Across endless industries and businesses, there’s a pretty constant need for graphic design. Whether it be through working with an outsourced company or in-house, more and more companies are thinking about how they make improvements to their image. After all, if you can’t love yourself, how the hell can you love somebody else?
RuPaul references aside, there’s certainly an important distinction to be made between the two main genres in this field. On the one hand, you have what some would deem to be the more modern approach of unlimited graphic design. On the other, there’s the traditional graphic design route, with both providing positives and negatives in their own right.
Today, our aim is to cut through the noise and figure out which is the superior service. Some may argue that it’s entirely subjective, but to us, there’s a whole lot you can do to help break this down.
So without further ado, let’s do just that.
What is unlimited graphic design?
Unlimited graphic design is a lifesaver for anyone who will be relying on a team for the long haul. We could all use regular assistance in our day-to-day working lives, and in a very specific sense, that’s what is on offer here. It’s all about making your brand look like a million quid, and what comes with that is a feeling of real security.
In essence, unlimited graphic design gives you the opportunity to have as many design concepts and revisions as you want for a monthly fee. You can work with an entire squad of designers across a team of committed individuals, meaning you can churn out content to your heart’s desire.
In the era of technology we’re currently living through, this is an option that rarely requires any kind of face-to-face interaction. It’s all about getting your business done through an online setting, and while meetings can sometimes occur, they aren’t always necessary to get the job done.
What is traditional graphic design?
Graphic design, in its most base setting, gives you a chance to visually communicate using a selection of shapes, images and colours, conveying a clear message in the process. A traditional agency will typically be more aligned with bigger projects and potentially even one-off clients, taking their time with each operation – for better or worse.
Within traditional graphic design agencies, there may be a bigger base of designers which could mean you’re working alongside a different person every day (depending on how long you’re planning on using them). There’s certainly a feeling of intimacy there as they take things case by case instead of rattling through a string of ideas at once.
It’s all about taking things one step at a time. There’s no rush, everything is more meticulous and, some would argue, more caring. In equal measure, a few flaws can be recognised quite early on.
The key differences between unlimited & traditional graphic design
As we’ve already alluded to, there are pros and cons within elements of both practices. With that being said, it’s only fair to weigh them up against each other in order to really get a feel for what suits your business the best. We’ve opted to take a series of different factors into account, both good and bad, in a manner that fairly represents what it is you’re looking for.
In the simplest of senses, you could say it purely comes down to whether you’re old school or new school – but that feels too simple. This industry has evolved dramatically in the last few decades and will continue to do so long into the future, which is why it’s critical to have this conversation.
1. Value for money
As they say, money makes the world go around, and that’s certainly the case here. While the initial expense of taking on an unlimited graphic design company may seem extensive, it’s all about the long game. For that one monthly fee, you’re able to get change after change, with multiple alterations being made whenever you please. On the face of it, that is the literal definition of value for money.
It takes a slightly different approach on the traditional side of things. You’ll pay upfront for a project to get things started, and then if you even want to think about beginning another to diversify your portfolio, it’s going to take a separate payment to get that up and running. With regard to revisions, the possibility of increased costs depends on how lenient the company happens to be.
2. Volume of content
Whether it be infographics, social media ads, posters or general advertisements, unlimited graphic design immediately comes across as the obvious choice with regard to the volume of content you can receive. The name alone should give that away, but if it doesn’t, consider how much they’d be able to accomplish in a week if given the right brief. The possibilities are endless.
Of course, there’s an argument to be made that less is more, and we can see how that would be valid. Traditional agencies want to showcase that they take each client as seriously as the last, and they’ll push everything down to the last detail. Will this give you a product you can be proud of in the end? Yes. Does it make sense if you want to juggle more than one plate at the same time? Not really.
3. Speed of service
We all find ourselves on the move in life, and as such, we want things to be delivered in a timely way (and to a high level). With most unlimited graphic design companies, you will get a turnaround time of 24-48 hours upon sending your first request. You’ll be given detailed information and feedback on the brief, and with future revisions being made just as quickly, you’ll get rid of any headaches before they can get started.
It’ll probably take a little longer for a traditional company with a history of things being more drawn out – and that’s okay, too. It all comes down to what your priorities are within the context of your graphic design needs because you may be waiting between half a week and a week to receive word back on the first draft. However, if that’s made clear by the team from the word go, it may not be seen as quite as much of an issue.
4. Additional services
While we’ve already picked out a handful of major positives in favour of unlimited graphic design, there is certainly a clear directive behind it – and we still mean that as a compliment. You’re getting unlimited graphic design services on a consistent basis, and you’re able to make as many revisions as you desire. Outside of that, though, you could make the argument that the opposing council is a bit more well-rounded.
Project management is certainly at the heart of what they’re trying to achieve, but at the same time, the commitment they have to each design means they often have people on hand to complete other tasks, too. This could include, but not be limited to, copywriting, developing a direction for the art you’re hoping to create, and coming up with a specific strategy.
5. Communication
With an unlimited graphic design service (especially one like Hatchly), you know what to expect from the moment you hop on your first call. There’s obviously a digital platform element to proceedings, but with that comes a level of reassurance. You’ll be updated on the progress being made throughout, and if you’re interested in knowing more, all you have to do is drop a message, and one of the team will be on it ASAP.
For a traditional agency, a phone call directly to the office may or may not get you the answers you seek – depending on how busy they are on that day. You’ll likely converse over email with notes listed on how the project is going and what kind of timeline you can expect. It’s pretty ‘to the point’, and you shouldn’t be left too disappointed either way.
6. Dedication to projects
In the realm of unlimited graphic design, you are given a dedicated team that is assigned to your work for the duration. Their sole focus and purpose in any given working day is to get their jobs done – period. So, if you’re someone who is panicking about what’s happening at any given moment from 9-5, rest easy knowing that this is their priority.
Consistency and brand alignment is crucial to the success of a project, and it’s not quite as guaranteed within traditional agencies. They’ll still be taking on a lot of work, but it’ll be spread across a broader string of clients, meaning that designers can be chopped and changed from day to day. Depending on the size of the company in question, they may be going in blind.
Unlimited graphic design vs traditional graphic design: who is the winner?
There are merits and accolades available to both of these ‘competitors’ if you will, but in our view, there’s one clear answer out of the two: unlimited graphic design.
It’s the progressive, forward-thinking way in which the majority of clients choose to function. It offers cost-saving options, a long-term plan, streamlined processes, and consistent branding. Monthly subscriptions have become a pretty common part of our everyday lives, from television to food & drink packages and beyond. Unsurprisingly, they continue to flourish, largely because the customer knows what it is they’re getting.
Traditional agencies are able to delve deep into a project when it’s handed to them, but it’s all just a bit slower. You want to keep things moving and keep it fresh, and if you go unlimited, you’ll never go back.
Need help with unlimited graphic design? Contact Hatchly!
Here at Hatchly, we pride ourselves on providing top-of-the-line graphic design services to all of our clients - we do what it says on the tin, essentially. Of course, we understand that the stress of finding a good team to work with can be a lot to handle, but we want to alleviate some of those issues. We aim to simplify any issue you have and resolve it in a prompt and professional manner.
But beyond that, we want to build a level of trust. It’s a real investment to come into this kind of working relationship, and being able to understand everything we can offer is a big piece of the puzzle. There’s no query too big or small, and as we continue to grow and develop, we want to bring as many clients along with us as we can.
So, if you’re interested in learning more about what we do and how we can help, feel free to get in touch!
