Your brand's visual identity can make or break your business success. For example, when you're launching a new business or refreshing your brand, you'll face a crucial decision: should you hire a professional graphic designer or do it yourself? While both options have their place, making the right choice can significantly impact your business's future.
In this article, we will cover what you need to know to make a decision that aligns with your business goals and resources:
The Cost & Time Comparison
Professional Designer | DIY (Do It Yourself) |
Initial Consultation and Research Time that's spent understanding your brand and goals. | Time Investment Hours spent on learning how to create and edit files and images from scratch. |
Design Concepts and Revisions From presenting the initial mock ups to revising them to your needs | Template and Asset Purchases Needing to purchase licensed fonts, stock images, editable templates, additional printer fees to correct your files |
Expertise and Knowledge Years of industry experience and design strategies that are tailored to your business goals to fit your unique needs | Opportunity Costs Lost business opportunities from an unpolished or inconsistent look of branded materials and website. |
Project Management Efficient communication and handling of your design needs. Ensuring your deadlines are met | Trial and Error Potentially redoing the work if file is not saved to the correct resolution or does not meet print or digital specifications. |
File Preparation Delivery of high-quality files that are suitable for print and digital | Hardware Upgrades Making sure your device can handle design softwares especially when exporting high quality files. |
Skill Requirements
This section explores the pros and cons of each approach to help you assess what aligns with your needs and capabilities.
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER
PROS | CONS |
Expertise & Efficiency:
A professional knows and understands the technical aspects of setting up print or digital files, industry specific trends, and can typically create a professional design quickly.
Strategic Design: Experience with brand strategy and audience psychology helps when developing design work that grabs the attention of your target audience. Competitive market positioning: A custom designed project ensures your brand makes a strong first impression while clearly communicating its unique value, helping you stand out and attract your target audience. | Cost: Higher upfront investment for a skilled designer. Dependence: You rely on them for future updates or changes if you're unsure how to make the edits yourself. Potential Miscommunication: Conveying your vision accurately can sometimes be challenging. |
DO IT YOURSELF
PROS | CONS |
Cost:
Cheaper to do it yourself, especially for simple projects.
Templates:
Various free templates to choose from from applications like Canva.
Learning Opportunity:
Gain skills in design and tools for future use.
Control: Complete creative autonomy over the process. Satisfaction: The sense of accomplishment from completing a project yourself. | Learning Curve:
Requires time to learn tools and design principles.
Templates:
Limited design options, inconsistent branding elements—especially when it comes to fonts—and the chance of ending up with a generic look.
Quality Risk:
Final designs may appear unpolished and inconsistent with your branding, with potential issues in resolution and file exporting.
Time-Intensive: Creating and refining designs takes time especially when you're not well versed with the software. |
Time Investment Reality Check
Professional designers bring clarity to your project timeline from day one. During your initial consultation, they'll assess your needs and provide realistic timeframes based on their experience with similar projects. Most importantly, they can work with your deadlines, whether you need something quick for an upcoming event or have a longer timeline for a complete brand overhaul. You'll spend minimal time in the process – mainly providing feedback and approvals – while they handle all the heavy lifting of design work and revisions.
Going the DIY route with platforms like Canva means you can get started right away using their templates. While these tools make design accessible, you'll find yourself using the same layouts and elements as thousands of other businesses. Even with customization options, your designs might blend in with the crowd rather than helping your business stand out in your industry. Think of it like wearing a suit off the rack versus having one tailored specifically for you – both will work, but one clearly fits your unique needs better than the other.
When to Choose Each Option
Glad you’ve made it this far! Now, let’s figure out when to hire a graphic designer and when to take on the design work yourself.
Hire a Professional When:
Building a long-term brand
Competing in a crowded market
Needing complex design work
Requiring multiple design assets
Having a sufficient budget
You have very limited time
Consider DIY When:
Starting with limited budget
Testing a concept or idea
Having design experience
Having time to learn and experiment
Making Your Final Decision
Now that you’ve considered the options, it’s time to make the final call. Choosing between hiring a professional designer or tackling the work yourself depends on several important factors. Here are a few key questions to ask yourself to ensure you make the best decision for your project.
What's your long-term brand vision?
What’s your realistic budget, and will hiring a professional save you in the long run?
How much time can you invest?
What level of quality do you need?
How soon do you need the designs?
What are your competitors doing?
Moving Forward with Confidence
No matter if you decide to hire a professional or take the DIY route, this guide is here to help you choose the best option for your business.
Remember, your choice isn't permanent – many businesses start with DIY and transition to professional design as they grow.
If you're ready to explore professionally designed services or want to learn more about the DIY approach, start by assessing your current needs and future goals. Your brand's visual identity is an investment in your business's future – choose the path that best supports your vision for success.
Need help with your decision? Let's discuss your specific needs and find the right solution for your business. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your brand's visual journey.