5 Best Options To Find Creative Designers For Your Business
1.Design Agency
The first alternative is outsourcing your design needs to an agency. Working with a design agency has several benefits, but their expertise is the main one.
Pros
When working with a design agency, you have access to a number of designers who have handled a variety of customers and projects. For example, if you need an ad campaign designed, you can work directly with an agency that has the skills and necessary experience to create it. You won’t have to spend time finding people to do each part of the project or managing multiple freelancers.
Agencies are also great if you need help with large projects that require multiple specialists, including graphic designers, web developers, and more. Design agencies can assist you in developing your overall design strategy because they know what it takes to succeed in your industry.
Cons
Design agencies can be costly compared to other design alternatives. Agencies typically charge by the hour or per project. This can be a challenge for smaller companies and startups, especially if budgets are tight.
Working with design agencies may also limit the amount of control you have over the final outcome. It could be harder for you to communicate with the creative designers if you are not directly involved in the design process.
This can be especially true if you don't have all the specific details of your design project before hiring an agency. If you want complete control over every detail, then working directly with a designer might be better suited for you instead.
Another potential drawback of working with a brand agency is that they may not understand your business and what makes it unique. For example, as a startup or small business, you may not have enough information about your target audience or direct competitors. This could lead to missteps in your designs or advertising campaigns because the agency won't fully grasp what your business does or why it does it that way (or better yet — why it needs these new designs).
Design agencies might also have different software programs than you use in-house. So, there might be a learning curve when you start working together. This can slow down the project while everyone gets used to each other's processes and tools.
2. Freelance Designers
Hiring freelance designers is another great alternative for those looking for creative help without the high cost of an agency. There are many ways to find freelance designers for your projects.
Pros
When you hire freelancers, you have the benefit of being able to work with them on an as-needed basis. You can hire them for a specific project or individual task and then part ways after the job is completed. This helps you save both money and time.
Freelancers can also get you more bang for your buck. If you have a small budget but need lots of design work done, it may not be cost-effective to bring someone in full-time or part-time to handle the entire project. With freelancers, you can pay them only for the time they need to complete their tasks and get more done with less money spent.
A freelance creative designer can provide quality work done quickly and easily. With freelancers, there are no HR issues or long hiring processes — simply find someone who can take care of your design needs and get them started immediately.
Cons
There is a lot of competition in the freelance industry. Which means finding the right designer for your project can be time consuming. If you have a design deadline to meet and you don’t have time to search for a freelancer, this might not be the best option for you.
Additionally, you have no guarantee that the quality of their work will meet your expectations unless you vet them thoroughly beforehand. For example, you could find a freelancer presenting quality work but not delivering it for your project. In that instance, you have to start the search process again, which can cause you to waste time and money.
Freelancers also might not understand how long it takes to complete certain tasks. Especially if they don't have full knowledge of the process behind what they're doing (for example, they may not know how many hours it takes to do a product dashboard or add animation to your graphics.
Since freelancers aren’t under strict contract stipulations, it can be hard to manage the design project if you're not in charge of it yourself. Also, coordinating multiple freelancers for a variety of design tasks that are a part of a larger project, can become time consuming.
For instance, you might need to work with two freelancers to redesign a website and create social media graphics. This means you will be managing their work as well as overseeing the overall design project, which may limit your time spent on other important responsibilities.
3. Creative Design Marketplaces
Creative design marketplaces are a great option for businesses that need to find creative designers to complete projects quickly. How it works is you upload a design brief and receive bids from freelance creative designers who are interested in completing the project.
Pros
The advantage of using a creative design marketplace is the aggregate design pool. You will avoid spending hours searching for designers on various websites or social networks because all designer types will be gathered on one platform.
There are thousands of portfolios for different types of designers on a creative design marketplace, making it easier to find someone with the right skills and experience for your project.
You can also choose from different price points depending on the complexity of your design project. If you have a limited budget but need high quality results, this could be the right approach for your business to take.
Cons
A creative design marketplace does have some drawbacks. For starters, you may not have insight into the design process compared to other design sources. Also, the quality of the final product may not be of high standards compared to hiring a full-time designer.
In a creative design marketplace each designer charges their own fee for their services, which adds up quickly when working with multiple designers. It’s important to keep track of their fees to create an accurate budget.
