What is the difference between opting for a freelance designer and an agency or a medium-sized company? Which of these two options compensates you the most? Is it true that companies provide a higher level of professionalism? What cases is the freelance limited to? How does all this affect your initial budget? Today we will talk about it and rescue from our corner of reflection nothing more and nothing less than eight reasons why clients should bet on freelance designers.
Are you a company? Or are you a freelance designer? Whoever you are and work in the modality you work, remember that you can leave us a comment and tell us about your experience and your perspective in this regard. What is clear is that both possibilities are adequate, but ... Which one is worth the most and when is it worth it?
A Freelancer usually fully embarks on your projects
This makes perfect sense, especially since freelance gives us the opportunity to establish a more intimate relationship, from you to you, without intermediaries so the needs of the project will be absolutely clear. In fact, this is one of the points against that large agencies have: The client usually has less decision-making capacity to raise or present their ideas or to participate in some way in the project to be developed.
Question of availability
It is always advisable to have a freelance worker in your contract schedule. The flexibility that a graphic designer can provide you is invaluable, especially in terms of time. It is almost certain that along your trajectory you will come across some unwanted inconvenience, setback or emergency. If you think that an agency is going to have its doors open at any time and immediately, you are wrong. If on a Sunday at 12 o'clock in the morning a problem or emergent need arises for an imminent project, do not have the immediate attention of an agency. However, the freelance designer is surely available and eager to work.
Absolute attention
Keep in mind that large firms often have to deal with several projects simultaneously with consequent staff turnover. For this reason, the freelance designer will be incomparable with the large agencies, especially in terms of treatment and deepening of your projects. It will be a much more personalized relationship and an exchange that will not end until you are completely satisfied. If you hire a freelancer, rest assured that will dedicate all its tools fully to your project.
Clear and direct communication line
Do you have a problem or question? If you hire a freelancer by picking up the phone or writing an email, you will have direct contact with the sole person in charge of your project. However, in an agency there are usually several levels, one department will delegate to another according to which areas, so you will feel that you have more control over the project and confidence in the process.
A freelancer has valuable experience
Generally, the freelance designer went through several companies and agencies before becoming a freelancer, therefore he has a great capacity and trajectory behind him. If you work with a freelancer who has been «agency meat«You are probably hiring someone who knows the procedures used in agencies and companies. In addition, a freelancer has great creative freedom, unlike large agencies, which have inflexible process manuals and therefore innovation occurs with greater difficulty. On the other hand, freelancers are always open to finding the most modern solution since they are usually aware of trends in their sector.
When an agency can't or doesn't know, call Freelance
The design departments of large firms are regularly made up of a couple of professional designers and an army of interns, students, and first-timers. When the water overflows the glass, there is no choice but to hire a freelancer. And this will have economic consequences for you, since you as a client will have to pay the fees of the "reinforcement" plus the regular cost of the agency.
A freelancer is only going to charge you for your design
Keep in mind that in an agency the process is divided into phases and areas, so when making the payment you will not only pay the designerInstead, you'll pay the concept or creative designer, the seller's commission, and other links. A company must face expenses such as facilities and other expenses inserted in the business complex, however a freelancer will only and exclusively be paid for their time and effort without any type of addition.
Freelancers love their job
It is true that freelancers have more freedom and dedicate themselves to their work autonomously because they want to and love what they do. However, large groups of confined and specialized workers in a particular area often crowd together in companies and agencies. The motivations of these professionals are usually different and to a greater extent economic, so they do not embark on a project because they have fallen in love or because they find it interesting, but rather because their boss has imposed it on them.
Fran's article was very successful and strongly agreed on most points except availability. Since from my point of view clients have to educate them a bit since we all have the right to rest and if a client calls you on a Sunday at 12 o'clock in the morning, a good planning of that project was probably not done.
I also agree with Hector Lopez. Being a freelance designer does not mean ending up being the slave of our clients, by which I mean that preliminary limits and agreements must be established for the development of the project. Likewise, the availability of a freelancer is relative, there are times when you are full of work and you have to say no to what is coming, and there are other times when you can have your entire schedule free, but this does not mean that you should hold meetings the weekends because you can take charge of those projects.