Graphic design subscriptions: Are unlimited graphics right for you?

Various design business models exist on the web today, many being monthly, pay-as-you-go plans. The concept is simple. You pay a monthly fee and receive deliverables for the cost. Usually, you can make unlimited requests, meaning your business never needs to scramble for well-designed images for blogs, webpages, or infographics.

These services aren't isolated to websites and apps. You can find them on streaming media platforms like Netflix or recipe boxes like Hello Fresh. Such services exist for one reason: to save time and money and prevent stress when you need to publish something because you request unlimited revisions.

But are these subscriptions truly beneficial for your business? Or are you unnecessarily spending money? The answer truly depends on your business and its needs.

At its core, subscription-based design services guarantee your basic graphic design needs are met.

This article outlines the proven benefits your business will see when you switch to a flexible design subscription from an in-house design team. After reading, you will have all the knowledge you need to decide if such services will benefit your business. And you'll know exactly what such a subscription is and how it works.

So, let's get into it.

Key Takeaways

• What are unlimited graphic design services?
• Get unlimited revisions and various design types with one subscription
• Pitfalls of working with freelancers for design tasks
• Disadvantages of working with design agencies not offering design as a subscription

What is an unlimited design service?

As you'd expect, this service offers unlimited graphic and web designs for a set monthly cost. Businesses have nuances within their offerings, but the model is standard overall.

So, how does it work?

With a graphics subscription, do you truly get unlimited graphics?

Yes and no. You will get unlimited graphic design requests. You can make unlimited requests; the graphic designer or company will honor them. However, the number of design files and tasks will vary due to the process required to create unlimited graphic or video deliverables.

Initially, you submit your graphic design tasks. Tell the company what you need and share your brand assets and references. Next, you tell them the type of design you'd like. You only explain what you'd expect to see when you receive the design.

Next, the designers you hire get to work creating your creatives. You are often matched with designers but sometimes work exclusively with a team. Your graphic design requests are put into a design queue during this time. Your design solutions team will work through the queue and begin working on your request. They will work on the design you need regardless of its type.

Common needs are:

• App design
• Landing page design
• Logo design
• Presentation design
• Web design services

Lastly, you receive your design and provide feedback. If the designers miss the mark and you want revisions, the designers will modify it. In most cases, your subscription includes unlimited requests and revisions. You can make many design requests and manage your design throughout the process. It ensures the final design you want is what you receive.

There are some rules which apply to everything mentioned above. For example, the word unlimited generally refers to the number of requests you can make. Often, you will not receive the number of graphics for the requests you submit.

Although a company offering a graphic design subscription service may have fast turnaround times, they provide you with an expected number of graphics you will receive daily. You can understand how many designs you will receive monthly using this number.

Say a company has a business day turnaround time for every two design requests you make. You can submit a request for 14 graphics on Monday, and you should receive two new brand assets each day.

You can request as many revisions as you want or need. Here is where the design service excels and saves you money. If you've been on Upwork and spoken to designers, you've probably seen that most charge for revisions. But with a pay-as-you-go monthly model, all revisions are included in your monthly cost.

Paying for a subscription doesn't restrict you to one designer or team. You can work with many designers within an organization and choose the one that most closely matches your brand. If you own an agency, you could harness this power and extend the service to clients by submitting a design request on their behalf.  

You should know that you can pause and resume your subscription as needed. If you feel you will not use the service for a month, pausing is usually quite simple. Again, this will depend on your provider, so check the terms of service before signing up.

We've hinted at a benefit of such a service above, but let's break down the most common benefits people see and those that may be overlooked.

What are the benefits of a design subscription service?

So now you understand the question, "What is a graphic design subscription?" You could feel skeptical or excited to sign up for one.

So, what are the long-term benefits of using a subscription service?

Unlimited graphic design means more creativity.

Could you imagine getting everything you need for your business without worrying about multiple invoices or soaring costs?

What about not needing to create a time-consuming brief and design schedule?

If it sounds like a dream, a design service could greatly impact the efficiency of your business and may be right for you.

If you sign up for a subscription service, you don't need to face daily hiccups that prevent you from making more deals and growing your business. They will have many questions if they opt to work with a freelancer or a new agency. For the freelancer, you'll need to design thorough briefs so they get it right the first time. If not, you will pay a fee for redesigning the image.

When working with a new agency that has not nailed down its processes, you must account for their questions as you submit requests.

With a design team, you can simply tell the designers what you want. For example, "I'd like to replace this social media template from Canva with a custom solution."

They will ask a few questions but ultimately review your brand and social media presence and create something you'll love. If you don't like it, they will offer unlimited requests for changes to the new template until you do.

You only need to provide feedback when they send you the new designs. Can you see how powerful this service can be for one low price if you take advantage of it?

Reliability from a dedicated design team subscription plan

When submitting design work to a freelancer, you often hope they complete the project on time and stay around to deliver it after payment. However, with a monthly service, these concerns no longer apply.

