Story: What is the design subscription?

Rather than making individual payments for each design project, a design subscription offers the convenience of paying a fixed monthly or yearly fee for a designated number of design projects or hours. This approach offers the benefit of predictable budgeting, enabling you to foresee your design expenses and effectively plan your budget.

The advantages of a Design Subscription extend not only to clients but also to freelance designers who may lack a consistent client base, as it offers a source of recurring revenue. Design Subscriptions have the potential to address the following challenges faced by clients.

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 ManyPixels.

ManyPixels

©ManyPixels

ManyPixels serves a global clientele with prompt, cost-effective, and high-quality design through its on-demand creative service. Since its establishment in 2018, it has risen to become a prominent player in the design subscription service industry.

With a monthly starting fee of $549, ManyPixels firmly establishes itself as a leading source of limitless graphic design services. The process of securing reliable and skilled freelancers can prove to be time-consuming and unpredictable. Meanwhile, opting for in-house recruitment often entails substantial expenses and the potential for HR-related challenges.

ManyPixels offers a streamlined solution by introducing you to carefully vetted designers for a fixed monthly fee. This negates the need to navigate the complexities of hiring processes or contractual obligations, ultimately sparing you unnecessary stress.

Furthermore, ManyPixels presents a variety of tailored options to cater to your specific needs. These include an Advanced Tier, which caters to your day-to-day design demands; a Business Tier, doubling your daily design output; and a Designated Designer option, allowing you to collaborate in real-time with a dedicated designer.

All our plans encompass an array of benefits, including limitless requests, revisions, and brand considerations. Complimentary stock assets and native source files are also part of the package. With an unwavering commitment to ensuring 100% satisfaction, every plan is underpinned by a 14-day money-back guarantee.

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

Assessing the quality of design is a nuanced task. Generally, if a client finds the end result satisfactory, that signifies success. After reviewing our work page, I’m pleased with the outcomes, yet it’s important to acknowledge that client expectations can vary.

With over a decade of experience in the advertising sector, I’ve spent more than eight years honing my skills as a web/graphic designer. My methodology consistently incorporates UX design principles, guaranteeing the efficacy of each project. My approach centers on understanding the client’s objectives and tailoring the work to resonate with their specific target audience. Informed by my extensive career journey, I’m fully confident in my capacity to deliver a competitive level of value to our clients.

ManyPixels offers its services beginning at a base rate of $549 per month, with their notably favored plan priced at $1,199, as specified on their official website. They commit to completing tasks within 1-2 days. According to Google, ManyPixels’ operations are based in Singapore. It’s likely that a number of designers who reside in North America are part of their workforce. Their range of services encompasses graphic design, web design, and motion design.

My personal strategy doesn’t revolve around engaging in direct price competition with these figures. Instead, I prioritize ensuring that even in the event of receiving a design outcome that may deviate from expectations, constructive feedback is encouraged over dissatisfaction.

Ultimately, the principle of “you get what you pay for” remains applicable.

ManyPixels provides a turnaround time of 1-2 days for tasks, a feature that differs from my approach. While this may be an attractive offering, I am discerning about collaborating with clients who value professionalism and effective schedule management. I do, however, make accommodations for urgent requests to the best of my capabilities. Truthfully, I can manage even same-day deliveries if the task is received early in the morning. Yet, I personally prefer to review my work the next day to ensure there’s room for refinement. This is why I don’t explicitly include expedited delivery in my pricing structure. At present, I am committed to upholding quality over speed. I say so, I cannot underestimate the speed. Speed is also a service that a client requires. This is my challenge.

I commend ManyPixels for their approach.

In my view, ManyPixels seems to have a greater number of positive reviews compared to Design Pickle. However, I do perceive that Design Pickle might have a larger client base; this is solely my impression. While I don’t possess a definitive stance on this matter, it’s important to acknowledge that conflicts between clients and design service providers often stem from various factors on both sides, rather than being unilaterally driven.

Nonetheless, it remains the responsibility of design service providers to consistently surpass their clients’ expectations. While meeting the expected standards is laudable, aiming for excellence in the services offered is essential to nurture client loyalty.

What do people say about ManyPixels?

It’s possible that some individuals might have had negative encounters with ManyPixels, or it could even involve competitors in some cases. The specifics elude me. As service providers, challenges are part of the territory and are difficult to avoid. I, too, have encountered a few challenges in my experiences. The key is to learn from mistakes and continue moving forward without dwelling on the past.

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.

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 senior 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:

ManyPixels – Unlimited Graphic Design | Try Now
Design Subscription by Open Bookmarks Co. | Senior Web/Graphic Designer