Why do I need to hire a Graphic Designer?

“Can’t my cousin do it in MS Paint for free?”

Graphic designers around the world are simultaneously shuddering at that sentence.

No! The face of your company should not hang on the limited capabilities of Microsoft Paint, Publisher, or even Photoshop for that matter!

While it is understandable that many start-up businesses try cut corners and eliminate unnecessary costs where possible, design should not be seen as an optional extra. Investing in graphic design is investing in your business.

Reasons to hire a [qualified] graphic designer:

Save money long term

Ever heard the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’? Here is a Venn Diagram to explain what I mean.

Not investing in branding initially will, without a doubt, cost you more money in the future. The cost of doing a rebrand, often more than once, especially when existing collateral is floating around will inevitably cost way more than doing it properly from the get-go.

Good design stands the test of time

There is a significant difference between a logo you got online for the price of a pizza and one where your company brand, ethos and competitors have been carefully researched and taken into consideration. Design is not a one size fits all solution. Qualified and experienced designers will know how to best develop a solution that is right for you, your business and your market.

Be taken seriously

You only get one chance to make a first impression, are you sure it’s the right one?

A well designed logo, in conjunction with a strong marketing campaign, can increase your conversion rate substantially. Potential customers judge your business, within seconds, based on the look and feel of your branding, website and marketing collateral. A well presented brand gives your business credibility, not only to consumers but also amongst your peers, ensuring you are taken seriously.

Stay on Budget

A good designer will also be able to work with your budget. Designers are trained to be flexible and work around costs, manipulating elements such as full colour print and paper sizes, creating a solution that suits you and your budget.

Designers are also aware of potential costs and constraints in the future, taking things like logo colour and formatting into consideration. This is also where building a relationship with your designer will benefit you long term. Someone who already knows your brand and style will be able to deliver projects much more efficiently. Which leads me to my next point..

Consistency

One mistake businesses make is chop and change between designers and trends. Each designer has their own style, personal preferences and strengths. The problem with getting your marketing collateral from several different sources is the lack of consistency, which unfortunately then weakens your brand. Style Guides or branding guidelines are created to lessen the likelihood of inconsistency, but often they are still open to interpretation.

Doing your research ahead of time will save you these headaches in the future.

Graphic designers are visual communicators

Graphic designers study Visual Communications (offical title of my degree) which means they speak a visual language that to others, may go unnoticed. This language is spoken through layout, typography, medium, style, colour and placement. There’s a reason why some advertising sticks in your mind, is visually pleasing or evokes a certain emotion. That is design, good design.

Help you understand what you really need

A graphic designer’s job is to understand what you need and how to package it to your customers. Often clients will think they need to recreate their logo and overhaul their website, when they simply need a brand refresh and a stronger marketing strategy. A good designer can recognise this and advise the best approach to take.

Hiring the right designer for you will not only save you time and reduce headaches by giving you one less thing to worry about, it will save you money in the long run. Graphic designers know how to keep your printing costs to a minimum, optimise your branding for web and or print (yes, the requirements are different) and create a solution that is unique, for all the right reasons, so you can stand out from your competitors and show that your business means business!

Want to take your branding to the next level? Studio Danu can do just that.