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.

I have previously compared several design subscription services. From a consumer standpoint, choosing services at a low-end price is not easy. Prices generally fall within similar ranges. While consumers care about the price, they also want to avoid regret. In this mindset, consumers do not always opt for the lowest option. Consequently, Apple offers three pricing tiers.

As a user experience designer, it’s crucial to consider a client’s pain points.

• Unclear Communication: Clients may face challenges with designers who struggle to comprehend 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, causing their brand or project to blend in with others.
• Missed Deadlines: Project delays can disrupt 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 restricted number of revisions can frustrate clients who wish to refine the final product.
• Scope Creep: Expanding project scope without clear communication or increased costs can lead clients to feel taken advantage of.
• High Costs: Exorbitant pricing for design services can deter 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 provide only template-based solutions, restricting clients from creating designs 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 align with their brand’s aesthetic or personal preferences.
• Lack of Brand Consistency: Design services that fail to maintain a 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.

These points are based on the experiences shared online by some individuals. While I might not fully agree with all of them, I acknowledge and consider them to enhance my service.

In late 2022, I launched a design subscription service. In this blog post, I compare my service with Penji, another design subscription service, aiming to highlight the differences and provide more value to my clients.

Penji

©Penji

Penji offers a versatile solution for obtaining professional designs on demand, catering to both singular projects and the requirements of a full-time design team. With an extensive coverage spanning over 120 categories, Penji ensures that you never have to settle for mismatched creative assets again. You have the option to choose a certified professional from their marketplace or utilize their AI-powered matchmaking system to assemble the ideal team for your needs.

One of Penji’s standout features is its flexibility in team composition – you can effortlessly switch team members for different projects. If a Penji designer doesn’t align with your vision, you can transition to another team member at no extra cost. All your design projects can be efficiently managed through a single, user-friendly platform, which is designed to strike the perfect balance between simplicity for everyday users and the complexity required for handling numerous requests from various brands and agencies.

Penji’s commitment to responsible outsourcing is notable. They assure clients that their creative professionals are employed full-time with equitable wages, rather than relying on freelancers. This commitment is reinforced by benefits like full-time employment, annual team retreats, a nurturing work environment, fair compensation, and a remarkable retention rate of under 1%.

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.

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The design’s outcome doesn’t always clearly indicate a definitive success or failure. While there might be criticism expressed online, it’s important to recognize that external observers often lack full context on the initial project brief. Ultimately, once a client grants their approval with satisfaction, the design holds its merit regardless of external opinions.

With over a decade of experience within the advertising industry, I have dedicated more than 8 years to honing my skills as a web and graphic designer. Throughout my career, I consistently integrate principles of user experience design into every project, ensuring their efficacy. My approach is rooted in placing the client’s objectives at the forefront and tailoring designs to resonate with their specific target demographic. Leveraging my extensive professional background, I hold a strong sense of assurance in my capacity to provide clients with a caliber of value that stands competitively in the field.

Penji presents its services with a starting rate of $499 per month, while their highest-tier plan is listed at $1,497, as indicated on their official website. Users can get discounts with a long-term contract, quarterly and yearly. Comparable services can also be observed among their competitors. In situations where design service costs are lower, it often implies that someone is offering their skills at a reduced price. This can often be attributed to variations in the strength of the US dollar and the relatively lower wages in certain third-world countries. However, it’s noteworthy that Penji takes a compassionate approach regardless of geographical location, ensuring fair treatment for all its team members.

It’s important to highlight that my approach doesn’t center on engaging in direct price-based competition with these offerings. Instead, my focus is on delivering a service where even in the event of receiving designs that may not meet your exact expectations, you’re encouraged to share your feedback constructively.

The adage “you get what you pay for” holds true. It emphasizes that the value you receive is often aligned with the price you invest, and while Penji doesn’t necessarily enter a race to the bottom in terms of pricing, it stands firm in its commitment to providing valuable design solutions.

