Story: What is the design subscription?

Rather than dealing with individual payments for each design project, a design subscription offers the convenience of a consistent monthly or yearly fee in exchange for a predetermined number of design projects or hours. This method provides the benefit of predictable budgeting, empowering you to forecast design expenses and manage your finances with confidence.

For a user experience designer, addressing client pain points is paramount.

1. Clarity in Communication: Clients often face challenges when designers struggle to grasp their vision or fail to communicate the design process and its progress effectively.
2. Uniqueness Matters: Clients might feel dissatisfied if the design work lacks creativity and distinctiveness, causing their brand or project to blend in with others.
3. Time Management: Project delays can disrupt clients’ plans, particularly if they have time-sensitive launches or events.
4. Consistent Quality: Fluctuations in design quality can leave clients unsure about what to expect from the service.
5. Revision Restrictions: Design services offering limited revisions can frustrate clients aiming to refine the final product.
6. Scope Management: Expanding project scope without clear communication or added costs can lead clients to feel taken advantage of.
7. Affordability Concerns: Exorbitant design service costs can deter small businesses or individuals with constrained budgets.
8. Collaborative Approach: Clients who feel excluded from the design process might end up unsatisfied with the end result.
9. Accessibility Barriers: Clients less tech-savvy might struggle with accessing or using design tools and files.
10. Customization Options: Some design services provide only template-based solutions, limiting clients’ ability to tailor designs to their specific requirements.
11. Responsive Support: Slow or unhelpful customer support can leave clients feeling unsupported and dissatisfied.
12. Aesthetic Alignment: Clients may be disappointed if the design style offered by the service does not align with their brand’s aesthetic or personal preferences.
13. Brand Consistency: Design services that fail to maintain visual branding consistency across different materials can undermine a client’s brand identity.
14. Intellectual Property Assurance: Clients might worry about ownership and usage rights related to the design work they receive.
15. Transparent Pricing: Confusing or complex pricing models can make it challenging for clients to understand what they’re paying for.

The perspective shared here reflects the experiences and opinions expressed by various individuals online. While I don’t necessarily share the exact same sentiments, I believe in actively listening to such feedback and using it to enhance my services.

In late 2022, I introduced a design subscription service and now aim to compare it with other similar offerings, like Kimp. By analyzing and contrasting the features and benefits of my service with those of Kimp, I intend to further improve my service and provide enhanced value to my clients.

Kimp

©Kimp

Experience the freedom of Unlimited Graphic Design & Videos, all under a simple Flat Monthly Fee. Whether you’re in need of boundless graphic designs, video creations, or a combination of both, our service caters to your needs while offering unlimited revisions. By partnering with our dedicated design team, you not only save valuable time but also make a cost-effective choice.

Kimp operates with a firm belief in the transformative potential of design. Our mission revolves around empowering clients to amplify their messages and simultaneously foster meaningful employment prospects for designers. With roots dating back to 2003, the Kimp Team has traversed diverse business models and served various niches. This extensive journey has led to the evolution and refinement of our services, culminating in the birth of Kimp in early 2019. The inception of Kimp marked a pioneering step by introducing an all-encompassing subscription model for unlimited graphic design services. Our core objective remains steadfast: revolutionize the design workflow for our clients while paving the way for fulfilling career opportunities for talented designers.

According to the Google Business Profile, Kimp is located in Ontario, Canada. I assume that they are using designers who live in a third country.

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

After reviewing the work, I noticed that Kimp uses design materials that can be easily made to look like a design. While I wasn’t personally impressed, I understand it’s fine if the client approves of it, which seems to be the case.

With over 10 years of experience in the advertising field, more than 8 of which have been dedicated to web/graphic design, I consistently apply UX design principles to my projects for maximum impact. My approach prioritizes the client’s goals and speaks to their specific target audience. With a strong background, I have confidence in my ability to deliver substantial value to clients.

Kimp provides their service at a starting cost of $599 per month, which is discounted to $299.50 for the first 2 months as per their promotion. Their highest-tier plan is priced at $995, reduced to $497.50 for the initial 2 months, as mentioned on their website. I can understand the sales funnel, but I won’t offer that price range. However, my strategy isn’t centered around directly competing with these rates. My goal is to emphasize that even if you receive a design that wasn’t what you anticipated, I encourage you not to raise concerns.

Remember: You receive value in line with what you invest.

Kimp offers a same-day delivery service, a feature that I don’t currently provide. They also offer a video service encompassing video editing, animation, video design, and motion graphics, with a turnaround time of 2-4 days. While this might be an attractive option, my focus lies in collaborating with professional clients and aligning with their schedules. I am open to accommodating rush requests to the best of my capacity. To be transparent, I can indeed deliver within the same day if the task is received early in the morning. However, I personally prefer to review my work the following day to ensure opportunities for enhancement. This is the reason I haven’t explicitly incorporated it into my pricing structure. Credit to Kimp for their approach.

I came across a Kimp review on YouTube, but it appears to be fabricated. The individuals providing these reviews lack a significant following, yet they are reviewing Kimp. This raises suspicions about the authenticity of these reviews. In such cases, I value negative reviews over falsified ones.

It’s worth noting that conflicts between clients and design service providers often stem from various factors on both sides, rather than being one-sided. Nonetheless, it remains the responsibility of a design service provider to consistently surpass the client’s expectations. While meeting expected standards is commendable, striving for excellence in service is essential to nurture client loyalty.

What do people say about Kimp?

I refrain from critiquing others’ work and am open to negative reviews as long as they reflect the truth. On Kimp’s account page, they list several countries including Bangladesh, Ukraine, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and Canada. The composition doesn’t seem Canada means Canadian or Caucasian. Kimp appears to be employing individuals from India and the Philippines who are living in Canada.

Conclusion: Purpose of comparison blog

Creating a comparison blog is a widely employed SEO strategy. I came across this idea on Rank Math, Figma, and the Webflow website, and I decided to implement it myself.

During my evaluation of various design subscription services, I recognized that competing directly with them isn’t feasible for me. Kimp’s clientele seems to consist of those with limited budgets and emerging brands. However, my approach diverges from this. My focus isn’t on rapid expansion; instead, I prioritize the cultivation of long-lasting client relationships. Consequently, I am selective about the clients I take on and limit the number of projects I accept, ensuring I can devote maximum effort to each one.

If you’re in search of a part-time senior web/graphic designer, I invite you to connect with me. If your needs align with my skill set, I am excited about the prospect of collaborating to contribute to the growth of your business.

Reference:

Kimp – Unlimited Graphic Design & Video Design
Design Subscription by Open Bookmarks Co. | Senior Web/Graphic Designer