Outsource Graphic Design: All You Need to Know

No matter how great your content is, it will only work best with good design. This is why it’s highly important to pair it with creative design that speaks, shows, and exudes the message you want to convey. However, many business professionals no longer have the time to focus on design when work becomes a handful. They already handle a lot every day, so outsourcing creative design allows them to focus more on their company operations.

Creative design outsourcing is when a business obtains the creative design services of a supplier outside their organization.

Why should my company avail creative design outsourcing services?

Photo by Emily Bernal on Unsplash

You’re probably wondering why it even matters to outsource graphic design. Allow us to break down the answers to your common questions.

Why is design important for my business’s identity?

One of the biggest misconceptions about design is that it’s just design—that it’s easy and is just about aesthetics. The truth is, though, design does so much more than making people say, “That’s pretty.”

1. It makes a good first impression

   There are various opinions on whether first impressions matter, but when it comes to business, they truly do. If you’ve ever exerted effort to look your best for a job interview or a first date, you’d know that first impressions do play a huge role.
   
   Now think about your company’s design. More often than not, it’s the first thing people will notice when they encounter your business. An effective design can make or break the viewer’s idea of who your business is and what it’s all about. Remember a recent time when you saw a design you didn’t like? We bet your opinion of it hasn’t changed to this day.

2. It allows people to recognize your brand

   Without seeing the brand name, you already know it’s McDonald’s the moment you see a curved M in yellow. Even if it’s not your favorite chain, or even if you don’t eat fast food at all, you just know it’s McDonald’s.
   
   That’s the power of design. It allows people to recognize your brand from a mile away. And while simple recognition doesn’t seem much at first, it does so much more for your brand in the long run:
   
   
   • It establishes trust between your brand and your audience — When the audience is familiar with your brand and its reputation, they’d likely choose that over another brand they’ve never heard of.
   • It increases your products’ perceived value — When the brand recognition level is high, consumers become less apprehensive about shelling out money.
   • It makes it easier for you to introduce new products — When consumers recognize your brand, they’re likely to anticipate new products from it.

3. It allows your business to stand out

   Whatever industry you're in, your business definitely has competition. This is why your business needs to stand out, and one of the best ways for you to do that is to develop an effective design.
   
   If your designs get your message across and speak to the audience, potential customers will simply gravitate toward your products. You likely experience this yourself when you go grocery shopping and opt for a product with an effective design that speaks to you.

4. It makes your website user-friendly

   No matter what product or service you’re selling, it’s always a good idea to have a website for your brand. But what’s the point of a website if it’s not easy to use?
   
   This is why design is important in keeping your page easy to navigate, especially nowadays when people have short attention spans. Good design helps turn your website visitors into customers.
   
   Imagine going on a website with nothing but blocks of text. We won’t blame you if you decide to leave immediately. That can be attributed to poor web design.

5. It tells a story

   At this point, we’re sure you already get the idea: Design is not just design. But let us add another important reason why design matters: It tells a story.
   
   When you tell a story through design, you develop an emotional bond between the design and its viewer. Stories inject designs with meaning, and designs spark connections and allow you to tell stories through visual communication.

What common design-related challenges do businesses face and how can outsourcing help?

Photo by Antoni Shkraba

As a business professional, you’re probably not new to challenges in the business industry—and these include challenges related to design. Here are the common design-related challenges in business followed by how outsourcing can help.

1. THE PROBLEM IS: You don’t have the time for it

   We understand if business owners and professionals don’t have the time to focus on design. After all, running a business is already tough!
   
   When you have to add design projects to your—or your team’s—workload, you may be biting off more than you can chew. You could opt to hire more people and have them focus on design, but that requires additional management and training, especially when compared to outsourcing.
   
   

   BUT WITH OUTSOURCING: You save time

   When you outsource graphic design, you free up time for yourself and your team, allowing you to focus more on tasks that can only be done by you.
   
   Passing the design tasks on to an outsourced team guarantees reliability in finishing design projects as you focus on your business operations.

2. THE PROBLEM IS: You don’t have design experience

   Even the smartest, most intelligent business professionals have something they’re not that good at.
   
   If you’re the kind of business professional who doesn’t have design skills, you’re not alone. Many other high achievers in the business world need a little help in the world of design.
   
   

   BUT WITH OUTSOURCING: You get quality work from professionals

   It takes years to master the technicalities and skills of design. Skilled and experienced designers already know the best design strategies that will work for your brand.
   
   Plus, with their experience of working with various industries, outsourced teams have gained valuable experience and learnings that they can apply to your projects.

3. THE PROBLEM IS: You need more capacity

   Your organization could have the skills and the people but just not enough capacity.
   
   When your client load grows and your in-house design team already has too much on their plate, outsourced design services can save the day.
   
   

   BUT WITH OUTSOURCING: You expand your team

   When you get outsourced designers as an extension of your team, you don’t just get quality work; you also get the capacity to accept more projects. When there are extra hands to do the work, you get to produce more in a short amount of time.
   
   In the long run, this could further benefit your business in terms of financials because outsourcing increases your business’s capacity to accept more clients and take on more projects.

4. THE PROBLEM IS: You need to manage the costs of operations

   Hiring an in-house design team doesn’t only require additional management and training; it also means spending a lot more. Aside from paying them, you also have to buy the needed equipment, set up a standard workspace, and so on.
   
