all the nuances needed for designing effectively for the Australian market!
Rigorous Designer Testing
All our designers must pass rigorous design tests before being interviewed, with around 60% failing to meet our standards. This ensures that the 'designer bees' we hire are exceptional talents who can follow briefs, adhere to style guidelines, and produce high-quality work.
Wrapping Up
Achieving affordable, high-quality design is not only possible but essential for your business’s success. By leveraging on-demand subscription design services, you can access professional design without compromising your budget. Remember, your time is valuable. By delegating design tasks to professionals, you can focus on what you and your team do best—growing your business!
Get access to a dedicated and experienced designer- from $845 a month with no lock in contract.
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