Having worked within the agency world for over 15 years and also as a freelancer / sole trader for a number of years I decided to put together some of the main reasons working with a freelancer can really work for your business. Yes, this is self serving, but still true based on years of experience.
Choosing the right designer to work with is always tricky, you want to make sure you get a good result, you want value for money, you want experience and guidance. While both options have their merits, I am going to give you a few reasons why working with a freelancer or small design firm over an agency can really benefit your business.
Direct Communication:
By working directly with a freelance designer, you benefit from a more streamlined process. You are dealing directly with the designer with no middle man to slow down the decision-making process. Ideas flow more freely, feedback is quicker, and you're always in the loop.
No Large Overhead Costs:
One of the most significant benefits of working with a freelance designer is the absence of large overhead costs. Unlike agencies with large office spaces and other hefty overheads, freelancers often work from home studios or smaller co-working spaces. That means no hefty overhead costs passed on to you. This cost-effectiveness allows freelancers to offer competitive pricing without compromising on quality. Overhead costs can account for up to 50% of an agencies costs.
A More Dedicated and Personal Approach:
Freelancers take on fewer clients, so they can shower more love and attention on your project. They can dedicate more time to get to know your brand, your industry, your quirks and goals, leading to a more tailor-made design for your business. This personal touch fosters a deeper level of collaboration between the designer and the client, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the project and the business.
Flexibility and Adaptability:
As a freelance designer you are used to dealing a variety of industries and problems and become very adept at finding solutions. Freelancers are really good at adapting to the individual needs of a project and can pivot without missing a beat. Larger agencies are far more rigid in approach and much slower to react to a changing project.
Quicker Turnarounds:
With fewer projects on their plate, freelancers can dedicate more time to each project, allowing for more timely meetings and feedback and delivering designs much quicker than an agency. In an agency you join the queue.
Depth of Knowledge:
Based on my experience, freelancers come with a wealth of experience. They are naturally adept at understanding business needs as they are generally the only person working across the whole of the project rather than a designer who is siloed in an agency. This gives them a real understanding of budgets, timeframes, business pressures and even logistics. Yes, a good creative director in an agency should also have this knowledge, but the drawbacks of not getting as much time with them, paying through the nose and ultimately your work will be done for a more junior designer and overseen by the creative director means you are much better off spending your time and money working with a freelancer.
So while agencies do have their advantages, working with a freelance designer can offer distinct benefits for your business. From cost-effectiveness and personalised attention to creative expertise and flexibility, freelancers provide a dedicated and tailored approach that leads to better outcomes for your business.
If you want to talk about your next project drop me a line at cillian@tidalcreative.ie
Tidal creative, your freelance design expert in Dublin