Graphic designers are the unsung heroes of businesses. Without a graphic design team, how can companies establish a solid brand identity and create visually appealing social media posts? While some people underestimate design and visual content in general, there’s a reason they are now taking center stage.
According to 99designs, 49% out of 1,500 founders of startups and small businesses perceived the role of design as a “very important” contributor to success. In a report by Piktochart, graphic design is leveraged not just to communicate within the organization (19% of participants), but also to improve customer communication (55%), and encourage engagement on social media (24%).
To fully take advantage of the perks of good design, business owners like you must invest in a graphic designer who is creative, tech-savvy, and an excellent communicator. If you can’t afford in-house designers, then going the outsourcing route is a wise move. Before outsourcing graphic design services, here’s our detailed guide on hiring a Filipino graphic designer.
3 Reasons Why the Philippines Is the Best Country for Hiring Graphic Designers
Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is a linguistically diverse country with an English-proficient populace. As the BPO and call center capital of the world, the country’s outsourcing industry has been the driving force of economic growth, creating numerous employment opportunities for Filipinos.
Although the Philippines’ outsourcing sector sparks images of customer service agents, its scope of services spans across industries, from accounting to graphic design. Let’s find out why foreign businesses outsource their design needs to a Filipino graphic designer.
1. Skilled and Creative Graphic Designers
The creative prowess of Filipino graphic designers is not to be scoffed at. With a strong background in the theoretical and practical application of design principles, their skills bring to life original designs that incite customer engagement, drive business innovation, and maintain visual consistency across different materials. As a country that values education, a college degree is seen as the ultimate goal of Filipino students. Because of college, students are exposed to different design concepts and projects, priming them for what’s ahead outside the classroom. Since the best BPO companies and top creative agencies require college degrees, Filipino graphic designers already have the edge when applying for work.
2. More Cost-Effective
Hiring in-house graphic designers is costlier than hiring virtual graphic designers. When you hire in-house, you shoulder the cost of training, employee benefits, and additional office spaces and equipment. But when you outsource a graphic design to the Philippines — a country with a low cost of living — you spend less on labor and overhead costs as outsourcing companies take care of the recruitment and training process. Salaries are also lower in the Philippines, with Filipino graphic designers earning around ₱25,000 ($426) to ₱35,000 ($597) per month. Contrast this to the United States, where graphic designers earn $4,309 to $5,107 per month. While these don’t account for experience and skill level, it’s evident that graphic designers from the Philippines are a better option for cost-effectiveness.
3. Timezone Compatibility
Real-time collaboration and round-the-clock productivity are the advantages of working with an outsourced graphic designer: real-time collaboration and round-the-clock productivity. When you hire a graphic designer from the Philippines, they can work on projects at night — most likely, from 8 pm to 5 am local time — and collaborate with you as if they’re in your office, preventing delays and communication hiccups. You can also build another offshore creative team to cover downtimes. Either way, you don’t have to adjust your business’s usual working hours. Filipinos are adaptable and hardworking, so they’re more than eager to lend you a helping hand in your design needs — even if it means working at odd hours.
6 Graphic Design Services That Graphic Designers Offer
Like virtual assistants, graphic designers offer different services, from logo design to web design. Although there’s a misconception of graphic design being an “easy” job, or that a designer can do anything and everything you ask for, it’s important to understand that graphic designers have their own niche and specialization. Yes, some designers are jack-of-all-trades, whereas others choose to excel in 3D design, product design, and branding. So without further ado, let’s explore some of the most common graphic design services.
1. Logo Design
A logo designer creates a symbol representing the client’s business. It involves the use of visual elements — from imagery to color choices — to create a recognizable brand image that drives customer loyalty.
2. Social Media Design
Social media design involves the production of visual content for social media platforms to engage users and solidify a business’s online presence.
3. Web Design
A web designer focuses on conceptualizing and creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website. Web design is different from web development, where the latter centers on the technical side of website creation such as coding and debugging.
4. Illustration
Illustrators create professional, beautifully rendered artwork for marketing campaigns and print or digital media.
5. 3D Design
3D designers use 3D modeling programs like Blender to produce high-quality 3D models according to the visual and creative requirements of the client. Because of the inherent complexity of 3D design, this graphic design service requires technical and artistic knowledge.
6. Motion Graphics
A motion graphics designer is responsible for producing captivating animations that enhance visual storytelling and communicate information. Motion graphics design also requires graphic designers to have expert knowledge of Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, and many other programs.
4 Levels of A Graphic Designer
Before you hire graphic designers and create your first job posting, it’s always important to learn the different hierarchy levels of the graphic design ladder. Doing so helps you gain a clearer goal and vision of the type of expertise you need for your project.
1. Junior Graphic Designer
A junior graphic designer is a newcomer to the professional world. While they are degree holders, a junior graphic designer has little to no job experience. To build their experience and design expertise, junior designers are responsible for assisting other graphic designers in various design projects. On top of that, they can also design logos, edit typography, partake in design decisions, and the like.
