How does designing with Canva compare with working with a design agency?
These days, creating visuals with DIY design is far easier than it ever has been in the past. But does that mean it’s the right choice for your company?
If there are exciting things going on with your business and you need graphic design, then you’re probably pondering whether to opt for Canva vs. hiring a design agency.
The truth is, the two options are very different and the right choice for you will hinge on all kinds of factors, like the specific project you’ve got in mind, your timeline, budget, target audience and goals.
There are advantages and disadvantages to using do-it-yourself design tools, and working with a design agency won’t be the right path for everyone either.
We’re here to help you weigh up the pros and cons and make an informed decision that’s right for your business, so you get visuals that meet your needs.
Let’s get started with an overview of the three best DIY design tools on the market.
Canva
Canva is one of the most popular tools out there, with loyal users galore. It’s got thousands of templates for creating visuals, whether digital or for printing, including social media posts, presentations, flyers, logos, posters, videos, resumes, whiteboards, and plenty more.
It’s super intuitive and easy to get your head around, dragging and dropping any elements you want to include in your design. The free version gives you a lot of scope, but some features are restricted to their paid plans.
Pixlr
This is one of the most affordable DIY design apps on the market, and while it’s mainly geared towards photo editing, it also has templates you can use for your visual marketing materials. It’s made up of five different apps, incorporates AI-powered features, and is available for free, although there is, naturally, a premium paid version.
Adobe Express
Adobe Express gives you more flexibility when it comes to editing than Canva does, works seamlessly with other Adobe applications, and places a heavy focus on AI design. On the other hand, there are far fewer templates to work from than there are on Canva. As with the other options above, there are both free and paid options for you to choose between.
Advantages and disadvantages of DIY design tools
These three apps are probably your best DIY design options, but the question is, should you use them for your business?
the pros
On the one hand, there’s no denying that using them is a cheaper and faster way of getting your hands on visuals for your brand.
Even if you decide to opt for a paid plan for access to more features, this approach will always work out cheaper than collaborating with a design agency, which is fantastic news if there’s just no room in your budget. Just bear in mind you get what you pay for, and adjust your expectations accordingly!
Another perk of these tools is that they’re designed to be nice and easy to use, so there’s no need to take a course or spend days getting your head around these platforms, you can jump right in.
And, perhaps one of the most convenient things about them is that, with their help, you can bring your ideas to life straightaway, especially handy if you need to tweak or put something together at the last minute.
the cons
On the other hand, there’s no getting away from the fact that these tools are limiting, and the results are likely to be generic.
The first thing to consider is that you’ll probably come up against several roadblocks, and might not be able to make your design look quite as you’d like it to, as the changes you can make to templates are often limited.
You could end up spending a lot of your valuable time playing around with designs. Time that could be far better spent working on other areas of your business.
Added to that, chances are that with a DIY approach, you’ll struggle to maintain consistency across the different visual materials you create. Consistency inspires trust, and if you can’t inspire trust in potential customers, that’s bad news for your brand.
On top of that, unless you’ve got a background in design the visuals you create will probably look… Well, like they were created on Canva.
Some of your audience might use Canva themselves, and many of them will be able to tell. You know when you read a text written by AI, and something about it just screams “I was written by a robot”, even if you can’t put your finger on exactly what it is? The same thing applies here.
This isn’t necessarily bad, but depending on your audience and goals, if someone can tell your visuals come from Canva, they might walk away with a less-than-ideal perception of your brand.
You’re also likely to be tempted to pick a template that’s already been used by plenty of other companies before you, because that’s just the nature of the beast. This is particularly true when it comes to logos.
Tip: As your logo is so intertwined with your brand, we 100% recommend investing in something made-to-fit rather than using a Canva template.
The trick is to carefully consider what your audience expects from you at this stage of your business. Is something generic going to meet those expectations? Depending on your circumstances, it might do! But it could also put potential customers off.
So, if you want to boost your chances of standing out in the eyes of your audience, a design agency could be the better choice.
working with a design agency
Right, so now we’ve taken an honest look at the realities of working with DIY design tools, it’s time to shine the spotlight on what you can expect when working with a design agency.
professional expertise
Professional designers are trained in the art of focusing a design around a specific goal to connect with a specific audience. It’s what they do every day. They know all about color theory, composition, hierarchy and so much more, because they live and breathe it.
It’s those skills that elevate your visuals from “It’ll do I suppose” to “Oh my goodness I love it”.
Tip: Before committing, always research the designer or agency you’d like to work with to see the type of work they do, the experience level they bring to the table, and the vibe you get from them.
the consistency you need
Working with a professional designer also means you won’t have to worry about consistency, as they’ll know just how to make sure all your designs fit neatly within the parameters of your established brand guidelines, so your potential customers or followers will recognize your visuals anywhere.
custom-made for your brand
Your design will be unique to your company, tailored to your audience’s expectations and 100%, unmistakably “you”.
Your new visuals will be designed to help you meet your specific goals, and you’ll feel confident about sharing them with the world, shouting about your business and your offering.
And that, in turn, will mean your customers are more likely to recommend or refer you.
an investment that pays off
When you compare Canva and hiring a design agency, the latter is always going to seem expensive. But investing time and money in your branding is a sign that you’re taking your business seriously, committed to upping your game and growing your company.
Top-quality branding sends the right message to your audience, especially if you’re selling a premium product or service, so this is the kind of investment that’s likely to end up paying for itself.
the voice of experience
Professional designers have been around the block plenty of times and know what works, and what doesn’t, so they can confidently guide you through the branding woods.
They’ll take the information you provide and run with it. You’re paying for their expertise and don’t need to spoon-feed them. You can safely trust their instincts, enjoying the peace of mind of knowing the job is in capable hands.
Your designer won’t always produce something you’re 100% delighted with the first time around, and that’s okay.
If you don’t love their solution, ask yourself:
- Does this design represent my brand?
- Does this design speak to my audience? (Remember. Your taste may be different than your audience’s)
- Does this design support the goal of the project?
If the answer to any of those is “no”, your designer should be more than happy to have an honest conversation and listen to your opinions and feedback.
making the right choice for you
If you’re still unclear about when Canva could be the right solution and when a design agency will be your best option, here’s a quick summary.
A DIY design app is your best friend when:
- Your budget won’t stretch to a professional designer or agency.
- You need something the same day, or the next day.
- You’ve got a small audience just looking for simple communication, and not expecting quality design from your business.
- You’ve already had templates created for you by a designer, are using them day-to-day in your business and need to make small changes or update them.
You’ll benefit from a design agency when:
- You want to stand out from your competition, or take your business to the next level.
- You’re struggling to define your brand and connect with your audience consistently, and you want to meet their expectations and see an increase in engagement.
- You have the time and budget to dedicate to the process of content gathering, design, iteration, and implementation, for the best results.
- You want branding that will stand the test of time, and will still work for you in the future when your business has grown and evolved.
Does that sound like you?
Then now could be the perfect time to get the ball rolling.
If you’d like to work with our team of professional designers, fill out the simple form below to tell us a little about your needs.
