7 reasons why it is better to order design from freelancers than from large design companies

To select a performer for a project, you need to take into account many factors. Kelvin Cox is trying to determine the main factors influencing the choice of the artist.

The design market is booming, and huge demand creates no less supply. Now, thanks to the Internet, you can choose a designer from hundreds of thousands of different options, both in quality and price. It is rather difficult to choose with whom to cooperate, besides, it usually requires more and more time, especially if you are looking for a new performer with whom you have never worked before.

Traditionally, working with freelancers is cheaper, but it is considered to be less reliable than ordering design from large design bureaus. At the same time, quality and reliability are not always justified by impressive sums that giants of the industry may ask for in their work.
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So, I propose to evaluate the benefits of cooperation with small design studios and free designers.

Ambitiousness

Typically, freelancers or designers in small studios are young and ambitious people. They are often full of ideas for creativity and a desire for self-realization. I know many examples when they are doing free interesting projects for them, for example on social topics. And not at all for the sake of advertising, but simply trying to change something for the better.

In large companies, it is easier to meet "design monsters" - experienced guys in their thirties with a bunch of letters and awards who will not say exactly what their project is, but they will make it just as good as the previous one. But hardly better.

Work on name

Freelancers, just starting to conquer a name for themselves, often try their best to produce some amazing results. And all just to be noticed. Many well-known customers use this, getting a product of excellent quality almost for a penny. The nonsense is that both parties are satisfied: the freelancer puts in a portfolio a job for a well-known firm, and the firm gets an inexpensive and good design. This principle of work acts most often at the beginning of the designer’s creative journey, since with time he increasingly begins to value his time and energy.

Quick work

Freelancers and small studios are interested as soon as possible to complete the project in order to take up the next one. The amount of orders here is usually not huge, so the welfare of performers can directly depend on the number of completed projects per month. So the project, which could run for six months, the freelancer will try to lay a month. The main thing is to ensure that the quality does not suffer.

Availability

You can catch designers at work both during the traditional working hours and on Sunday morning or Wednesday night. This is especially true for freelancers. And you can be sure that if an innovation comes to your mind on a Saturday morning, you will have to wait until Monday to share it with a designer of a large office. People in offices, especially in large companies, do not want to stay late. I'm about designers, not careerists.

It was not in the TK

If any edits are required that are not included in the terms of reference, the freelancer is more likely to make them into the layout. From the side of large offices such loyalty should not be expected. Here, you will firstly submit a TK and an agreement, and secondly, they will issue a new invoice for additional work.

But the more experienced a freelancer is, the better he understands that he can devote time spent free of charge to a paid project, so you need to know the measure, and if the edits are large, then think about increasing the budget.

Innovativeness

Freelancers are more willing to work with new technologies, experimenting and looking for new knowledge. Perhaps this is precisely what can explain that we can often meet freelancers who, besides website design, are engaged in printing, icons, flash and program in php.

As an example, designers working with Flex. The growing demand has stimulated many freelancers to learn this technology. Two years ago, many large studios were looking for such specialists among free workers, offering them large salaries.

Good relationship

If you ordered a website design from a freelancer, and he did not let you down, then when you need a new section layout, you are most likely to refer to it. If you worked with a large company, then the likelihood that the same designer as the last time will work with you is not great. Most likely, he will be busy with another project and will have to wait a long time. But most likely you will be offered another employee.

In the case of working with a freelancer or a small studio, you can expect that you will not have to explain twice the essence of the work, the wishes for style and performance, but simply ask it to continue the work begun.

Do not forget that both types of cooperation have their advantages and disadvantages.

I would like to hear your opinions about who is better to work with - with freelancers or with large companies.