Story: What is the design subscription?

Instead of making separate payments for each individual design project, a design subscription enables you to pay a consistent monthly or yearly charge for a specific quantity of design projects or hours. This approach provides the advantage of predictable budgeting, allowing you to anticipate your design expenses and plan your budget with ease.

As a user experience designer, thinking about a client’s pain points are essential.

• Unclear Communication: Clients may struggle with designers who have difficulty understanding their vision or fail to effectively communicate the design process and progress.
• Lack of Originality: Clients might be disappointed if the design work lacks creativity and uniqueness, making their brand or project indistinguishable from others.
• Missed Deadlines: Delays in project completion can hinder clients’ plans, especially if they have time-sensitive launches or events.
• Inconsistent Quality: Fluctuations in the quality of design work might leave clients uncertain about what to expect from the service.
• Limited Revisions: Design services that offer only a limited number of revisions can frustrate clients who want to fine-tune the final product.
• Scope Creep: If the project’s scope expands without clear communication or increased costs, clients might feel taken advantage of.
• High Costs: Exorbitant pricing for design services can be a significant deterrent, particularly for small businesses or individuals with limited budgets.
• Lack of Collaboration: Clients who feel excluded from the design process may end up dissatisfied with the final outcome.
• Technological Barriers: Difficulty in accessing or using design tools and files can hinder clients who are not tech-savvy.
• Limited Customization: Some design services might offer only template-based solutions, limiting clients’ ability to create a design tailored to their specific needs.
• Unresponsive Support: Slow or unhelpful customer support can leave clients feeling frustrated and unsupported.
• Misaligned Aesthetics: Clients may be disappointed if the design style provided by the service doesn’t match their brand’s aesthetic or personal preferences.
• Lack of Brand Consistency: Design services that fail to maintain consistent visual branding across various materials can undermine a client’s brand identity.
• Intellectual Property Concerns: Clients may worry about the ownership and usage rights of the design work they receive.
• Complex Pricing Structures: Confusing or convoluted pricing models can make it difficult for clients to understand what they are paying for.

This is what ChatGPT said. It means some people have these experiences and wrote them online. I don’t completely agree with them, but I listen to them and improve my service.

I created a design subscription service in late 2022. I would like to compare with other design subscription services and enhance my service to provide more value to the client. In this blog, I compare my design subscription service with Design Pickle.

Design Pickle

©Design Pickle

Design Pickle offers a comprehensive suite of creative services encompassing graphic design, personalized illustrations, presentation design, and motion graphics. Established in Scottsdale, Arizona, Design Pickle was conceived with the mission of providing dependable, cost-effective, and scalable creative content to businesses of all sizes.

With its economical monthly pricing beginning at $499, Design Pickle stands out as a premier unlimited graphic design service. Our appreciation for it is driven by its myriad automation features, impeccable design standards, and seamless designer-client communication.

Design Subscription by Open Bookmarks Co.

Open Bookmarks Co. has introduced “A Design Subscription You Can Depend On (Beta)” exclusively catering to the Chief Everything Officer. If you’re a startup navigating the intricacies of bootstrapping or embarking on a journey fueled by seed funding, our in-house subscription service is tailor-made for you. With a commitment to offering a personalized approach and a reliable timeline, we understand the significance of a robust brand identity and design cohesiveness in amplifying your message. Join our subscription program to unlock the power of limitless possibilities and gain access to an array of services.

For seasoned professionals focused on scaling their independent ventures, Open Bookmarks Co.’s subscription service is your trusted ally. We acknowledge the paramount importance of concentrating on the core functionalities of your business. Our subscription service is meticulously designed to alleviate your design burdens and provide optimal solutions, empowering the reinforcement of your digital footprint in a dynamic and fiercely competitive landscape.

Compare

I possess over 10 years of experience in the advertising industry, with more than 8 years dedicated to working as a web/graphic designer. I consistently apply UX design principles to all my projects, ensuring their effectiveness. My approach revolves around prioritizing the client’s objectives and catering to their specific target audience. Drawing from my comprehensive career background, I hold strong confidence in my ability to provide clients with a competitive level of value.

Design Pickle offers their service at a base price of $499 per month, with their most popular plan priced at $995, as stated on their website. My approach isn’t about competing directly with these prices. I want to ensure that even if you receive the design which you did not expect, please do not complain.

You get what you pay for.

Design Pickle provides a same-day delivery option, which is not a feature I offer. While this sounds appealing, I am selective about working with clients who are professionals and managing their schedules. I do accommodate rush requests to the best of my ability. To be candid, I can indeed deliver within the same day if I receive the task early in the morning. Nevertheless, I personally prefer to review my work the following day to ensure room for improvement. This is why I do not explicitly include it in the pricing table. Kudos to Design Pickle for their approach.

I can see a mix of positive and negative reviews concerning Design Pickle. While I don’t hold a strong opinion on the matter, it’s important to recognize that conflicts between clients and design service providers often arise due to factors on both sides, rather than being one-sided. Nevertheless, it’s the responsibility of a design service provider to consistently exceed the client’s expectations. While meeting the expected standards is commendable, in order to foster client loyalty, aiming for greatness in the service provided is crucial.

What do people say about Design Pickle?

©Wes McDowell: Design Pickle Review: Did I Just Get Ripped Off?

I don’t critique someone’s work, but his request does appear to be on a high level. If Design Pickle users are able to obtain such a level of work, let’s assume 5 animations for $1695 – certainly hold significant value. If he asks me to do it, I search for the solution in 1 day and I respond yes or no honestly.

I cannot believe that it is non-refundable…

I think 4.2 stars is quite good. I hope these reviews are not fake.

I saw reviews about Design Pickle comprehensively. Overall, approximately 70% of customers are satisfied with their service.

Conclusion: Purpose of comparison blog

Creating a comparison blog is a widely practiced SEO technique. I came across this concept on Rank Math and the Webflow website and decided to incorporate it myself.

I don’t hold a negative view of Design Pickle’s service. Rather, I perceive that they adopt a policy of not turning down any client requests. This approach allows them to capitalize on every project and is aligned with their business model. They operate with registered designers in their ranks, and their numerous positive reviews attest to their effectiveness even though I am unsure whether it aligns with a recent ethical supply chain policy, especially when considering the human aspect of the service.

In contrast, my approach diverges. My focus isn’t on rapid expansion; rather, I aim to cultivate enduring client relationships. As a result, I deliberately select clients and limit the number of projects I accept, ensuring I can deliver my utmost to each one.

If you’re seeking a part-time web/graphic designer, I encourage you to reach out to me. If your requirements align with my skill set, I’m enthusiastic about collaborating to help expand your business.

Reference:

Design Pickle: Unlimited Graphic Design
Design Subscription by Open Bookmarks Co. | Senior Web/Graphic Designer