With the number of freelance graphic designers on the rise, there are more options than ever for outsourcing your design project. Freelancers can be a great option for certain organizations, but what makes working with a freelancer different than working with a studio? And, how do you know which one would be a better fit for your organization or project? Let’s explore the differences.
1. Budget
Let’s address the elephant in the room up front. Freelancers often cost less than a studio would for the same project. This is because freelancers have much lower operating expenses than studios do. In a studio environment, the expense of staff payroll, electricity, rent, software licensing, etc. means that it simply costs more to do business. While a lower price is appealing to many, it’s best to understand the trade-offs that come with it.
2. Timelines
Full time freelancers may be able to turn small projects around quickly, but if a freelancer only works on nights and weekends, you may have to get in line for even small projects. A studio can often handle large projects faster by assigning a team to them—taking the “divide and conquer” approach.
3. Redundancy and Backup
If your freelancer goes on vacation or has an illness, you may be having to look for a backup designer on your own. Studios can assign the project to another member of their design team to keep it on track.
Studios also have collective experience and a technical knowledge-base that is greater than most individuals. If there’s a problem with the file, chances are that there’s someone in the office who has encountered a similar issue before and knows how to fix it.
4. Quality Control
In a design studio, art directors are trained to look for consistency and quality of work. Our studio even has a “second set of eyes” policy where a designer who hasn’t worked on the project reviews all files against a checklist to ensure things aren’t missed before printing. While there are many capable freelancers, the lack of team support could lead to inconsistency in quality.
5. Accountability
If something goes wrong, and the freelancer isn’t cooperative, there’s no creative director to turn to for help.
6. Scale
One of the things that a studio can do well is look at the big picture. For instance, a full rebranding is a significant undertaking, with many factors of future use and functionality taken into consideration. A studio can assign a team of designers to work on the resulting applications and collateral while an art director ensures consistency in establishing standards. The support of a team can help keep a large project like this on schedule.
Is it worth paying a bit more for the different level of services that a studio can offer? That’s something only you can answer.
If you’d like to explore how Dever Designs can serve you, get in touch to start the conversation.