Should you do your own designing?
You wouldn’t attempt to fly a plane if you haven’t learnt to fly, so why would you attempt to design a print job if you don’t know how? To design or not to design. That is the question.
Your business image is everything. It’s the first impression you give to potential clients and sets the tone for how they perceive your business. So why risk cheapening your image with a poorly designed business card or brochure hastily put together in Microsoft Publisher, Word, or Canva?
I’ve been in the printing industry now for over 40 years, and believe me, I’ve seen it all. We’ve been asked to print business cards with grammar errors, low-resolution images, and text that is either too large, too small, or off-center. It’s shocking how often people try to pass off subpar designs as professional.
When we refuse to print a job due to design flaws, some clients get offended. They say they’re happy with the design and just want it printed. The problem is that when people see the final product, they don’t say, “What a crappy design.” They say, “What a crappy print job, who printed that?” Our reputation suffers, even though the issue lies with the design, not the printing.
That’s why I always recommend using a graphic artist to create your business card or brochure design. Graphic artists have the skills and experience to create visually stunning designs that will give your business the “WOW” factor you need to stand out from the crowd.
And please, don’t be fooled by Microsoft Publisher and Canva’s being marketed as graphic design programs. They both lack the features and functionality of industry-standard programs like Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. If you don’t have access to these tools and the skills to use them, it’s best to leave the job to a professional graphic artist.
Don’t risk cheapening your business image with a poorly designed business card or brochure. Your reputation is on the line, so make sure it’s in good hands. I advise investing in a graphic artist because graphic artists are skilled at creating magic and giving your business the WOW factor.
