I Want to Start a Graphic Design Company

What Is A Graphic Design Company?

A graphic design company is an agency that specializes in crafting the two-dimensional content that lives on branded materials.

This includes:

Logos
Graphics
Websites
Animations
Marketing campaign visuals
And more

These elements can help you establish your brand identity and build a fully-operational persona that attracts new clients and delights existing ones.

Graphic design consists of the imagery you most often see when you think about a favorite brand. It's made up of the logo designs, those funky website illustrations and the business card typography that gives a business a personality.

Interesting fact: There were 215,930 graphic designers in the US in 2019 and the same year the industry generated $15 billion. (IBISWorld)

Graphic designer working on a project — There were 215,930 graphic designers in the US in 2019

What Does A Graphic Design Agency Do?

Graphic design companies create imagery and visual content that businesses use for branding all of their products, services and material. A streamlined visual identity helps companies attract new clients and retain old ones.

These are some of the solutions that these designers can offer:

They Handle Marketing & Advertising Graphic Design

The top graphic design companies manage visual marketing and advertising promotions -- which is perhaps the most well-known type of graphic design in business.

Common types of marketing and advertising graphic design include:

Banner ads
Email marketing templates
Paid media advertisements
Infographics
Social media posts
And more

They Create User Experience & User Interface Design

A graphic design agency also has strong graphic design backgrounds -- particularly if they are managing the user experience and user interface design.

Graphic design elements in web design include:

Website navigation
Branding
Icons
Banners and imagery
Font and typography
And more

They Produce Print Design & Publication Materials

Graphic designers create promotional designs or artwork for a variety of tangible materials, including:

Brochures
Books
Magazines, catalogs and newspapers
Newsletters
Annual reports
And more

They Create Corporate Designs

Corporate graphic design is important because it reinforces a strong brand identity throughout all areas of the business, consumer base, partnerships and beyond.

It includes:

Presentations
Logos
Office branding
Storefront signage
Corporate reports
And more

They Build Environmental Designs

Environmental designs are creations that infiltrate a consumer's environment or create an immersive one of their own

The types of environmental designs that a graphic design company creates include:

Brick and mortar stores
Pop-up shops
Billboards, posters and signs
Murals
Events & Conferences
Museum exhibits
And more

They Create Other Promotional Designs

The types of print designs a graphic design company can create for you are really unlimited.

As the digital world continues to evolve, they will stay on top of new platforms, trends, tools and strategies to maintain an effective design that matches your campaign seamlessly.

How Much Do Graphic Design Companies Charge For Their Work?

The amount you as a business will need to spend on graphic design services depends on these factors:

The complexity and scope of the work needed, as well as the type of graphic design visuals
The location of the graphic design company of your choice

Generally speaking, graphic design companies in the US will charge hourly rates, usually from $100 to $200, while companies in Eastern Europe or India will charge anywhere between $35 to $75 per hour.

Looking at particular types of design, the creation of a logo is among the costliest ones: a high-quality logo can cost anywhere between $2,000 and $15,000.

In case your business is in need of a thorough makeover – meaning, a complete rebranding work is necessary – the cost of this can increase vastly, even above $250,000 to account for the creation of a website and a complete marketing strategy.

Why Hire A Graphic Design Agency?

Apart from what's already pointed out – strengthening your businesses' brand identity, awareness and visibility – utilizing the services of a graphic design studio with a proven track record can have other benefits.

For instance, having an instantly recognizable, effective logo can give you an edge over all other companies in your niche by making you stand out.

Also, as your brand grows and new platforms and strategies emerge, having a steady graphic design company as a partner will ensure you're never short on appropriate design solutions that match the needs of said channels and platforms.

