In Search of Affordable Graphic Design

We all want to find high-quality work for the most affordable price. That’s how we shop. It’s how we think. It’s how I shop for shoes.

When we’re looking for marketing and graphic design support for our small business or start-up, it’s no different. We need to find that balance of comfortable spend for the quality we seek.

Here are a few things to look for when shopping for affordable graphic design:

Never accept “cheap” graphic design.

Your business and brand are worth more than that. If you want to get it right, you may have to pay more. I dive into more detail on why in our Five Reasons to Spend more than $5 on a logo blog post, but in a nutshell – you deserve better, and it doesn’t have to blow your budget.

Look at samples of the designer’s work.

Graphic design samples need to show variety of style, interesting and clear messaging. If you look at their pieces and are questioning what it’s about or who it’s for, they’re not the right designer for you.

The graphic design samples should not look the same.

No cookie cutter design allowed. Expect a wide range of styles, fonts and layouts of information. A graphic designer uses custom design elements, but also knows how to leverage the existing branding of the business into the piece it represents.

High-quality does not mean expensive.

At Fierce Creative, we believe that EVERY client deserves a beautiful, thoughtful and professionally polished piece. Period. From the flyer you’re running off your own printer to the annual report you’re professionally printing for your stakeholders. We give each one the same attention to detail. We won’t accept less. Our high-quality work does not mean it’s unaffordable. It means you’re getting the product your business deserves, because, let’s face it, you shouldn’t accept less either.

The designer needs to be a good listener.

You don’t have to be besties with your designer, but you need to find a designer that listens to you. Call or meet with your graphic designer or team before you engage in the project. We find that yes, we can take a request over email and turn the project to their liking, but when we get a chance to speak with you and see your broader vision we can add value to other elements of your project. Hearing your passion on a project gives us more fuel to turn a piece that works best for you and your goals.

You need to be a good listener too.

The design team will have ideas that you will love. And quite frankly, some ideas that you’ll hate. They’ll share ideas that you had not ever considered, but see how it can better communicate your message. While you should come in knowing what you want, to get the most out of your graphic designer, you also need to be able to listen to the fresh perspective. It doesn’t mean you have to go with a crazy idea, it just means you need to be open to hearing it.

Cheap design looks…cheap.

We’re not in the business of creating cheap-looking artwork (as noted above), but if you find a designer that you can pay on the cheap and it works for you. Then go for it. There are plenty of talented freelancers to choose from. (I was one of those once. Now I have a team of these amazing freelancers, as a matter of fact.)

If you’re serious about developing your business and giving it the professional touch it needs to elevate your brand, it is possible to get higher-quality work at an affordable price.

How?

Contact us.

We’d love to hear more about your project. We can offer a variety of ways to give you the look you want at that price that’s fair and comfortable for you and respectful of our talented team. We’re a small business so we feel for other small businesses and start-ups. We price accordingly.

If we find that we’re not the right fit, I’m always upfront about that and can get you hooked up with a designer that may more align with your budget. We’re in it for the win of every person we encounter – whether you work with our team or not.

We won’t compromise on our quality if you won’t compromise on what you’re worth. Deal? Deal.

Now, let’s go make some high-quality, affordable graphic design magic, shall we?