Get flexible with your creative recruitment
With fierce competition in business, efficiency and creativity are crucial for sustained growth and success. There will be times when business is booming, and the idea of seeking creative reinforcement might seem unnecessary. However, when sales start to slip, finding new, creative ways to stand out becomes essential. Rather than waiting for tough times to come, consider the benefits of a more on-demand approach that adapts to the natural peaks and troughs of business.
Imagine you’re running an events management company — you wouldn’t hire a full-time pastry chef if you only need cakes for special occasions. Instead, you’d likely commission a master of their craft to provide what’s needed, avoiding any unnecessary overheads.
The same can be said for your branding and marketing efforts. You likely won’t need a constant supply of design assets, so why shell out at your expense? An on-demand approach can still incorporate a long-term strategy with the likes of seasonal campaigns, website updates and a steady flow of creative content. Only, the number of projects or hours you choose to commission can be tailored to suit your unique needs and requirements.
Full-time in-house designers
It’s like having your very own personal chef who knows the ins and outs of your dietary requirements.
Hiring a full-time in-house designer can seem like a great idea. It’s like having your very own personal chef who knows the ins and outs of your dietary requirements. But what if you eat out a lot and don’t really need them to cook everyday? You might find yourself left paying for idle time, employee benefits, and the inevitable office tea runs only to find out they put the milk in first.
Working solely on one brand with a limited scope of projects can also lead to stagnation over time, making it hard for designers to find new ways to push brands forwards. To combat this, it’s important to make the most of inevitable moments of downtime by encouraging your in-house designers to pursue skillset development or personal projects. This not only helps fight creative fatigue but can inject new energy and ideas into your own brand and marketing strategies.
Design agencies
For global corporations with vast design requirements and the budgets to match, agencies can be a straightforward solution.
Turning to a traditional design agency can feel like dining at a five-star restaurant. The quality of work is undeniable. But when it comes to the bill, you might find that many creative agencies come with a pretty hefty price tag. Layered management structures can also put up barriers for communication with creatives on the bottom-line. It can sometimes feel like you’re stuck in an endless game of pong when trying to push through a seemingly simple set of amends. Back-and-forth between clients, account managers and the creative team all trying to decipher what’s needed and how to reach a solution.
For global corporations with significant design requirements and the budgets to match, agencies can be a straightforward solution — A dedicated creative team with all hands on deck, producing professional work on a consistent basis. But if you’re working with a more modest budget, still require high standards and prefer a more direct working relationship with your designer or team, you might be interested in finding another solution.
Freelance designers
Freelancers directly rely on and thrive off of their customers’ demand, so you can be sure to expect great work and service in return.
Enter freelance designers — an on-demand solution that can offer the same high level of work as agencies but without the built-in service charge. With relevant degrees and agency experience, you’ll find that many freelancers have moved on from the world of full-time employment to take charge of their own careers.
Think of them as your local sit down spot that serves the best selections of pastries, coffee and customer service in town — minus the sky high prices and flashy atmosphere. Freelance/self-employed designers directly rely on and thrive off of their customers’ demand, so you can be sure to expect great work, service and value in return:
- Flexibility: Need a new campaign this month and a custom-coded website next? Strong multi-disciplinary designers will be regularly evolving their skillsets and adapting to your schedule and requirements. No more, ‘it can’t be done’ or stale strategy. Instead, you can welcome a fresh perspective and a consistent drive to deliver.
- Cost-Effective: No costly overheads or idle time. You pay for the work you need, when you need it.
- Quality and Attention: Freelancers bring a personal touch with a level of passion and communication that’s often hard to find. They’re the dedicated home chefs who listen to your needs and put their all into every dish. Being in charge of their own business brings a whole new level of responsibility and, with their reputations and careers on the line, finding success for your business means success for theirs.
Embracing flexibility
Just as you wouldn’t hire a full-time chef to cater for occasional events, you might not commit to a full-time designer or creative team when your needs can vary. Working with agencies and freelancers can offer the perfect balance of creative expertise and adaptability, allowing you to scale your efforts when needed to meet changing market demands.
So, when you’re ready to level up your brand or marketing efforts, think about a more flexible approach to creative recruitment — Welcome fresh perspectives and innovative strategies that help your business scale, building trust, loyalty and inspiring customers to take action.
Written by Charles Tostevin, Founder of Charles Collective — A digital graphic design studio based in Guernsey.