With a team of designers, you'll always have direct access to a professional standing by. If one designer cannot complete your deliverable due to unforeseen circumstances, there's another ready to take care of it. Your project can continue as planned.

And most design teams offering unlimited deliverables work all the time. So, they will be available when you need them except for major holidays like Christmas in most cases.

Most providers will have a dedicated project manager, meaning your tasks are seen, considered, and handled within the specified turnaround time frame. Your designs will have to pass a quality assurance test before receiving them so you know all items will function and be beautiful.

Save time and money with an unlimited design service

So far, we've discussed how this business model could save you time and reduce stress. But did you know they can save you money?

The average cost for in-house designers in the USA is about $6000 monthly. Most small businesses will have cash flow problems at some point. So, paying six grand per month for designs can strain the business. You can instead use a design service as a fraction of the cost and invest the saved money into your marketing efforts.

So why should you choose a service over a freelancer in this case? Being a freelancer isn't a bad idea, especially if you have a one-off project. But considering the average hourly investment required for freelance designers is $35, you could be paying more than expected. If your project requires 10 hours, you're looking at a minimum of $350 and will need to plan for revision costs. Additionally, you will only receive one design for that cost.

Would a DIY option be best if you're strapped for cash? Let's explain why the route could end up costing you more. By using something like Canva, your business image can suffer. These services are great for what they offer, but most seasoned professionals can see when a design is made in Canva, and it can damage your business's reputation.

To top it off, using Canva or a similar service, you will need to understand the platform and scour the web for how to create design graphics that don't look awful.

Access to a design team will lead to more clarity in the design process

When creating designs, you generally clearly know how you think something should look. But when you start to design the deliverable, things can become confusing. Perhaps you overlooked how a deliverable will look on a mobile device or aren't using design principles. Doing either could result in disaster.

But by opting for a monthly service, you gain access to a team of experts who can bring clarity and a vision to your idea. After onboarding, you'll immediately see the benefits of a dedicated team helping you. They will likely impress you by understanding your business and your goals.

Plus, by having a dedicated point of contact, you won't stress about making modifications or how to tell your team about discoveries.

Stress-free design projects with unlimited revisions

Your team is probably stressed trying to handle the day-to-day tasks of helping you run your business. The biggest reason employee churn is high is because of stress. So naturally, you don't want to add more to your team's plate.

When you start piling work onto your employees, they will feel anxious. The quality of their work will be affected, and you will see it reflected in your business.

A subscription design service will lighten your team's workload and ensure you meet KPIs consistently when design deliverables are needed. And you can feel confident knowing you'll get spot-on deliverables for any request you make.

Avoid a design pickle so you can say yes to more business

Every business owner aims to scale quickly and make as much revenue as possible. The more revenue you make, the more profit and power you will have. However, working on your designs can quickly deteriorate your ability to focus your time where it is needed.

As your business grows, so will your design needs, and not having designers lined up will affect your bottom line. But with a graphics design subscription plan, you can increase the number of designers working for your business at no additional cost.

It makes sense, right?

More Projects = More Business = Expedited Growth

The best part is the designers you are paying will work behind the scenes. For agency owners, the benefit couldn't be more clear. They do all the work, and you get all the credit.

Stay ahead of visual design trends with a graphic design service

One last overlooked benefit of a design service pay monthly model is that you will never lag behind competitors. You can quickly pivot your designs in a new direction when the market demands it.

Being able to pivot can make or break your business. Consumers won't wait for you to compel them with your designs. The reality is they'll work with your competitors.

Can you see why a design service can pack more punch than you ever thought?

Summary

Pay monthly design services have transformed how businesses access creative services, offering an efficient, cost-effective, and flexible solution for all their design needs. With unlimited graphic design projects at a fixed monthly fee, businesses can focus on scaling their brand without breaking the bank.

So, are you ready to unlock endless creativity and revolutionize your business's design process?

Frequently Asked Questions

What creative outputs can I achieve by paying monthly for unlimited graphics?

You'll gain access to various creative outputs, including social media graphics, website designs, custom illustrations, and more - allowing you to unleash your creativity!

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How easy is submitting design requests and reviewing drafts?

Submitting design requests and reviewing drafts is easy. Usually, you do this on the company's platform in just a few clicks.

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Can I manage multiple brands with a single monthly payment?

Yes, you can manage multiple brands and only pay one fee. The benefits of this model are it allows businesses to manage multiple brands from one account, saving time and ensuring brand consistency.

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How do monthly plans compare to in-house and freelance design options in terms of cost and time-saving benefits?

They are a great cost and time-saving option compared to in-house and freelance design, with unlimited services for a flat monthly fee.

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What strategies can I use to maximize the value of my chosen service?

Make the most by planning, providing clear briefs, and keeping communication lines open with your design team.