Other notable advantages of dedicating your strategy and budget to having a top graphic design studio by your side are:

Reach your audience: A good branding agency will conduct thorough market research with focus groups, surveys, analytics, database research, questionnaires and more to develop strategies that can help you reach the right audience successfully.
Generate engagement: A graphic design studio will develop a brand strategy, create a book containing the guidelines and visuals for business presentation, unifying the brand identity across all channels and platforms. The said identity becomes cohesive and this, in turn, enhances and strengthens communication with your audience, engages and converts them.
Increase your profit: Consistently presenting a brand across all platforms can lead to 23% higher revenue. Graphic design is a long-term partnership investment. The best companies will need to take the time to get to know your company, its defining characteristics and create visual elements that they will present across all platforms consistently. Only through this approach will they truly succeed in helping your revenue rise as a result of the improved corporate identity.

How To Choose The Best Graphic Design Company For Your Business?

Of course, what you want to look for in a graphic design company is the highest rate of talent possible, as well as innovation and an eminent portfolio (preferably the one that won prizes).

But those are very general metrics and they don't really speak of the company's notion of integrity, professionalism and business comradery. You can look for levels of expertise, customer testimonials and more in the listing table above.

However – when selecting one, be sure to focus on the following factors:

#1: Professional Partnership

There are tons of incredible graphic design agencies in the USA that fulfill a variety of needs. Before you start searching for the firm to suit your needs, determine the type of relationship that you need to improve your business.

Whatever the case, take the time to know what you're looking for in a professional partnership and your ideal price point before you begin vetting agencies.

#2: Organized Process

While you discuss potential collaborations with graphic design companies, ask them questions about their process.

Creating a stunning visual design that accomplishes a goal is a difficult task that requires plenty of organization and communication. You need to feel comfortable with how a specific design agency will approach your brand, understand your objectives and translate those into an end product.

#3: Clear Pricing Structure

Working with a top graphic design agency will cost you. But do you know exactly what you're paying for?

Make sure you ask any potential agency exactly what their pricing looks like and precisely what your dollars are going towards.

Know whether the cost of their graphic design services is a flat rate or by the hour. Know which team members you are paying for (and how much time they dedicate each week to your project!) and if additional drafts or meetings will drive the price per project up.

#4: Portfolio & Process

These two factors go hand in hand. Graphic design is a complex process and for it to go down well, it needs to be communicated closely between team members of the graphic design agency, the company and you as a client.

An objective must be set clearly so that it can be translated into a visual solution you will be proud of.

Their track record is something that you should value highly, but also by their previous clients in past referrals.

#5: Client Relationship Management

This can mean many things, but what it should always mean, is for a design company to take note and respect your suggestions, insights and interventions along the way in the process.

The depth and strength of your cooperation will determine the final outcome of their work on your visual identity.

15 Questions To Ask Graphic Design Companies Before You Hire The Right One

Before you hire a graphic design studio from our agency table list above, ask each of the candidates these questions.

They will help you establish their level of expertise, their collaborative habits, how they use their resources and more.

1. What are their previous experiences with your particular industry and which clients have they partnered within it?

Industry experience can help you identify the graphic design agency that is familiar with your audience and aesthetic.

Companies that work with corporate clients will be best positioned to produce designs that build authority and trust.

Those that work with consumer brands will have a proven track record in producing engaging designs that help increase brand awareness and retention.

2. How do they plan to reach your business objectives and have they already achieved some that were similar?

Every graphic design studio has its own way of approaching projects and helping clients achieve their objectives. However, only the best of them will tell you that every brand is different and each of them should enjoy an approach tailored to their needs.

Most agencies kick their new collaborations off with a questionnaire designed to understand the brand, the business behind it and the client's objectives, as well as gather the resources they need to get started.

3. Can they describe the creative process?

Discovering whether the potential candidates on our list have clearly defined processes in place will give you an insight into their organizational structure and how they manage their projects.

It will show you how they proactively optimize their efficiency which is particularly important when working with a client that charges by the hour.

4. What materials do they need from you and when do they want them provided?

Depending on the work that needs to be done, the graphic design studio you hire may ask you to provide different types of materials.