The prices may also be higher than average because you're paying for convenience. Similar to freelancing there are many people looking for designers to complete their work on these platforms. Competition is fierce and prices tend to reflect that fact.
Similarly, when you work with an agency or crowdsource project, you have to choose from a long list of candidates (or apply yourself if it's an open call). This could take weeks or even months depending upon how detailed your brief is and how quickly people respond to it.
Creative design marketplaces also rely on algorithms that match projects based on keywords and other criteria in order to give visibility among potential customers. The trouble is that these algorithms may fail to match projects with designers who have relevant skill sets and experience. This could mean a lot of wasted time and effort if you don’t find the right designer.
4. Job Boards
Job boards can be a great way to find talented full-time or part-time creative designers. Since people are looking for work it can be option for companies of all sizes
Pros
Using a job board allows you to access talented individuals who have the specific skill set and experience level you’re searching for. You may even find some professionals who are willing to work on a contract basis instead of full-time employment.
The advantage of using job boards is that you can easily compare portfolios and find a designer that fits your budget.
Cons
The downside is that job boards don’t always guarantee quality hires. Anyone can submit their resume, so it may take time to find someone with the right expertise who fits within your budget and timeframe. Even if you find someone, you may not get exactly what you want, which can be frustrating if you’re unsure of exactly what you need!
Job boards may also limit your access. While many platforms offer free membership options, there are restrictions on what you can post or access. That is going to depend on the amount of money you're willing to spend on your monthly membership fee.
Some platforms only offer paid memberships if you want access to premium features such as unlimited postings, more storage space, and more powerful search tools.
5. Design Service Subscription
Another great alternative for those on a tight budget is to sign up for a design service subscription. Design service subscriptions are growing in popularity as businesses look for ways to cut costs while still obtaining quality designs that can be created quickly and efficiently.
Pros
One of the major advantages with a design service subscription, is businesses pay a fixed fee per month and receive access to a library of creative design services and tools. For example, if you are a business with a fixed budget having a predictable monthly fee for your design cost can make planning your design projects much easier.
With a design service subscription, your business will have access to resources such as creative design templates, automation, virtual assistants, and on-demand design services.
Just imagine being able to have professional pre-screened designers that you can hire on a per project basis.
You can save time and money compared to other models such as freelancer designers or searching for designers on job boards. And you don’t have to conduct interviews beforehand.
Additionally, you can also access designers on a part-time or full-time basis. Design service solutions like Awesomic can match you with a designer on their 1 to 1 plan which is the same as hiring a full time in house designer on a monthly contract basis.
This same service can match you with creative designers on a part-time basis for any design task. No matter if it's a simple graphic design or a custom website, and anything in between.
Cons
The prices for these subscriptions can start at $700 per month for unlimited projects. While some services only allow one round of revisions per project others like Awesomic have no restrictions at all on revisions.
You may also have to pay for any training courses that come with the subscription. Additionally, the selection of designers may also be quite small depending on your location or industry, so it may take longer than anticipated to find someone suitable for your needs.
Choosing the Source for Your Creative Designer
When choosing a model for sourcing your creative designer, there are several factors to keep in mind. Outsourcing creative design can help you tap into a diverse talent pool and access higher quality work. This can be beneficial if you don’t have the resources or enough design work for a full-time designer.
A good rule of thumb is to always do your research before hiring a company or choosing a designer. Take a look at their website or portfolio to gain insight into their previous work. Book a call with their team to understand their capabilities and if they have experience working on similar projects.
You want to have a clear understanding of the timeline and scope of your design project. Start by defining your design goals. You want to get in the habit of analyzing how better designs can solve problems and help you reach business objectives.
This will lead to better results in the long run. Lastly, establish a budget before searching for a creative designer to avoid making a decision, and then realizing you can’t afford the designer you want.
Which Option Will You Choose?
It’s clear there are a variety of options available to businesses who need to hire a creative designer. While each option has its own set of pros and cons, doing some research beforehand will aid in finding the perfect creative designers for your needs. Whether you choose an agency, freelance designer, creative marketplace, job board or design service subscription, your next project deserves the best designs!
If you don't want to wait any longer to find your perfect creative designer, let Awesomic be your trusted design partner. Book a call with our team today and let us show you how your business designs can reach cosmic new heights.
