Do I Really Need a Graphic Designer?

Do you really need a graphic designer?

Here is a typical comparison you come across if you spend any time in the design field. If you were buying a car would you trust someone dressed nicely in a suit, and well groomed, or someone wearing ragged jeans and a dirty T-shirt with scraggly hair? Are your business graphics sharp and fashionable, or ragged and drab?

The fact is that most customers have been exposed to a lot of well designed graphics, the bar has been raised by modern communications and technology. It wasn't that long ago that having black and white business cards could be quite impressive. Not anymore. With computers, and software programs such as Photoshop, InDesign, and affordable color printing now available to the average consumer, even a Word document can look unprofessional (unless it's a letter or report).

One of the most successful weekly newspapers in the US ran advertising designed in house by new college graduates for decades. Recently, the whole graphic design department was eliminated and the work sent to India where college educated, experienced designers did the work. A colleague of mine at the newspaper lamented about all the jobs going offshore, but also had to admit that the quality of the advertising was far superior. Overnight, the whole image of the newspaper was improved.

If you are not paying attention to your graphics then you are running the race with one leg. By graphic design I mean logos, advertising, web site, social network pages, collateral, packaging, instructions, signage, business cards, letter heads, business envelopes, web animations, and everything visual that represents your image. If you look at your competition you will see that the successful businesses have great graphics.

Consider the cost of graphic design an investment, part of your marketing strategy. If you are a small business, you will probably not be able to afford an advertising agency, but just as technology has made advanced graphic design tools available to the average consumer, demand has attracted a lot of talented people to the design field.

So, whether you decide you can afford a small time freelancer, high end designer or an advertising agency, approach the effort seriously. Right now, there is a very talented, top notch graphic designer who is approaching your competition with a really hot, fashionable design concept. What will you do?

About The Author

pro-Bids service provider William Bellomy, a graphic designer, Flash designer, and game designer from Santa Barbara, California contributed this article. Please visit and support William on pro-Bids at "William Bellomy Design"