Businesses, in the modern world, are constantly on the hunt to get the best visual appeal for their business. As it stands, the traditional means of hiring freelancers or teams isn’t fully effective when it comes to getting value from various design projects.
Graphic designers specialize in various types of design work, which influences brand identity and communication.
That’s where Creative as a Service comes in. This solution stands as the answer for enterprises of all magnitudes seeking to elevate their visual content game, while cutting down on additional costs that come with going down the traditional hiring route.
Armed with a robust toolkit, an intuitive interface, and unparalleled client support, these experts are swiftly emerging as the preferred choice for those in pursuit of limitless graphic design services.
Within this article, we’ll dive into some of the top graphic design services in 2024 and the variety of reasons that position Creative as a Service at the pinnacle of the industry.
First, let’s get a sense of what graphic design is.
What is Graphic Design?
Definition of Graphic Design
Graphic design is the art and science of communicating ideas and messages through visual content.
It involves the use of typography, color, images, and other visual elements to create a visual representation of a message, idea, or brand.
Graphic designers use a variety of techniques, including print design, web design, and digital marketing, to create visual content that engages and informs audiences.
Importance of Graphic Design in Business
Graphic design is essential for businesses to establish a strong visual identity and communicate their message effectively.
A good graphic designer can help businesses create a consistent brand image across all marketing materials, including logos, business cards, brochures, and websites.
Graphic design can also help businesses stand out in a crowded market, build brand awareness, and drive sales.
In today’s digital age, graphic design is more important than ever, as it can help businesses create engaging visual content that resonates with their target audience.
Now that we're on the same page, let's take a look at the different graphic design services that you might want for your brand.
Graphic Design Services
Branding
Branding is all about creating a strong, memorable identity for your business. Graphic designers specialize in creating logos, choosing color schemes, and crafting visual styles that reflect your brand’s values and make you stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Marketing
Graphic design for marketing involves creating visually appealing assets like social media posts, brochures, and ads that capture attention and communicate your message clearly. It helps boost engagement and drives conversions. Graphic designers specialize in creating marketing materials that capture attention and communicate messages clearly.
Web Design
Web design is about crafting visually stunning and user-friendly websites. A professional web designer collaborates with clients to ensure that your online presence is not only appealing but also easy to navigate, creating a seamless experience for users. Graphic designers specialize in web design to ensure an appealing and user-friendly online presence.
UX/UI Design
UX/UI design focuses on enhancing the user’s experience by designing intuitive interfaces and smooth user interactions. It ensures that your product or website feels effortless and enjoyable for visitors or customers to use. Graphic designers specialize in UX/UI design to enhance user experience and interaction.
Motion Graphics
Motion graphics bring static designs to life with animations and video content. It’s perfect for adding a dynamic edge to your brand, making your message more engaging and memorable across platforms. Graphic designers specialize in motion graphics to bring static designs to life.
Packaging
Packaging design is about creating eye-catching and functional packaging that not only looks great on the shelf but also aligns with your brand’s image. It’s essential for product appeal and customer experience. Graphic designers specialize in packaging design to ensure product appeal and customer experience.
Print Design Media
From flyers to posters, print design covers any marketing material designed for physical distribution. It needs to be attention-grabbing and align with your brand while being effective in communicating key information. Graphic designers specialize in print design to create attention-grabbing marketing materials.
Custom Illustrations
Custom illustrations add a unique, personal touch to your brand’s visuals. Whether for websites, ads, or presentations, they bring originality and creativity to your content, making it stand out. Graphic designers specialize in custom illustrations to add a unique touch to your brand’s visuals.
Infographics
Infographics are designed to present complex information in a simple and visually appealing way. They’re perfect for communicating data or processes clearly, making information easy to digest for your audience. Graphic designers specialize in creating infographics to present complex information clearly.
With some collection of those services, you’ll be able to get exactly what you need.
However, what you’re looking for is not the service itself, but the product that the service offers. For example, you might need services like web design, marketing, and motion graphics, but only because you want a website.
It’s not really about the service.
It’s the product that matters to you.
So, let’s look at the graphic design products that come from these graphic design services.
Graphic Design Products
There are a lot of different graphic design products out there in the modern world, but here's a list of the ones most used by successful businesses:
Logos
A logo is the visual cornerstone of your brand. It’s a simple, memorable graphic that represents your business, helping people instantly recognize and associate it with your identity.
