Agency or Freelance Designer: Which is Right for Your Project?

When you are in the market for a designer, then this question will most likely come up: do you go with an agency or freelancer? The only way to answer this question is to evaluate your needs for each individual job. Let's take a look at the types of jobs that are right for agencies and those that are right for freelancers, using business card printing as an example.
 
Design agencies are often full of very good designers. Often they bounce ideas off of each other and come up with some great designs for your business card printing. They usually have a set rate and set time. They cost more but are worth the extra cost in service and reliability. 
 
When to choose an agency...

When you are on a strict time frame.
If you are in a time crunch, then you will find design agencies to be right for you. They are staffed with account managers that keep their designers on schedules.

If you need to hold someone accountable.
You can negotiate with an agencies' legal team to set up deadlines and make them stick to it.

So that you can get ahold of your designer.
Agency designers work a normal work schedule and will be on hand whenever you call.

If you have a large budget.
Agencies cost a good deal more than freelance designers. If your business card printing budget is large, then you can go with the more reliable route, agency.
 
Freelance designers are some of the best designers around. Many times they come from agencies in which they were the best designer employed but set out to make more money for themselves and keep flexible hours. Even so, you will still be paying your freelance designer less than you will pay an agency.
 
When to choose a freelance designer...

If your budget is small.
Freelance designers charge less than half of what agencies charge.

When you have flexibility in your time frame.
If you are not in a hurry for your business card printing, this is the right choice for you.

If you have been referred to a trusted designer.
Most of the best designers will be well-known. Your friend may know someone that you can trust to do a great job in a timely manner.

So that you can connect on a personal level.
If you hire locally, then you can have one-on-one contact with the very designer that will be creating your design.
 
You can get great design with both options. With agencies you will get what you paid for, guaranteed. If you use a freelance designer, you may get much more than you pay for, with a little risk. The choice is yours. 
  
  

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