2. Mid-Level Graphic Designer
Mid-level graphic designers have, on average, around three to five years of job experience under their belt. Unlike a junior graphic designer, a mid-level designer is expected to take on more complex projects with little supervision and execute innovative design solutions. Mid-level graphic designers also work with project managers and senior and junior graphic designers.
3. Senior Graphic Designer
With over five years of job experience, a senior graphic designer is responsible for leading mid-level and junior graphic designers, providing creative direction, overseeing the quality of outputs, and collaborating with clients. Overall, a senior graphic designer must have the creative and leadership prowess to thrive in this role.
4. Art Director/Creative Director
Being an art director and creative director is one of the highest roles a graphic designer can achieve in their career. An art director takes on more leadership roles than a mid-level or senior graphic designer. They visualize ideas, provide input on a project’s visual aesthetics, share design drafts with the client or creative director, and disseminate feedback to the graphic design team.
On the other hand, a creative director is the equivalent of a project lead. Their job responsibilities include pitching ideas to clients, supervising their graphic design team, providing feedback and revisions, and executing design ideas.
6 Steps to Hire A Graphic Designer Philippines
Hiring a Filipino graphic designer is not a complete cakewalk. Without a solid plan or a clear idea of your design project, your potential candidates will be left hanging and confused. If you want the best graphic designer for your creative team, here’s how to get your hiring process on the right track.
1. Determine Your Design Needs
One mistake you should not make when hiring graphic designers is expecting them to do every task — from designing a website to creating a motion graphics animation. Remember, Filipino graphic designers are not superhumans; they have their niche too. If you’re having trouble identifying your design needs, these questions will serve as your guide:
- Does my logo reflect brand identity?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of my in-house graphic design team?
- Which areas of my business (ex: marketing and social media engagement) require the expertise of a graphic designer?
- Does my graphic design team need creative direction?
Don’t forget to identify the scope of your design needs, as this will influence the position’s type of employment. If you’re outsourcing graphic design, your answers will be of great help to graphic design firms and outsourcing companies.
2. Craft A Winning Job Listing
A job posting is like a resume but for businesses. Like resumes, job postings should be tailored to the position. If you’re hiring an art director, the job listing should include all the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities of that position.
To craft a compelling job description, begin with a catchy summary of the role. Briefly include how the role will impact your company and the Filipino graphic artist. This should answer the question: “Why should the candidate apply to my company?”
Next, list down the key job responsibilities of the role. Again, this depends on the position. Leadership responsibilities, for example, should be reserved for a senior graphic designer, art director, or creative director.
Then, write down the qualifications of the position — whether that’s a four-year graphic design or fine art degree, or experience working as a graphic designer in a related industry as your business. In addition, don’t just include “proficient in various design programs” without specifying the names of the software. List down the role’s salary range and soft skills, as well.
3. Put Your Job Listing Out There
After reviewing your job posting, it’s time to put it where everyone can see it. You can post your job advertisement on LinkedIn, Upwork, and other online platforms. Optimizing your listing goes a long way, too. Use keywords and sprinkle them throughout your listing as needed, potentially reaching more Filipino graphic designers.
4. Screen Candidates and Review Portfolios
As your inbox gets swamped by cover letters, resumes, and project proposals, it’s time to shortlist candidates for the position. Read all your candidates’ resumes and curate their portfolios. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself when screening Filipino graphic designers:
- How relevant is the candidate’s portfolio to your industry or current design needs?
- Is the versatility of the graphic designer demonstrated in the portfolio?
- Does the portfolio of this Filipino designer exhibit a good application of design principles and fundamentals?
Shortlisted candidates are, of course, qualified for an interview. Ask the right questions — both icebreakers and open-ended questions — and you’ll know by the end of the interview if a Filipino graphic artist is the right one for the job, at least for now.
5. Give A Test Task
For candidates, a test task is the final battle. Test tasks should not only mirror real-world tasks, they should also be related to the job position and your company. They test a Filipino designer’s ability to think outside the box and solve design problems. Include the following elements in your test task:
- General guidelines and requirements
- Target audience and purpose
- Constraints
6. Onboard Your New Hire
Congratulations! Your Filipino graphic designer is now onboarded into your team. These tips to ensure a smooth onboarding process:
- Orient your graphic artist on your company’s house rules and quality standards.
- Set clear expectations and project requirements.
- Check-in with your Filipino graphic designer and provide coaching.
- Share brand guidelines and other resources.
Outsource Graphic Design Services to KDCI
No matter the industry, graphic designers are always in demand. Because the creative industry is competitive, graphic designers must invest in their skills, widen their expertise, update their portfolios, keep up with design trends, and network with other creatives. With a rich pool of graphic designers abroad and in the Philippines, finding and hiring the right graphic artist is a job in itself.
Fortunately, foreign businesses love the creativity and resilience of Filipino creatives. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of hiring an in-house or freelance graphic designer, you can — instead — outsource to KDCI.
KDCI is a Philippine-based BPO with extensive experience in providing exceptional graphic design services to clients. Because of our dedication to success, we only hire and onboard the best graphic designers. Our graphic designers are not only equipped with creative and technical skills, they also have the grit and industry knowledge to scale your business.
Sounds exciting? Contact us to kick off your outsourcing journey with a bang!