   This is why it’s pretty understandable if business owners refuse to hire in-house designers so they could control their costs.
   
   

   BUT WITH OUTSOURCING: You spend less

   At first glance, outsourcing may seem like an extra cost. But in outsourcing, you only pay for what you need—no costs on training, equipment, and benefits that you would usually spend when you hire in-house employees.
   
   It minimizes the costs of hiring a full-time design team but still gives you the same quality of work.

5. THE PROBLEM IS: You need a fresh set of eyes

   Oftentimes, when you get too used to a type of work, your mind has already developed a system that limits you from generating new ideas.
   
   A new perspective and a fresh set of eyes are what you need to give your brand a design boost.
   
   

   BUT WITH OUTSOURCING: Your projects get a fresh perspective 

   Having a fresh set of eyes makes your designs look, feel, and communicate better. Plus, without it, your personal biases and perceptions can get in the way.
   
   An outsourced designer will take an unbiased look at your business and make the right strategies.

How do I choose the right supplier?

Photo by Jonathan Borba

Aside from doing research on things like how to outsource graphic design and how to evaluate design work, you should also know how to look for the right supplier.

Here are some essential factors to take note of before you outsource your graphic design projects:

1. The right skills for your project

   Seasoned designers know the best strategies for their clients. They also have the necessary professional skills like time management and problem-solving.
   
   Reach out to the suppliers to get a better understanding of their areas of expertise. We recommend booking a consultation call where you can see if their skills are a match for your needs. If they are, you can be sure that your project is in good hands.

2. Industry experience and best practices

   Take a look at the designer’s work experience. What kinds of clients have they worked with? Do they have enough understanding of the design industry? What does their design style look like? It also helps to look at client testimonials and reviews. What have past clients said about them?
   
   Outsourcing from an experienced designer doesn’t only say a lot about their skills; it also says a lot about their attitude and work ethics. For example, a designer with more experience has probably learned to be more efficient and strategic over the years.

3. A great portfolio you can review

   Not all designers have the same style, and that’s great! This means that there’s the right designer for everyone depending on a business’s needs, branding, and requirements.
   
   Before you commit to an outsourcing supplier, look at their portfolio. This is similar to researching their experience: What kinds of clients have they worked for? Does their style match yours? How do you feel about their designs?
   
   Consider outsourcing to agencies or designers that have done various projects for various industries. That way, you can be sure that they’re skillful, flexible, and proficient.

4. A lineup of services for your needs

   As we said, not all designers have the same style. This means that they may not have the same lineup of services too. A designer who specializes in logo design may not be offering web design and vice-versa.
   
   Before anything, know the kind of service you need. This will make it easier for you to find the right supplier and see if their services match your requirements.

5. Rates that fit your budget

   They say that money is no object, but availing of services still requires you to be smart about your expenses and ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth.
   
   Determine your budget and research the service rates of agencies and designers. Remember to have the right perspective when it comes to fees: Don’t go for a fee that’s way above the service’s worth, but be sure to appreciate the value of the service by agreeing to a fair amount.
   
   We recommend asking for the rates of various suppliers instead of committing to the first one you see. Always be sure that the rates are competitive, fair, and reasonable.

Let’s talk about the Straightarrow Model

At Straightarrow, we make sure that we meet our clients’ standards and go above and beyond. Here’s what you need to know about our design services:

1. Our Design Services

   • User Interface (UI & Web Design)
     
     We can’t stress enough how important it is for a business to have a website. But as research has proven time and time again, having a website means nothing if it’s hard to navigate. This is why it’s extremely important to have an effective user interface (UI).
     
     Figuring out how to outsource web design is simple and easy. When you outsource website design from us at Straightarrow, we can offer UI and website design that creates a meaningful interaction and positive user experience between the user and your website.

1. • Brand Development
     
     As the number of businesses in any industry continues to grow, it’s important to establish your brand identity. Our brand development services allow your brand to showcase a distinct brand identity, whether online or in print. We consider your capabilities and company culture to create recall and make you memorable to your target market.
   • Graphic Design
     
     We’ll never get tired of saying this: Design is never just design. Our graphic design services can communicate and organize information effectively with outputs that are guided by beauty in functionality.
   • Video Design & Animation
     
     Videos are powerful. Not only are they enjoyable, but their content is also easy to digest. Let us help you get your message across through engaging video design and animation.

2. Our Support Setup

   Outsourcing design work to us at StraightArrow also gives you the option to choose which kind of support you can get:
   
   
   • Shared support gives you project-based designers who provide their services according to the job order or project you assign them to. They work during the hours of their local time, so both parties must take into account the time difference when setting deadlines and meetings.
   • Dedicated support gives you full-time designers who act as an extension of your team. They are fully dedicated to you as their client and they work during the hours of your local time.

Creative design outsourcing passes design projects to your supplier while still allowing you to stay on top of everything.

It’s an effective way to get quality design work while being cost-effective. When you outsource, you get to utilize the best resources—skilled designers, design technologies, fresher perspectives—in a reasonable amount of time and within budget.

Outsourcing doesn’t only allow you to focus more on business operations; it also lets your projects be executed in the best and most efficient way possible.

If you’d like to inquire about our creative design services at StraightArrow, view our portfolio and send us a message.