This may include brand style guide, logo in an editable file such as SVG, digital assets and online profiles, market research and buyer personas.

5. What do they think your brand should focus on, in terms of design trends?

Asking potential companies what trends your brand should incorporate will give you an insight into how observant the agency is.

It will also tell you how in tune they are with the current trends and how strategic they are as not all trends will fit your unique needs.

6. Are there any of your current visual identity cues that they like and are there any that they would like to change? If yes, how?

The answers to these questions will help you evaluate how well the graphic design studio (has tried to) understand your business, values and objectives.

And, it will give you expert insight into your existing brand as well as help you identify red flags such as the agency working to maximize your investment rather than maximize their value to your business.

7. Do they plan to conduct market research on your target audience and how to target them visually?

Conducting market analysis on your potential clients will allow your graphic designer to determine your client base, create a stronger strategy and fine-tune their marketing materials.

By doing so, your partner will also be able to deliver work that stands out and outsmarts the competition.

8. Who will comprise the team that will work on your project?

Once you narrow down the list of candidates, you should find out who of the team members will work on your project before you make your final choice.

This will help you understand what type of expertise you have at your disposal as well as to what extent you can leverage your team's skills.

9. What is their area of expertise and what previous work have they done in the company?

The best graphic design companies in the United States have different areas of expertise and offer a range of services.

However, it is the agency you hire that should be able to create outstanding work that communicates the brand's vision.

Moreover, they should understand your business needs and requirements and be able to offer a customized strategy that will consistently promote your brand message.

10. Is their work unique or they use pre-made templates?

The best graphic design companies will never produce their designs using templates. To create work that is compelling they should use their creativity and develop unique products.

They should build a custom design that will help you stand out from your competition by studying your brand and business needs and then develop an idea from scratch.

11. How do they see our collaboration once the graphic design elements are rolled out, will they be

measuring the efficiency and results with you?
While most of the graphic design projects are short-term, you should aim at investing in a long-term partnership when completely outsourcing graphic design.

Moreover, graphic designers should also focus on tracking key metrics and provide you with analytical reports that will give you an insight into the effectiveness of their work.

12. How do they determine the project's timeline?

While it is normal that you as a client want to have a project deadline, it is also important to
remain flexible. Graphic design is a creative process that might take longer than estimated.

However, a professional company should set specific timeframes and task deadlines as well as report on the project's progress so that you know when to expect the project delivery.

13. Will you have regular meetings to touch base?

Be it in person or online, you and your partners should regularly meet during your project. They should set weekly meetings where they will report on the finished tasks and project progress.

However, they should also be open to feedback and criticism and consider it as constructive advice that will help them make your design more compelling.

14. Can you edit the designs once your project ends?

Sometimes you may need to make small changes in your designs. Whether it is your logo or graphics, there may be times that you will need to adjust some elements in your designs based on your marketing strategies.

This is why the company you hire should provide you with vector files that you can easily edit using illustrators. In other words, you should make sure that you own the designs.

15. Will you be able to trademark the designs they deliver?

The best graphic design companies should have a different policy when it comes to trademarking. Some may allow it and some may not. However, we recommend that you pick a partner that makes no such restrictions.

So, before signing the contract, you should carefully go through all the clauses and speak to your legal advisor on how to complete this process.

Takeaways On Graphic Design Companies

Graphic design companies help you establish a memorable brand identity that engages the consumers and turn them into paying customers.

They approximately charge between $50 and $150 per hour.

Not all creative design agencies are the same, though the best stand out for their exceptional talent, innovative ideas and award-winning creations.

The recommended steps to selecting the best graphic design studio for your business are:

Search for professional partnership
See if they have organized processes in place
Understand which of them offer clear pricing structures
Check their past work
Learn how transparent they are when it comes to collaboration

Best of luck!

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I Want to Start a Graphic Design Company

Source: https://www.designrush.com/agency/graphic-design