There’s no rule of thumb when it comes to the best design conditions.
However, it usually comes down to three aspects: time frame, quality and budget. Typically two get prioritised over the third as every project has its own restraints that affect your design conditions. Ultimately though, there are pro’s and con’s to any combination.
Fast & Good
Imagine you have a product launching at the end of the month and now you need a visually impressive campaign to promote it. Fast design of good quality is possible, but there’s a catch. Your designer executing this piece in time is likely to have years of experience and this means you’ll need to open up the wallet. Not only that, but for them to prioritise your project, you may have to pay a premium to skip the queue over other creative projects that the designer is already working on.
Good & Cheap
If you’re working within a budget and flexible on your timeline, this can be a desirable combination. However, tread carefully as this scenario can often lead to one of two outcomes. By hiring a less expensive designer, you are often choosing a less experienced designer. The risk is that the final outcome can be subpar. The second scenario is finding innovative, creative and ingenious designers but your project gets pushed to the back of the “to-do” pile to make way for projects that are bringing in dollars worth more to the designer.
Cheap & Fast
Producing a quality, timeless and unique design takes consideration and experience. With so much today being readily available at a cheap and fast pace, it’s of little surprise that graphic design needs to be done yesterday at a slashed price. The risk when working with fast and cheap designers is undeniably the quality. If you’re still not convinced against going for the cheapest and fastest option, remember that not prioritising quality is not prioritising your consumers’ experience and how they perceive you in the industry – so continue at your own risk.
Before making a decision on which approach to take, assess your project’s circumstance and restraints. In most cases, good quality is a given as good design is an investment in your business and brand.