Let’s explore how marketing teams create graphic design work without hiring in-house!

Do-It-Yourself: Cheapest Route for Simpler Projects

The DIY route is a popular route for many marketing teams. These days marketers wear different hats: social media manager, copywriter, and even graphic designer. Some companies may even require marketers to use DIY graphic design tools like Canva or Adobe Express, even without graphic design experience.

The DIY option is the cheapest since most DIY graphic design apps are free! Marketers without graphic design experience can also use professionally designed templates. Marketers can customize them to their branding and publish or print them anytime.

However, DIY graphic design apps aren’t without caveats. For one, DIY graphic design tools are freemium. While most features are available on the free plan, some assets and advanced features require a paid plan. This can also make customization and branding difficult. Designs may look repetitive or may mirror other outputs from other brands, which is not ideal.

AI: For Quick Outputs

In the aforementioned study by Clutch, they reported that 88% of businesses have adopted AI into their workflows. Twenty-five percent of businesses in the report disclosed they have used AI to increase their output.

It’s not a surprise, since you can submit a prompt for your desired output and get it done in minutes. You can also upload your brand assets, which the AI may attempt to integrate into the design. AI’s major perk is quick generation. You can generate as many as you can, until you run out of credits. 

However, that can also be its disadvantage. As a continuously training model, AI won’t get your designs right a couple of times. You will need to feed it with prompts and data to get to your envisioned output.

Another drawback of using AI is the output they generate. Some come out as unrealistic. Other outputs can also include distorted or disfigured elements. Plus, if your graphic design has copy, it may come out as gibberish. Because of this, AI might not capture what the audience would be drawn to, which is the opposite of your intended campaign goals.

Outsource Graphic Design Work: Better Long-Term for Regular Design Work Without the Hefty Overhead

The ideal solution for marketing teams to manage increasing design demands without adding headcount is to hire graphic designers. Outsourcing graphic design work may seem counterintuitive, given the costs involved. However, working with a professional graphic designer without fully integrating them into your team can be a valuable asset. 

The most popular models for outsourced graphic design work are:

• Freelancers
• Graphic Design Agencies
• Subscription Graphic Design Services

We explore these models further below!

What Are The Best Places to Find Outsourced Graphic Design Work?

Businesses today face a plethora of options for finding outsourced graphic design work. However, with numerous options, it can be hard to pin down the right fit, based on the following factors:

• Budget
• Timeline
• Commitment
• Design variety
• Software mastery
• Experience in the field or industry

Here’s how marketing teams can choose and where to find the best outsourced graphic designers:

1. Freelance Platforms

When people think about outsourcing, the first thing that comes to mind is freelancers. Freelancers come in handy because they’re cheaper. Plus, you don’t need to work with them long-term unless the marketing campaign calls for it, or you’re hiring someone outside your immediate team. Finally, freelancers may get the job done quickly, if needed.

However, freelance graphic designers may not be as reputable or reliable as the two other models. Additionally, you can’t guarantee turnaround times, since freelancers may work with other clients. Plus, freelancers often don’t offer quality checks.

Check out these platforms to find reliable graphic designers:

• Dribbble
• Behance
• Toptal
• Twine
• Contra

Pricing: Freelancers often start at $5/hr for most graphic design services. 

2. Graphic Design Agencies

Graphic design agencies are a more reliable alternative for freelancers. They’re the ideal option if you want a full-service graphic design project with strategy and consultation. You can keep them on a retainer if your marketing team runs regular marketing campaigns and has a high design volume. When you work with a graphic design agency, you can expect high-quality work because they work with experienced professional graphic designers from around the world.

However, agencies may be expensive for marketing teams on a budget. Some projects can cost $50,000 to $100,000, depending on scope and scale. Plus, they could have slower turnaround times than freelancers and subscription graphic design services.

Here’s where you can find graphic design agencies:

• Clutch
• The Good Firms
• The Manifest

Pricing: Prices for graphic design agencies may start from $1,000/project.

3. Subscription Graphic Design Companies

If you’ve not heard of subscription graphic design companies, you may be missing out on a worthwhile addition to your team. This model goes by many names; it’s often called an unlimited graphic design service or an on-demand graphic design service. Either way, subscription graphic design companies are a good alternative to the previous business models above.

For starters, an unlimited graphic design service doesn’t require a long-term commitment unless you want it. Some subscription graphic design services may offer a free trial to test the service before fully committing or a money-back guarantee if it’s not for you.

You can also request as many designs as you need while you’re subscribed. Most unlimited graphic design services offer a wide scope of services, including logo designs, web designs, brochures, flyers, and other marketing deliverables. 

That’s why they’re an ideal option for most marketing teams, especially as design demand grows. They no longer need to work with an agency or hire multiple freelancers because subscription design services cover most graphic design work.

Finally, subscription graphic design services pride themselves on their quick turnaround times. Most have a 24-hour or 1-day turnaround time. This is ideal for those with a specific timeline, but not on a time crunch.

Aside from these, here are other perks to consider:

• Unlimited revisions
• Use of their project management software
• Cancel or pause your subscription anytime
• Scalable and flexible plans

However, subscription graphic design services may not be ideal for you if you need 

Here are examples of the best unlimited graphic design services to subscribe to, with their starting prices:

• Penji – starts at $999/mo
• Manypixels – starts at $699/mo
• Kimp – starts at $1397/mo
• Flocksy – starts at $1699/mo
• Design Shifu – starts at $799/mo

Key Takeaways

Marketing teams don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to keep an in-house graphic designer for consistent graphic design deliverables. 

These days, marketing teams can use free or freemium tools to customize simple designs and speed up the design process. Despite the easy accessibility of DIY graphic design apps or AI design tools, they may not be viable alternatives for long-term graphic design work, which can hurt your overall brand. That’s why you should also consider working with outsourced professionals, who will always put your brand’s best interests first and keep the brand identity consistent with compelling designs.