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What Is A Digital Design Agency?

A digital design agency creates, manages and produces digital design solutions for a variety of uses, including websites, mobile apps, advertising, product graphics, email templates and more.

Digital design is an umbrella term that envelops several different disciplines. It’s the process of planning and mapping out the look and feel of the visual content users view and interact with.

A professional company develops a unique type of visual communication that presents products, information and/or service through an interface of a digital device. Simply put, it is essentially graphic design tailored to computers and smartphones. It takes into account factors like user experience (UX), interactivity, responsiveness and more.

Although the majority of digital design agencies work exclusively on digital projects, some designers also design print collateral.

Woman working on a tablet with virtual icons in a digital design agency
Digital design agencies produce visual solutions focusing on UX

What Does A Digital Design Company Do?

Digital design companies employ core design practices with added interactive and multimedia elements.

With rapidly evolving technology, the agencies have to continually adapt and update their toolset to ensure the content they produce meets the users’ ever-changing needs.

In their work, digital designers use computer software like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier Pro, After Effects, InDesign and more.

A digital design agency employs experts whose work typically involves:

1. Designing On-brand Creative Solutions

Among other things, digital designers are in charge of creating:

  • Banner ads
  • Website elements
  • UX/UI wireframes
  • Infographics
  • Graphics for reports
  • White papers (PDFs)

2. Translating Concepts Into Appealing Designs

Usually, the designers work with cross-functional teams to guide concepts to execution, creating designs that are useful, intuitive and creative. They work closely with project managers, design teams, IT experts and content specialists.

3. Using Digital Design And Developing Tools

Besides the aforementioned design tools, the professionals are often expected to have the front-end development knowledge to convert raw data into appealing graphical interfaces through HTML, CSS and/or JavaScript.

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What Is The Difference Between Graphic Design And Digital Design Agencies?

Digital and graphic design are sometimes used interchangeably, but there are some major differences between these two fields.

The main difference is the medium that these two work with.

Digital design agencies work exclusively using digital tools and programs and most of their work is delivered in a digital format. Graphic designers, on the other hand, mostly focus on designing physical, print collateral, although some of their projects may end up translated to a digital format.

Graphic designers are more likely to create:

  • Physical marketing material/Print ads
  • Brochures
  • Magazine spreads
  • Book covers
  • Business cards
  • And more

Because of the overlapping skillsets, the lines between these two vocations became blurred in the past couple of years, so the job title “Graphic Designer/Artist” is being replaced by “Digital Designer/Artist”.

Besides the basic design aspects, an agency focuses on content designed to be used, rather than viewed. It employs techniques like wireframing, user testing and storytelling. Service providers focus on creating the best possible experience for the end-user that will interact with the design.

How Much Does A Digital Design Company Charge For Its Services?

The amount of money your business will spend on services depends on three factors:

  • Type, scope and complexity of the work needed
  • Solution/Tool/Approach you choose to get the work done in time
  • Location of your chosen agency

Generally speaking, digital design agencies in the US charge hourly rates from $100 to $200, while companies in Eastern Europe and India charge anywhere between $35 to $75 per hour.

As far as your particular needs and chosen type of design go, prices may vary.

The creation of digital advertisement design can cost anywhere between $250 and $750, while thorough website (re)design can cost between $1,000 and $15,000, depending on size and requirements.

Why Hire A Digital Design Agency?

Digital design encompasses many aspects of our daily routine, even when we’re not aware of its impact. Almost every product a consumer buys daily has been involved with a digital design element at some point.

It is used in developing animations for gaming, movies, presentations of all kinds, creation of a logo, or a website, blueprinting the new corporate building, constructing vehicles, etc.

Anything that involves the use of digital imaging and 3D modeling relies entirely on digital design.

Apart from everyday life impact, this area of expertise strengthens your business’s visual identity, awareness and visibility. In an age where interaction is the key to generating engagement and reaching the target audience, this type of design design is essential.

The rapid evolution and rise of social media platforms and smart technologies demand the services of digital design agencies. When a company gets a new website, the work of a digital design agency is not over, as the same company would want to build a strong social media presence on platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

An expert needs to coordinate all of the design processes to offer a clear and consistent approach throughout, based on content, quality and UX.

Your art direction needs to be consistent and aligned for both online and offline digital media, across all visual marketing materials. This is something a right company can help you accomplish. Consistently presenting a brand across all platforms can lead to 23% higher revenue.

How To Choose The Best Digital Design Company For Your Business?

When starting a new digital project, you are faced with a myriad of options. The first is deciding which digital design company is best suited for your need.

Having a clear vision and what you need from your future partner will help your evaluation.

What you want to look for in professionals first is their level of expertise, innovation, creativity and a proven track record.

When selecting a future digital design partner, be sure to focus on the following key factors:

1. Industry Experience

Many digital design agencies can fulfil a variety of needs. To differentiate between them it’s important to find one that has experience in your industry/niche or similar sectors.

These digital design companies understand your target audience and market and will help with faster project delivery.

2. Pricing

Working with the best digital design agency can be costly, so you’ll want to know exactly what you’re paying for.

Make sure to ask a prospective agency exactly what their pricing structure looks like and where your budget is going/.

3. Market Research

If you need help defining the requirements and the direction of your future project, the agency you choose should have expansive market research and competitive analysis strategy in place.

4. Organized Process

While discussing a potential partnership, ask them questions about their processes.

Developing projects requires a hefty amount of organization and communication. As a client, you need to feel comfortable with how the selected agency approaches your brand, goals and how they plan to translate them into a stunning product.

5. Portfolio And Testimonials

The track record of a digital design agency in the United States is something you should value highly. Also, turn to their previous client experiences in past referrals.

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15 Questions To Ask The Best Digital Design Agencies Before Hiring Them

Before you choose a perfect fit for your business, ask your prospective digital design company the following questions that will help you establish and understand their level of expertise, collaborative habits, how they use their toolset and resources and more.

  1. What are your previous experiences with our specific industry and which clients have you partnered with so far?
  2. How do you plan to reach our business goals and do you have success stories you’re proud of?
  3. Can you describe your creative process?
  4. How could we help you? Are there any things we can provide?
  5. Do you follow the latest design trends?
  6. What do you think our brand should focus on in terms of said design trends?
  7. Do they plan to conduct market research on our target audience and how do you plan on targeting them visually?
  8. Who will comprise the team that will work on our project and who is our main point of contact?
  9. What is their area of expertise and what previous work have they done in your company?
  10. How do you determine the project’s timeline and how will you communicate your progress throughout the project?
  11. What precisely is included in the price?
  12. What types of tools do you use?
  13. Is the number of meetings, calls, drafts and prototypes capped?
  14. Can you edit the designs once your project ends?
  15. Will we be able to trademark the designs you deliver?

Takeaways On Digital Design Agencies

Digital design agencies help you create, manage and produce visual solutions across all digital platforms with a focus on UX and usability.

They approximately charge between $50 and $150 per hour.

The recommended factors to pay attention to when selecting the best USA digital design agencies for your business are:

  • Industry experience
  • Pricing
  • Market research
  • Organized processes
  • Portfolio and testimonials

Best of luck!

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