8 Tips to Outsource Graphic Design Like A Pro

Whether you're a small startup or a big business, you need eye-catching designs. 

Here's the challenge—very few businesses have the luxury of an in-house design team.

That's where outsourcing comes in.

According to Business Mirror, graphic design is among the fastest-growing jobs. About 55% of businesses use graphic design to communicate better with customers. 

But how do you find the best graphic designers, manage their processes, and get the results you want? 

Let us guide you on how.

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What is Graphic Design Outsourcing?

Before anything else, let’s define graphic design.

Graphic design plays a role in shaping how we see and interact with businesses. Have you ever wondered how those stunning logos, captivating websites, and eye-catching advertisements come to life? That’s graphic design in action.

So, why choose to outsource graphic design? Because not everyone has the magical touch needed for graphic design. It's a skill that requires creativity, technical expertise, and an understanding of market trends. 

By outsourcing graphic design, you tap into a world of design professionals who live and breathe these skills. You make sure your visual communication is top-notch.

Most outsourced graphic design services are the following:
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• Logo design
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• Brand identity design
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• Web design and development
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• Graphic design for print and digital media
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• Illustration and animation
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• Video production and editing
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• Infographic design
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• Presentation design

How you outsource these services, on the other hand, will hugely depend on your business needs and requirements.

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The Benefits of Outsourcing Your Graphic Design

Outsourcing your graphic design has many benefits for your business. With the most recognized being:

Work with highly-skilled graphic designers

You can tap into the skills and knowledge of design professionals specializing in different aspects of graphic design.

Avoid additional operational costs

Save money on overhead costs, such as equipment, software, and office space. With outsourcing, you only pay for the graphic design services you get.

Have a faster turn-around time

Professional design companies have the necessary resources and personnel to handle your project. Although you may not be the only client, these companies can still assign a team to help meet your graphic design needs.

Get to scale when needed

Need to scale your business? Easily adjust your budget, scope, and frequency of your graphic design projects without affecting your internal resources.

Adapt quickly to current trends

It’s not surprising for market conditions and customer preferences to change now and then. What you need is a team flexible enough to help you adapt to it. 

With outsourcing, you can do just that! Experiment with different strategies, styles, and formats without long-term commitments.

If you want to enhance your visual identity and remain adaptable in an ever-changing landscape, outsourcing graphic design might be the key to your continued success.

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The Question Is: To Outsource or Not To Outsource?

But how do you know if outsourcing is for you? Apart from the benefits, you should also be aware of the challenges you can encounter, like…

Finding a reliable partner

One of the biggest challenges of outsourcing your graphic design is finding a reliable partner. 

While a company's credentials and portfolios might catch your eye at first, what goes on behind the scenes can either make or break it.

Check for testimonials and reviews from previous clients to get an insight into how they work. Don’t forget to keep an eye on their responsiveness, communication skills, work ethic, and anything that can affect the services you’re getting.

Managing and communicating

A clear understanding of your project requirements is critical for a successful outcome. Although you’re most likely to give some control of the project to your outsourcing partner, it doesn’t mean you have to be lax.

Coordinate with your chosen outsourcing partner and discuss how you can be part of the process. 

Having security issues

Another risk of outsourcing your graphic design is security issues. Ask your providers about their data security measures since you’ll share your business assets, files, and documents.

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Not understanding your brand, industry, or product

It can take time for your graphic designer to understand your brand identity, voice, message, and values. This also includes your industry, market, competitors, and customers. Without fully knowing your business, there’s a chance that the designs created won’t reflect your brand personality and appeal to your target audience.

Overcome this by giving your provider enough information and guidance about your brand and business.

So now, let’s go back to the question: should you outsource or not?

While outsourcing and remote staffing are often confused to be the same, they are entirely different strategic approaches.

With remote staffing, you hire a remote talent who will be an extension of your team. An upside of this setup is that you won’t have to worry about adding up your overhead costs. Moreover, you get to tap qualified experts with lower labor costs.

For example, a remote staffing company like MultiplyMii can help you source and vet an experienced Filipino graphic designer with a salary expectation of $1,450. Compare this to the US salary range for graphic designers, which can cost you as high as $9,000.

Want to know how much you save when building a remote team? Check our FREE salary guide!

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8 Ways To Get Better Results When You Outsource

Decided to outsource some or all of your graphic design projects? Follow these tips to get better results.

8. Have a clear budget

One of the first things you need when outsourcing graphic design is a clear project budget. 

Know how much you are willing and able to spend. As much as possible, request proposals from different providers (whether it’s an outsourcing or a remote staffing company). Carefully review what they offer and choose the best value for money.

7. Know how to find talent

Know where and how to look for qualified and experienced graphic designers? Finding an expert who can meet your expectations and deliver on your objectives can be challenging. You can use different platforms and methods, such as:
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• Online marketplaces: Explore online platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, where you can post your project and receive bids from freelancers worldwide.
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• Agencies: Inquire to agencies where you can pay a monthly fee and get unlimited graphic design services from a dedicated team.
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• Referrals: Get referrals from your trusted network, such as friends, family, colleagues, clients, etc. Ask if they can recommend reliable and trustworthy graphic designers they have worked with before.
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• Remote staffing companies: Team up with an established remote staffing company and let their recruitment process do all the work. For instance, MultiplyMii can help you right from the start of your search until you onboard the best-fit candidate.