Business cards
Business cards are compact, printed cards that include essential contact information and branding. They serve as a professional first impression and a lasting reminder of your brand during networking.
Flyers
Flyers are promotional materials designed to grab attention and communicate information quickly. They’re perfect for events, promotions, or announcements and are often distributed in high-traffic areas.
Posters
Posters are large-format prints used for advertising, events, or brand awareness. They combine compelling visuals with concise messaging to make an immediate impact on passersby.
Website
A website is a digital platform that serves as your business’s online hub. It combines design and functionality to provide users with information about your brand and encourages them to engage with your products or services.
Brochures
Brochures are multi-page print materials used to provide detailed information about your business, products, or services. They are great for marketing, providing a deeper dive into what you offer.
Social Media Graphics
These are custom-designed visuals for use on social media platforms. They can include promotional banners, ads, or regular posts, all tailored to engage users and boost brand visibility.
Presentation Decks
Designed PowerPoint or Google Slides decks elevate your business presentations with cohesive branding, professional layouts, and impactful visuals, making it easier to communicate your message.
Banners
Banners are large graphic displays used both online (web banners) and offline (physical banners at events or stores). They are designed to capture attention and convey a strong message quickly.
Signage
Signage includes any visual graphics created to display information to a specific audience. Good design ensures they’re functional and on-brand.
Trade Show Booth Designs
Booth designs for trade shows need to be eye-catching and functional, using graphics, banners, and layouts to draw attendees and communicate your brand’s message effectively.
App Icons
App icons are the small, recognizable symbols used for mobile or desktop applications. The design needs to be simple yet distinct enough to stand out among other apps.
Each of these products serve as a visual representation of an entity's identity and message.
If you want to boost your identity and message with excellent products, you're going to be needing more than one graphic design service. So, services are best thought of in packages.
When you opt for more than one service, you are opting for a graphic design package.
Graphic Design Packages
Not one service works best on its own. For example, a beautiful website design is all fluff without a seamless user experience. So if you want to hire for web design, you're also going to want to hire for UX.
This is why we talk of graphic design packages—groupings of services.
A graphic design package might include marketing, custom illustrations, print design media, packaging, and infographics. This might be the package you need to get logo design, business cards, social media graphics, and brochure designs all in one service.
Here are some more examples of graphic design packages.
Website Package
If you want a custom website to represent your business, you might want to hire for Web Design, UX/UI Design, and Branding.
Social Media Package
If you're looking to get your business out in the minds of your target audience through social media, you might want to hire for Branding, Motion Graphics, and Marketing.
Real World Package
If the next step for your business is on the ground marketing, you might want to hire for Packaging, Print Design, and Custom Illustrations
When you have the right package for your business, you can produce graphic design products that align with your image, reflect your brand, and deliver a consistent and powerful message to your customers.
With the right graphic design packages producing the products you need, you can cement your place in any industry.
What are the Industries that Benefit from Graphic Design?
Any business or person seeking to reach an audience, sell a product, or offer a service can benefit from working with competent graphic designers. Here's some examples:
- Hospitality Experiences (Hotels, Resorts, Restaurants)
- Digital Interfaces (Apps, Software, Websites)
- Retail Spaces (Stores, Boutiques, Malls)
- Healthcare Systems (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Centers)
- Education (Schools, Universities, Online Learning Platforms)
- Entertainment (Film, TV, Music, Gaming)
- Technology (Tech Companies, Startups, SaaS Platforms)
- Real Estate (Property Developers, Realtors, Commercial Property Management)
- Fashion (Clothing Brands, Designers, Fashion Retail)
- Finance (Banks, Financial Services, Investment Firms)
- Nonprofit & Charities (Advocacy Groups, Foundations, NGOs)
- Tourism & Travel (Travel Agencies, Airlines, Cruise Lines)
- Automotive (Car Manufacturers, Dealerships, Auto Services)
- Sports & Fitness (Gyms, Sports Teams, Fitness Brands)
- Event Management (Concerts, Festivals, Corporate Events)
- Publishing (Magazines, Newspapers, Book Publishers)
- Government & Public Services (Local Authorities, Government Programs, Public Campaigns)
- Food & Beverage (Cafes, Restaurants, Food Products)
- E-commerce (Online Stores, Marketplaces)
- Legal Services (Law Firms, Legal Consultation)
- Construction & Architecture (Builders, Architects, Construction Firms)
- Advertising & Marketing (Agencies, In-House Marketing Teams)
- Education & Training (eLearning, Workshops, Schools)
- Logistics & Transportation (Shipping Companies, Freight Services)
- Media & Communications (PR Firms, Broadcasting, Podcasting)
Now, let's look at the best companies out there for delivering on your graphic design needs.