Penji offers a high-tier service that includes same-day delivery, a feature that I currently do not provide. Their delivery timeframe is generally within 1-2 days. I’m considering the possibility of introducing a free trial or a discounted rate for the first week, potentially as part of a sales funnel strategy.

While the idea of offering same-day delivery might be tempting, I am discerning when it comes to collaborating with clients who exhibit a high level of professionalism and adept schedule management. Although I am open to accommodating urgent requests to the best of my capability, I want to be candid that I prefer a slightly longer timeframe. If a task is received early in the morning, I can indeed deliver within the same day. However, my personal practice involves reviewing the work the following day to ensure optimal quality and allow for potential refinements. This is the reason why I have not explicitly incorporated same-day delivery into my pricing structure. I admire the approach taken by Penji in this regard.

I haven’t come across a substantial number of negative reviews about Penji. It does strike me as a bit unusual that I couldn’t locate their Google Business Profile. Nevertheless, achieving a 4.5-star rating in public reviews is an impressive feat. While it’s possible that some individuals with negative sentiments may voice their opinions, it’s imperative to maintain resilience.

While I don’t hold a definitive stance on this matter, it’s worth acknowledging that conflicts between clients and design service providers often stem from factors on both ends rather than being solely one-sided. However, it remains the responsibility of the design service provider to consistently surpass the client’s expectations. While meeting the expected standards is certainly commendable, striving for excellence in service is pivotal for cultivating client loyalty.

What do people say about Penji?

*You can locate reviews of Penji on YouTube. While I did explore a couple of reviews, I noticed that they were affiliated with the service. Hence, I opted not to include a video in this context.

I was unable to locate the exact business name and its corresponding Google Business Profile. While I did come across a few 1-star reviews, they appeared to be relatively minimal, constituting only 2 out of 108 reviews. It seems that Penji is functioning effectively despite these occasional negative ratings even though I do not clearly understand what powered by the world’s top 2% talent means. It’s worth noting that consumers typically don’t make their decisions solely based on reviews, especially since many design service providers tend to exhibit comparable review scores. In situations where services, reviews, and pricing structures closely resemble each other, the determining factor often becomes the brand itself.

When faced with a choice between seemingly indistinguishable options, consumers are inclined to prioritize the brand. A brand encompasses more than just the service – it encapsulates the values, reputation, and overall perception that consumers have. Effective branding can create a sense of trust, familiarity, and differentiation, ultimately influencing a consumer’s decision-making process. Thus, in a landscape where services, reviews, and pricing exhibit parity, a strong and distinct brand can emerge as the pivotal factor that helps consumers arrive at their choice.

Conclusion: Purpose of comparison blog

Creating a comparative blog is a widely adopted SEO technique, and I discovered this concept through Rank Math, Figma, and the Webflow website. Observing its effectiveness, I decided to incorporate this strategy myself.

Penji seems to be experiencing strong performance. Their mission centers on delivering an improved experience, offering a straightforward path to acquire professional designs. They prioritize timely project completion by harnessing the expertise of the top 2% of creative talent, all while upholding transparent pricing and a commitment-free philosophy. Based in Philadelphia, PA, United States, they are positioned in the vibrant heart of Center City, enjoying an impressive view encompassing City Hall and Love Park.

In contrast, my approach diverges. Rather than pursuing rapid expansion, my primary goal centers on nurturing lasting client relationships. This is achieved by thoughtfully selecting clients and limiting the number of projects I undertake. By adopting this approach, I can dedicate my full attention to each project, ensuring the best possible outcome.

If you’re in search of a part-time web/graphic designer, I encourage you to connect with me. If your needs align with my skill set, I’m genuinely enthusiastic about the prospect of collaborating to further enhance your business.

Reference:

Penji – Unlimited Graphic Design By The World’s Top Talent
Design Subscription by Open Bookmarks Co. | Senior Web/Graphic Designer