6. Have access to revisions

You need to be able to request changes to your designs until you are satisfied with the final result. However, you and your outsourcing partner should agree on the number and scope of revisions before starting the project.

5. Cut out the middlemen

Work directly with the graphic designer who will handle your project and avoid any intermediaries who may charge extra fees or cause communication issues. Make sure you have a single point of contact with your provider who can answer your questions and address your concerns.

4. Get results quickly

Did you know that lengthy approval processes are the biggest challenge graphic design teams face? Based on Piktochart’s survey, 34% of graphic designers said approval processes have too many steps, resulting in delays.

So, set reasonable deadlines for your project. Negotiate with your outsourcing partner. Remember, any delay on your part can also mean delays in creating your graphic design needs.

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3. Own the rights to your designs

Secure full ownership and control over designs produced for you and that you can use them for any purpose you want. Agree with your provider that they can’t reuse or resell your designs to anyone else.

To own the rights to your designs, you need to:
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2. Collaborate

Treat your provider as a partner, not a vendor. You must involve them in your project and share your vision, goals, and expectations. You also need to respect their opinions, suggestions, and expertise.

To collaborate with your provider, you need to:
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• Communicate regularly and clearly
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• Use online collaboration tools
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• Share relevant information and resources
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• Provide constructive feedback and appreciation
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• Resolve any issues or conflicts amicably

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1. Be ready to scale

One of the ultimate things you need to do when outsourcing graphic design is to be ready to scale. 

Be prepared for your business's growth and expansion and graphic design needs. To be prepared to scale, you need to:
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• Have a long-term vision and strategy for your graphic design projects
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• Build a strong and lasting relationship with your provider
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• Have a backup plan in case of emergencies or contingencies
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• Test and optimize your designs regularly
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• Seek new opportunities and challenges

Enhance your visuals in no time! By embracing these strategies, see your creative visions come to life and elevate your brand to new heights!

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Things To Avoid When You Outsource Graphic Design

Now that you know how to get better results from outsourcing graphic design, it’s time to learn the common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid:
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Not communicating clearly

Avoid vague, ambiguous, or contradictory instructions. This leads to confusion, misunderstanding, or errors. Refrain from using jargon, slang, or acronyms that can cause misinterpretation.

Instead:
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• Use simple, clear, and concise language
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• Provide specific and detailed instructions
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• Use examples, references, or sketches
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• Ask questions and clarify doubts
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• Confirm understanding and agreement

Not providing enough information

Leaving out important details can affect the quality, accuracy, or relevance of your designs. Avoid changing your requirements or expectations midway through the project.

Provide enough information by:
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• Defining your project scope, objectives, and deliverables
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• Sharing your brand guidelines, style guides, and mood boards
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• Explaining your industry, market, competitors, and customers
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• Providing feedback and approval promptly

Not taking advantage of technology

Another mistake is not taking advantage of technology. Outdated or inefficient tools or methods can slow down or complicate your project. You’d be surprised how new or emerging technologies can enhance your project.

Don’t hesitate to:
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• Invest in online platforms and marketplaces that offer quality, speed, and affordability
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• Use online collaboration tools that facilitate communication, file sharing, and project management
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• Try out online tools that help create briefs, mockups, and prototypes
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• Check online tools that help you test, optimize, and measure your designs

Not getting feedback from stakeholders

Steer clear from making assumptions about what your stakeholders want or need. Get their valuable feedback by doing these:
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• Identifying and involving your stakeholders from the start of your project
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• Sharing your designs and asking for their opinions
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• Listening and incorporating the feedback into your designs
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• Updating them on the progress and status of your project

Not setting realistic timelines

There’s nothing wrong with being optimistic about your project. But, as they say, anything in excess is bad. So, avoid being too optimistic or pessimistic about how long it will take to complete your project. 

Set achievable and realistic timelines by:
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• Breaking down your project into smaller and manageable tasks
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• Estimating the time and resources required for each task
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• Adding some buffer time for unexpected delays or changes
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• Tracking and monitoring your project timeline and adjusting accordingly

Not getting a contract

When getting into a partnership, a written agreement or contract specifies the terms and conditions of your project. Make sure to have this instead of anything verbal to protect you and your business.

What you need to do is:
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• Negotiate and agree on the scope, deliverables, price, payment, timeline, revisions, and ownership of your project
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• Review and understand the contract before signing it
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• Keep a copy of the contract for future reference
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• Follow the contract and resolve any disputes or issues amicably

Not understanding copyright

Read up and understand copyright laws and regulations. It’s crucial to avoid violating the rights of others by using assets without permission or attribution. Knowing about copyright laws also helps you avoid losing your rights to your own designs.

So, make sure to:
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• Research and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in your country and your outsourcing partner’s country
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• Ask for permission or license from the original owners of the designs, images, or any asset you want to use
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• Give credit or attribution to the original owners 
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• Register or protect your own designs as trademarks or copyrights
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With all of these tips, you’re going to be well on your way to outsourcing graphic design.

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Bring In Highly-Skilled Remote Graphic Designers to Your Team

Set on building a remote graphic design team or hiring a remote graphic designer? 

With the support of MultiplyMii, it’s all possible.

Assemble a skilled, dedicated team that will drive your creative vision forward. 

We have a track record of connecting businesses with the perfect remote Filipino talent.

Our work speaks for itself! Our proven recruitment process has allowed us to have over 250 satisfied clients.

What are you waiting for?

It's time to unlock the full potential of your design projects. 

Book a discovery call with us today!