Graphic Design Companies: Best Options For 2024
In this section, we'll go over some of our favourite graphic design service options in 2024. From brand design to advertising design, these services will eliminate your design bottleneck and empower your marketers to do their best work.
1. Teamtown
Emerging as a flat-rate graphic design service, Teamtown bridges the gap between businesses and a team of adept designers, offering a fixed monthly subscription for top-tier visual content and an unlimited design request plan.
Teamtown works with top-tier designers from some of the world's best agencies and studios. Quality Assurance and Project Managers are also included in every plan, which makes it a perfect choice for busy teams that just don't have time for double checks.
With a laser focus on efficient design processes, high quality designs and punctual project delivery, Teamtown has been the top design service choice for 200+ brands including Jeep, Evian, Staples, and Built.
2. Directive Consulting
Championing the needs of tech and CaaS brands, Directive Consulting offers a dynamic fusion of strategic marketing and graphic design services. With a strong belief that impactful design can revolutionize customer relationships, the agency specializes in crafting branded experiences.
This encompasses a spectrum of services, including comprehensive Web Design, UX/UI expertise, captivating landing pages, image ads that command attention, and rigorous split testing backed by data and expert insights.
Guided by 1st-party data and meticulous segmentation, Directive infuses emotion into their designs, cultivating authentic connections with users. Their service extends to crafting compelling Brand Guidelines, Visual Elements, and strategic Brand Expansion, ultimately helping brands carve a distinctive niche in the bustling tech arena.
3. Superside
Similar to Teamtown, Superside works with marketing teams on producing effective and impressive designs at scale. Superside customers can expect to work with top designers from all of the world within Superside's very own design collaboration platform.
Superside stays on the pricier side and normally only offers annual contracts. That said, Superside's service and offering is extremely robust and professional.
Aside from that, they offer everything common in the CaaS space, with a dedicated designer on each project and creative project managers included on their higher plans.
4.Sociallyin
Sociallyin is a forward-thinking social media advertising agency that excels in social media content creation. With an in-house team of creative minds, they've honed the art of ideation and streamlined production. Melding disruption and alignment with brand goals, Sociallyin crafts social media content that stands out from the crowd.
Their process hinges on grasping your brand's unique voice, ensuring seamless communication and content production. Employing data-driven insights, they analyze growth metrics to garner genuine results, unraveling the dynamics of success and paving the path for enhanced future campaigns.
5. DesignJoy
Unlike most graphic design services, DesignJoy stands out from the rest of the noise by letting you work directly with the founder: Brett Williams.
Brett came up with DesignJoy as a way to offer a premium design subscription to both startups and well-established organizations, removing the hassle of hiring freelancers and bringing them onto the monthly and yearly plans, which are priced at $4,995 and $3,955 respectively.
Brett, although taking occasional help from design partners in the company, usually handles all his clients personally. This goes to show the trust-building process over at DesignJoy.
6. ManyPixels
ManyPixels offers a boatload of graphic design services, encompassing it all under the umbrella of creative as a service. By assigning a singular dedicated designer to each individual project, you get a unique but consistent stream of design tailored to your niche, branding, business and more.
Plus, what makes working with them so easy is how simple they make it to scale up. If you need more design requests on a monthly basis, you can always upgrade your plan in just a few clicks.
Their service is more suited for small businesses and agencies due to scope of work and quality, but ManyPixels remains a staple choice in the design subscription world.
Want to explore our full list of graphic design as a service providers? Check out our robust guide here.
What Do Custom Graphic Design Services Offer
Custom graphic design services have a massive advantage: an extremely wide range of services and offers.
These services allow businesses to access a wide-range of design services from talented and vetted designers from all over the globe. Most offer their services in tandem with an easy-to-use design portal and a flat-monthly fee. Design made easy!
With a finger on the pulse of design trends and user preferences, custom graphic design services provide an array of invaluable features that elevate your brand's visual identity to new heights.
