on-Demand Design is redefining how creative is done

Design and creative have now become one of the main aspects that we can control across our marketing. And for many organisations, it has become a key pillar in their strategy for today’s performance-driven, ‘I need it yesterday’ mindset. The agency model once ruled but now because of the internet, social media, rise in digital testing and other technologies, has exposed itself as an inflexible and outdated way to outsource design. The birth of on-demand design offers unlimited, subscription-based and real-time solutions for savvy businesses that need design work that suits them. 

In this article, we'll explore what exactly on-demand design services are, their advantages, and best practices for implementing them into your business.

What is on-demand design?

As businesses continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the digital age, the need for quality design has become increasingly important. From social media graphics to web design, having a professional and cohesive image can make or break a business's online presence.

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On-demand design services provide businesses with access to professional designers for specific projects or ongoing needs without the need to hire a full-time employee. Instead, design is commissioned on a subscription basis where organisations can send work to an external designer who will then complete whatever they need. This allows businesses to keep their costs low and only utilise designers when they need them. Common use cases include:

• You only need a designer for a short-term project.
• You already work with an agency but need an extra pair of hands to help with day-to-day design so they focus on the bigger projects.
• OR you are an agency and you need help completing client requests.
• Support is needed for internal teams that can’t get around to all the projects requested.
• Your marketing team is also doing your graphic design work and you need professional support.

How On-Demand Design Works

When you engage an on-demand design service, you'll typically have a conversation with a representative about your design needs. This conversation may include discussing the scope of the project, the timeline and the design work needed. From there, the on-demand service will assign a dedicated designer for you to work with. 

One of the benefits of on-demand design services is the ability to communicate with the designer throughout the project. This allows for better collaboration and ensures that the final product meets the needs of the business. Revisions can be made until you're satisfied with the final product, making the process streamlined and efficient.

On-demand design services provide businesses with a cost-effective and efficient way to access professional design services. With the ability to tailor services to their specific needs, businesses can access the level of design support that makes sense at every stage of their brand journey.

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On-demand design services offer a flexible, no-commitment solution to businesses facing design bottlenecks and provide work ranging across social media design, web design, branding, and more. The plans are often tailored to the specific needs of the business, meaning you only pay for the design support you actually need.

The Advantages of On-Demand Design

Hiring a full-time designer can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you only require design services periodically. On-demand design offers almost identical results as hiring someone in-house but for less, as you don’t have to pay for all the extras of hiring a new employee.

1. It’s cost-effective

One of the most significant advantages of on-demand design services is the cost savings. Traditional hiring costs can be expensive, and keeping a full-time designer on staff may not be practical if you only require design services periodically. On-demand services offer affordable pricing models that allow businesses to only pay for the services they need when they need them, without incurring a large salary cost. For example, working with Design Cloud can save you over £20k per year compared to hiring in-house.

Moreover, on-demand design services offer competitive pricing models that are often lower than the market rate. If you have a consistent volume of design requests, working with agencies can be a viable route, but for the majority of SMBs and start-ups the cost of an agency contract is likely to be over budget. That is especially true if the amount of design work you need fluctuates, meaning you could be paying agency fees in times when you don’t need to. On-demand design means that you get agency-level quality of work without paying the eye-watering fees for it. But it’s not just for smaller businesses, the same applies to large enterprises that can afford to pay the agency fees. But why pay more than you need to? On-demand design providers offer an affordable price on a reliable monthly subscription fee for daily professional graphic design support, so it makes sense for many brands regardless of business size.

2. It’s scalable and flexible

Scalability is a crucial aspect of business success. As your business grows or evolves, so do your design needs. Traditional design hiring requires a significant investment of both time and money, making it challenging to scale your design team quickly. On-demand design services allow you to scale your design resources quickly to suit the needs of your business. Adding to, or reducing, the number of designers working on your project is easy and flexible.

On-demand design services also offer flexibility in terms of project timelines. If you have a tight deadline, you can increase the number of designers working on your project to ensure that it's completed on time. This flexibility ensures that your design needs are met, regardless of the project's complexity or timeline. And  if you have quieter months, you can simply pull back on how much design help you need by reducing the number of designers on your subscription plan.

3.Quality work at speed

And finally on-demand design brings the flexible benefits of working with a freelancer combined with the quality standard you get with agencies. You get to work with professional designers, without the hassle of trying to find available freelancers or go through laborious contract negotiations. With Design Cloud, all you need to do is book yourself a demo at a time that works for you and one of our service experts will join you to answer any questions. If you find that you’d like to give it a try, as soon as you’re set up we can get you up and running within an average of 1 business day.

On-demand design services offer a cost-effective, flexible, and scalable solution for businesses of all sizes. With access to a diverse range of design skills and fast turnaround times, on-demand design services can help businesses achieve their design objectives quickly and efficiently.

Implementing On-Demand Design in Your Business

On-demand design has become an increasingly popular solution for companies looking to streamline their design needs. It allows businesses to access professional design services quickly and efficiently, without the need for in-house designers or lengthy contracts.

Identifying Your Design Needs

Before implementing on-demand design in your business, it's essential to identify your design needs. This involves determining which aspects of your business require design attention and how often. Make a list of the types of projects or services you require and the expected design deliverables. This will help you to choose the right on-demand design provider for your needs.

For example, if you run an e-commerce business you may require regular design updates for your website, social media channels and email marketing campaigns. Alternatively, if you run a restaurant you may require menus, signage, and promotional materials.

Choosing the Right On-Demand Design Provider

Choosing the right on-demand design service provider requires research. Look for companies with a reputation for quality, pricing transparency, and good customer support. It’s also a good idea to look for case studies, portfolios and reviews to assess experience and success with businesses similar to yours. It's also essential to review their design portfolio to ensure they can deliver the style and skill set your project requires.

When choosing an on-demand design provider, it's important to consider factors such as turnaround time, pricing, and communication. You want a provider that can deliver high-quality designs quickly and efficiently, without breaking the bank. You also want a provider that is responsive and communicative, so you can be sure your project is on track and meets your expectations.

Integrating On-Demand Design into Your Workflow

Integrating on-demand design into your workflow requires collaboration between your team and the designer. Provide clear instructions and expectations for the project, communicate regularly and remain available for feedback to ensure the final design meets your requirements.

It's important to establish clear guidelines and deadlines for your on-demand design projects. This will help to ensure that the project is completed on time and to a high standard. You should also be open to feedback from your designer and be willing to make revisions to the design if necessary.

By following these steps, you can successfully implement on-demand design in your business and enjoy the benefits of professional design services without the need for in-house designers or lengthy contracts.

Unlock the Benefits of On-Demand Design for Your Business

On-demand design services offer an agile and efficient solution for businesses looking to control costs, access a wide range of design skills, and scale their design resources quickly. By implementing on-demand design services into your workflow and choosing a reputable provider, you'll have the resources to thrive in today's competitive business environment. If you’re interested in learning more about Design Cloud’s on-demand design solution, book a demo and speak to one of our experts.