1.Design Agency
The first alternative is outsourcing your design needs to an agency. Working with a design agency has several benefits, but their expertise is the main one.
Pros
When working with a design agency, you have access to a number of designers who have handled a variety of customers and projects. For example, if you need an ad campaign designed, you can work directly with an agency that has the skills and necessary experience to create it. You won’t have to spend time finding people to do each part of the project or managing multiple freelancers.
Agencies are also great if you need help with large projects that require multiple specialists, including graphic designers, web developers, and more. Design agencies can assist you in developing your overall design strategy because they know what it takes to succeed in your industry.
Cons
Design agencies can be costly compared to other design alternatives. Agencies typically charge by the hour or per project. This can be a challenge for smaller companies and startups, especially if budgets are tight.
Working with design agencies may also limit the amount of control you have over the final outcome. It could be harder for you to communicate with the creative designers if you are not directly involved in the design process.
This can be especially true if you don't have all the specific details of your design project before hiring an agency. If you want complete control over every detail, then working directly with a designer might be better suited for you instead.
Another potential drawback of working with a brand agency is that they may not understand your business and what makes it unique. For example, as a startup or small business, you may not have enough information about your target audience or direct competitors. This could lead to missteps in your designs or advertising campaigns because the agency won't fully grasp what your business does or why it does it that way (or better yet — why it needs these new designs).
Design agencies might also have different software programs than you use in-house. So, there might be a learning curve when you start working together. This can slow down the project while everyone gets used to each other's processes and tools.
2. Freelance Designers
Hiring freelance designers is another great alternative for those looking for creative help without the high cost of an agency. There are many ways to find freelance designers for your projects.
Pros
When you hire freelancers, you have the benefit of being able to work with them on an as-needed basis. You can hire them for a specific project or individual task and then part ways after the job is completed. This helps you save both money and time.
Freelancers can also get you more bang for your buck. If you have a small budget but need lots of design work done, it may not be cost-effective to bring someone in full-time or part-time to handle the entire project. With freelancers, you can pay them only for the time they need to complete their tasks and get more done with less money spent.
A freelance creative designer can provide quality work done quickly and easily. With freelancers, there are no HR issues or long hiring processes — simply find someone who can take care of your design needs and get them started immediately.
Cons
There is a lot of competition in the freelance industry. Which means finding the right designer for your project can be time consuming. If you have a design deadline to meet and you don’t have time to search for a freelancer, this might not be the best option for you.
Additionally, you have no guarantee that the quality of their work will meet your expectations unless you vet them thoroughly beforehand. For example, you could find a freelancer presenting quality work but not delivering it for your project. In that instance, you have to start the search process again, which can cause you to waste time and money.
Freelancers also might not understand how long it takes to complete certain tasks. Especially if they don't have full knowledge of the process behind what they're doing (for example, they may not know how many hours it takes to do a product dashboard or add animation to your graphics.
Since freelancers aren’t under strict contract stipulations, it can be hard to manage the design project if you're not in charge of it yourself. Also, coordinating multiple freelancers for a variety of design tasks that are a part of a larger project, can become time consuming.
For instance, you might need to work with two freelancers to redesign a website and create social media graphics. This means you will be managing their work as well as overseeing the overall design project, which may limit your time spent on other important responsibilities.
3. Creative Design Marketplaces
Creative design marketplaces are a great option for businesses that need to find creative designers to complete projects quickly. How it works is you upload a design brief and receive bids from freelance creative designers who are interested in completing the project.
Pros
The advantage of using a creative design marketplace is the aggregate design pool. You will avoid spending hours searching for designers on various websites or social networks because all designer types will be gathered on one platform.
There are thousands of portfolios for different types of designers on a creative design marketplace, making it easier to find someone with the right skills and experience for your project.
You can also choose from different price points depending on the complexity of your design project. If you have a limited budget but need high quality results, this could be the right approach for your business to take.
Cons
A creative design marketplace does have some drawbacks. For starters, you may not have insight into the design process compared to other design sources. Also, the quality of the final product may not be of high standards compared to hiring a full-time designer.
In a creative design marketplace each designer charges their own fee for their services, which adds up quickly when working with multiple designers. It’s important to keep track of their fees to create an accurate budget.