Unlimited Revisions
There’s a reason why these services are often referring to themselves as unlimited.
These services understand that design is an iterative process, and as such, offer unlimited revisions. This ensures that your vision is crafted into reality, accommodating changes and refinements until it’s perfect.
From tweaking color palettes to refining typography, the power to fine-tune each detail is in your hands. A commitment to revisions not only guarantees a design that resonates with your brand, but also fosters a partnership built on trust and mutual creativity.
Dedicated Designers
At the core of custom graphic design services is a team of dedicated designers who breathe life into your ideas. These design experts are not just skilled hands but also storytellers, translating concepts into engaging visuals. With an attentive ear to your vision, they mix your brand's personality into every design element.
This approach makes sure that each creation is not just a graphic but a narrative that evokes emotions and leaves a lasting impact.
That’s what marketing is all about. The close collaboration with these designers allows you to tap into their expertise, providing insights that propel your design from good to exceptional and your leads from cold into customers.
Fast Turnaround Times
Custom graphic design services recognize the need for quick deliveries. Swift turnaround times are frequently offered that align with your business's pace. Whether you're gearing up for a product launch or need to revamp your website urgently, these services have your back.
Streamlined workflows and efficient communication channels minimize delays, making sure that your designs are ready to make their mark just when you need them. This agility not only enhances your brand's responsiveness but also empowers you and your team to seize fleeting opportunities with visually striking content.
Access To A Library Of Templates
One of the cornerstones of custom graphic design services is their expansive template library.
Bursting with a myriad of pre-designed templates catering to diverse needs, this resource serves as a treasure trove of inspiration and efficiency.
Whether you're crafting social media posts, business cards, or promotional banners, these templates provide a head start while maintaining the flexibility for personalization.
This amalgamation of convenience and customization empowers you to swiftly create eye-catching designs without compromising on originality. By tapping into this wellspring of design options, you harness the power to consistently produce engaging visuals that captivate your audience.
What Are The Key Features Of A Graphic Design Service?
A stellar graphic design service is characterized by a host of key features that work to deliver a seamless and helpful experience.
These features combine to form the backbone of design operations, letting your visual identity stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
1. Affordable Pricing
One of the main features of a top-tier graphic design service is its commitment to affordability without compromising quality. These services understand the diverse needs of businesses and individuals alike, offering pricing structures that cater to budgets of all sizes.
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur or a well-established enterprise, the transparency and flexibility in pricing ensure that you get the most value for your investment. A balanced blend of competitive rates and outstanding design work allows you to access professional-grade visuals without breaking the bank.
2. Easy To Use
Navigating the world of graphic design should be an intuitive journey, even for those unacquainted with complex design tools. A standout feature of a quality graphic design service is a user-friendly interface to support design operations. Clients should be able to submit and download design requests, all within the portal.
From requesting custom logos to downloading marketing materials, the simplicity of having a platform allows you to focus on your ideas rather than grappling with technical intricacies. This accessibility ensures that regardless of your design proficiency, you can confidently create captivating visuals that resonate with your audience.
3.Wide Range Of Design Services
Versatility is the cornerstone of a comprehensive graphic design service, offering an extensive spectrum of design solutions under one roof. From branding essentials like logos and business cards to immersive web graphics and social media visuals, these services cater to a wide array of design needs helpful to any marketer.
This approach eliminates the need to juggle between different platforms or agencies, streamlining your design efforts and fostering a cohesive visual identity. The ability to access a diverse range of design services ensures that your brand remains consistent and compelling across various touchpoints, establishing a lasting impression in the minds of your audience.
4. 24/7 Customer Support
Responsive and attentive customer support is a huge bonus of a graphic design service that values its clients' satisfaction. Whether you're seeking clarification on design specifications or encountering technical glitches, having round-the-clock customer support at your disposal is a game-changer.
This feature provides you with the assurance that your queries will be addressed promptly, ensuring a seamless design process. The availability of knowledgeable professionals who understand your design goals and challenges creates a collaborative environment where your ideas are nurtured and translated into polished visuals.
How Does a White Label Graphic Design Service Work?
A white label graphic design service operates seamlessly behind the scenes, enabling you to deliver professional-grade design solutions under your brand's banner. This ingenious collaboration empowers you to focus on your core competencies while harnessing the prowess of skilled designers to enhance your visual offerings.
