Finding the right packaging designer is no easy task, especially when you are on a budget.
If you own or work in a small company that doesn’t have a big budget, this article will present some strategies to find a right designer without spending too much money. I discovered these tactics over the last years, as I have started multiple projects where I needed a packaging designer.
Keep reading and you’ll discover answers to all your questions about this topic!
How do I find a packaging designer?
You can find a packaging designer in many ways:
- by asking other business owners, friends or relatives
- by reading magazines and advertisements
- by using freelancing platforms
- by checking out dedicated websites
However, each way has its advantages and disadvantages that you should know. If you want to find out more about those, you’re in the right place, keep going!
4 Ways to find a packaging designer
I will tell you about 4 different ways that have worked for me, but I encourage you to build a strategy that uses all of them! Finding a packaging designer could
Mouth-to-mouth recommendations
How to do it?
Companies that offer services to other businesses who didn’t invest too much money into advertising. Their good work usually spreads quickly between potential clients. That is why you should rely on recommendations from different people.
You could ask friends or relatives that have worked with a packaging designer in the past. You could also try and access Facebook groups where you meet other business owners. They will probably have some recommendations for you. Blog posts about the topic could also be helpful.
Advantages
All these methods will force someone to tell you about their experience with a packaging designer. You will find out if they were truly happy with the final product, or if that designer didn’t deliver on expectations.
This information won’t be available on any website or platform, so this is why you should take it as advantage!
Disadvantages
This method doesn’t have any major disadvantages, but most probably, someone will only recommend you 1 designer at a time. Thus, you won’t have so many options to choose from. If you’d like to see what more designers can offer, you should try one of the next methods!
Magazines and advertisements
When you don’t have anyone to reach out to, you can also go the traditional way! Going through the leading online magazines that focus on packaging could help you.
How to do it?
You only need Internet to go to a popular packaging magazine like: Packaging World, Dieline or Packaging Digest. You will find several articles about different types of packaging, but you need to search something that is relevant to your company’s needs.
Most time, you will find names of designers that have written the article. Or maybe famous ones have designed solutions that are showcased in that article. Then, you only need to contact them and ask for an offer.
Advantages
The advantage is that you will only work with the best in the industry. Magazines will try to talk to the most experienced designers to be featured on their first pages. A lot of research is done before, so you can definitely trust the skills of someone who ends up in the biggest magazines in the World.
Disadvantages
This method is a time-consuming one. You would probably need a couple days to search for packaging designers that suit you most. Then, you need to discuss details with each one of them and that will also take time.
Another disadvantage is that you will need to spend more money. Because you work with reputable designers, chances are they will charge more than your regular ones. But, at the end of the day, their experience is worth more dollars!
Freelancing platforms
Freelancing platforms are the new normal for finding the right people to collaborate with! That applies to our topic as well.
How to do it?
The process is simple: you go to a freelancing platform like Upwork or Fiverr and register as an employer. Then, you post a job description about what you need. Several freelancers that can help you will send their applications, but you can also invite some that have a strong profile!
You set the price and the requirements, and you will surely find someone that is willing to collaborate with you.
Advantages
The advantage in this case is that you have a lot offers that come to you without much effort. It’s nice that you can also check their reputation, if you quickly go through the freelancers’ profiles. You will find reviews from different clients and every job they worked on will be displayed there.
Disadvantages
Again, there is nobody who checks the skills of the freelancers. Anyone can register there and they can write anything they want in their profile’s description.
Of course, you can consider the reviews from past clients! But beware of trusting fake reviews that are used to build an artificial reputation. Usually, you can easily tell if a review is fake or real, if you read it carefully.
Dedicated websites
You could also try to search it up on Google and just analyze all the ads you find. However, a more efficient way is to use websites or online platforms dedicated to packaging design. Crowdspring and DesignCrowd are 2 popular options that you could consider.
How does it work?
Firstly, you answer some standard questions and create a brief that you publish on the platform. Then, multiple designers will submit their work, based on your instructions. After your project reaches its deadline, you need to choose the designer which submitted the best project. The platform will pay him, but not before offering you the usage rights.
Advantages
The huge advantage this method has is that you get to see so many different views, based on the same instructions. You can get inspired by what a designer proposes, or you can discover suggestions that you’ve never thought of.
You’re not forced to work with one designer based on his previous work, but you will choose the one who understood the best what you wanted.
Disadvantages
The disadvantage is that you will find it hard to establish a long-term collaboration with your designer, which could be frustrating.
Our recommendation
The wisest choice would be a combination of all 4, but if we were to recommend one… we would choose mouth-to-mouth recommendations!
Even though this method has its disadvantages, there is a very low chance an unprofessional designer could deliver great work for his past clients. You can get honest and real feedback from the other business owners, but you can always evaluate yourself the designer’s portfolio.
So, if you have the possibility to ask someone about a packaging designer they have worked with, go ahead!
Conclusion
Finding people to collaborate with for your business is anything but easy. You know your success depends on the quality of their work as well, so you can’t afford mistakes.
When you are a small business, you can’t afford to pay a whole team to take care of your packaging, so you need to find another way. Now that you know 4 new methods to find the right designer, you need to make a decision as soon as possible!
Do your quick research about the platforms we mentioned and decide on what suits you best! Don’t forget to ask for a recommendation or check out the feedback on the designer’s profile, when you are in doubt.