The prices may also be higher than average because you're paying for convenience. Similar to freelancing there are many people looking for designers to complete their work on these platforms. Competition is fierce and prices tend to reflect that fact.
Similarly, when you work with an agency or crowdsource project, you have to choose from a long list of candidates (or apply yourself if it's an open call). This could take weeks or even months depending upon how detailed your brief is and how quickly people respond to it.
Creative design marketplaces also rely on algorithms that match projects based on keywords and other criteria in order to give visibility among potential customers. The trouble is that these algorithms may fail to match projects with designers who have relevant skill sets and experience. This could mean a lot of wasted time and effort if you don’t find the right designer.
4. Job Boards
Job boards can be a great way to find talented full-time or part-time creative designers. Since people are looking for work it can be option for companies of all sizes
Pros
Using a job board allows you to access talented individuals who have the specific skill set and experience level you’re searching for. You may even find some professionals who are willing to work on a contract basis instead of full-time employment.
The advantage of using job boards is that you can easily compare portfolios and find a designer that fits your budget.
Cons
The downside is that job boards don’t always guarantee quality hires. Anyone can submit their resume, so it may take time to find someone with the right expertise who fits within your budget and timeframe. Even if you find someone, you may not get exactly what you want, which can be frustrating if you’re unsure of exactly what you need!
Job boards may also limit your access. While many platforms offer free membership options, there are restrictions on what you can post or access. That is going to depend on the amount of money you're willing to spend on your monthly membership fee.
Some platforms only offer paid memberships if you want access to premium features such as unlimited postings, more storage space, and more powerful search tools.
5. Design Service Subscription
Another great alternative for those on a tight budget is to sign up for a design service subscription. Design service subscriptions are growing in popularity as businesses look for ways to cut costs while still obtaining quality designs that can be created quickly and efficiently.
Pros
One of the major advantages with a design service subscription, is businesses pay a fixed fee per month and receive access to a library of creative design services and tools. For example, if you are a business with a fixed budget having a predictable monthly fee for your design cost can make planning your design projects much easier.
With a design service subscription, your business will have access to resources such as creative design templates, automation, virtual assistants, and on-demand design services.
Just imagine being able to have professional pre-screened designers that you can hire on a per project basis.
You can save time and money compared to other models such as freelancer designers or searching for designers on job boards. And you don’t have to conduct interviews beforehand.
Additionally, you can also access designers on a part-time or full-time basis. Design service solutions like Awesomic can match you with a designer on their 1 to 1 plan which is the same as hiring a full time in house designer on a monthly contract basis.
This same service can match you with creative designers on a part-time basis for any design task. No matter if it's a simple graphic design or a custom website, and anything in between.
Cons
The prices for these subscriptions can start at $700 per month for unlimited projects. While some services only allow one round of revisions per project others like Awesomic have no restrictions at all on revisions.
You may also have to pay for any training courses that come with the subscription. Additionally, the selection of designers may also be quite small depending on your location or industry, so it may take longer than anticipated to find someone suitable for your needs.
Choosing the Source for Your Creative Designer
When choosing a model for sourcing your creative designer, there are several factors to keep in mind. Outsourcing creative design can help you tap into a diverse talent pool and access higher quality work. This can be beneficial if you don’t have the resources or enough design work for a full-time designer.
A good rule of thumb is to always do your research before hiring a company or choosing a designer. Take a look at their website or portfolio to gain insight into their previous work. Book a call with their team to understand their capabilities and if they have experience working on similar projects.
You want to have a clear understanding of the timeline and scope of your design project. Start by defining your design goals. You want to get in the habit of analyzing how better designs can solve problems and help you reach business objectives.
This will lead to better results in the long run. Lastly, establish a budget before searching for a creative designer to avoid making a decision, and then realizing you can’t afford the designer you want.
Which Option Will You Choose?
It’s clear there are a variety of options available to businesses who need to hire a creative designer. While each option has its own set of pros and cons, doing some research beforehand will aid in finding the perfect creative designers for your needs. Whether you choose an agency, freelance designer, creative marketplace, job board or design service subscription, your next project deserves the best designs!
If you don't want to wait any longer to find your perfect creative designer, let Awesomic be your trusted design partner. Book a call with our team today and let us show you how your business designs can reach cosmic new heights.