1. Create Brand Style Guides
The journey commences by establishing a brand style guide that encapsulates your client’s identity and visual essence. This guide outlines crucial elements such as color palettes, typography, and overall design aesthetics.
Armed with this blueprint, the white label service aligns their creative direction with your client’s ethos, ensuring that every design is a harmonious reflection of their identity. This strategic step sets the stage for consistent and compelling visuals that resonate with your audience.
2. Submit Design Requests
Once your style guides are in place, submit design requests detailing your specific requirements, hopefully within a platform provided by the service.
These could range from web graphics and social media visuals to marketing collateral and beyond. The white-label service acts as an extension of your team, absorbing your design briefs and delving into the intricacies of your vision.
This collaborative approach fosters a symbiotic relationship where your ideas are transformed into crafted designs that captivate and engage.
3. Designer Creates the Designs
Armed with your guidelines, the designer within the white label service brings your concepts to life. Their creative minds take center stage as they manipulate colors, typography, and layout elements to craft visuals that align seamlessly with your brand's narrative.
This step is where your client’s vision takes form, evolving from ideas to tangible designs that hold the potential to make a lasting impact.
4. Receive your Designs
Once the designs are ready, they are seamlessly delivered to your doorstep (design platform). You gain access to a repertoire of polished visuals that effortlessly resonate with your brand's identity.
It’s that easy! This is where your ideas and the designer's expertise fuse to create designs that supercharge your brand's visual storytelling.
Find The Best CaaS Solution: Getting Started
Discovering the ideal Creative as a Service (CaaS) solution begins with a simple approach. By understanding your design needs, brand identity, and project goals, you can navigate the landscape of options more effectively.
To find the perfect CaaS solution, meticulous research and alignment with your brand vision are important. By diving into the offerings, reputation, and creative capabilities of potential providers, you pave the way for a partnership that not only enhances your visual storytelling but propels your brand to new heights of creativity and engagement.
Quick Summary of the Process
There's been a lot of information in this guide. Which is good. You want to know as much as you can before making a move as big as this.
But let's recap, just to make sure we're on the same page.
We can summarize the process in one image:
In this diagram, we see that there are design companies that specialize in producing design packages, which contain design services, that produce design products, to help you grow in your industry.
Not so complicated, right?
The tricky part is knowing which package to get and where to get it.
The best package, of course, is one that includes everything. And the best company to work with is one that does it all for a flat fee. That way, you aren't limited in any of the products you want to produce for your brand. You can fully realize your vision and goals, in both the short term and the long.
TeamTown does exactly this.
TeamTown starts with your vision, researches your industry, figures out the products you need, prepares the services, and offers you a package for success.
Share your vision with TeamTown, and we'll get started on it. We have a proven formula for delivering.
It's 5 phases.
5 Phases of Service Design
Graphic service design differs from company to company, but here's the process that TeamTown follows for our customers:
Discovery
In this initial phase, our goal is to understand your vision and direction. We gather information about your brand, target audience, and specific design needs.
This is crucial for setting the foundation of the project by identifying the key goals and challenges to address.
Research
Once the vision is clear, we then dive into research. This phase involves determining which services are most suitable for your goals, whether it's branding, UX/UI design, or marketing materials.
Research includes analyzing competitors, understanding the market, and identifying what design approaches will resonate best with your target audience.
Ideation
With a clear understanding of the brand and market, we move into the ideation phase. Here, we brainstorm and conceptualize the design products, keeping long-term branding and identity in mind.
We focus on creating innovative solutions that align with both your immediate needs and your brand’s future growth.
Prototyping
This is where ideas start to take shape. In the prototyping phase, our design team creates initial drafts of the products, whether it's logos, web designs, or marketing materials.
Prototyping allows for early-stage feedback and revisions, ensuring that the final product will meet your expectations before full production.
Implementation
Once the prototypes are approved, we'll help you apply these designs across various platforms. This could involve launching a website, rolling out a new branding campaign, or implementing marketing materials.
The implementation phase ensures that the designs are integrated seamlessly into your overall strategy.
Final Word
With this list handy, you'll have all the tool you need to find success when adding smart design to your marketing strategy. Bookmark and return whenever you need a trusty cheatsheet to understand what design services you need and who to reach out to for help.
If you're still not sure, book a free strategy call with us and we’ll help guide you through the process!
