Should You Have Your Print Company Do Your Graphic Design?

Design is one of those areas where there is a lot of subjectivity, personal preference and levels of skill. This results in a lot of choice when it comes to design, especially design that will be used on your printed collateral. From simple flyers and brochures to comprehensive design rebrands, there’s a broad spectrum of design needs a company might have. So, when the time comes to decide who’ll handle your graphic design, is your print company the right choice?

The Endless Sea of Designers & Creatives

It’s a big world of designers out there, and with access to all of them with just a click on your computer, tablet or phone, you get to pick from a large pool of talent at varying price points and levels of skill. From freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, where you can find both budding designers eager to make a mark and seasoned pros with niche expertise, to high-end design agencies that handle branding for Fortune 500 companies—there’s someone for every project and budget.

So which should you choose?

The Size and Scope of Your Design Project

Your project’s scale and complexity play a critical role in this decision-making process. If you’re looking for a simple design, like a poster or a brochure, your print company might be well-equipped to handle it, especially if they have an in-house design team. However, when it comes to a total brand overhaul or a comprehensive advertising campaign, specialized skills are often required.

We dig into that a little more below.

Designing for Print is a Specialized Skill

While there’s no shortage of talented designers, not all of them have the expertise to design for print. This is a crucial aspect that often gets overlooked. Designing for print isn’t just about making things look good; it’s about ensuring that the final design is created in a way that is usable for prepress and the printing process. From layering to trims & bleeds, coloring and file types, all of this is important to making the design work well across the entire project.

Many designers, especially those more attuned to digital design, may not understand print specifications. Things like bleed, color modes (CMYK vs. RGB), and resolution play a crucial role in how the final print comes out. If your designer isn’t familiar with these concepts, you could find yourself in a time-consuming and costly back-and-forth with your print company, trying to adjust the design to make it print-ready.

So… Is Your Print Company the Right Choice for Doing Your Graphic Design?

In most cases, a print company has a distinct advantage when it comes to designing for print because they know the ins and outs of what works and what doesn’t. They understand the technicalities that can make or break the final product. But does this mean they are the best choice for every design need?

Not necessarily. While they are experts in making designs print-ready, they might not always be the best fit for more intricate design work, like logo creation or comprehensive brand campaigns.

That said, if your print company boasts a skilled design team that can showcase a diverse portfolio, they might be an excellent fit for a range of design needs, from basic to more complex projects.

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