Signs your printing company lacks artistic graphic design skill
For businesses seeking custom-printed materials from business cards to banners and beyond, partnering with a printer that offers skilled graphic design should be a top priority. Artistic sensibilities separate exceptional, compelling printed pieces from bland, cookie-cutter templates. While printing craftsmanship matters greatly, imaginative graphic design is equally vital. Without this creative finesse, printed materials are likely to fall flat regardless of print quality. However, not all printing companies have strong graphic design capacities in-house. For those focused chiefly on quick turnaround times or rock-bottom prices, design originality may get sidelined.
Limited design styles
Flip through a printing company’s sample books and portfolio, either online or in person. If you notice the same few templated layouts recurring over and over, it likely signals uninspired graphic design chops. Great designers relish opportunities to showcase a range of projects, tailoring unique looks and feel for each client’s brand. Repetitive templates spell unadventurous design. Many printers allow customers to submit files directly online through web-to-print DIY platforms. This self-service option provides effortless convenience for simple jobs. But, if the company seems to push DIY as the prime option for more complex projects as well, they may lack back-end design talent. Be wary of overemphasis on DIY convenience over custom creative collaboration.
Verbally discouraging custom design
A common telltale sign emerges in sales conversations. Does the printer actively steer conversations away from custom design development, instead funneling you towards presets or DIY? If they seem to verbally discourage artistic exploration from the get-go, design originality is likely not their forte. Professional graphic designers assemble robust portfolios highlighting their best work. Does your prospective printing partner showcase the creative range of their design team upfront? Or do they gloss over design skills in selling their services? No samples to exhibit could reflect a lack of confidence in their talents.
Upcharging creative input
Printers who lack confident design capacity may still offer some creative services. They often categorize custom design as a premium “add-on,” upcharging steeply for original layouts or graphic elements. Those fees indicate they aren’t positioning great design as a standard integrated service. Imaginative design takes thoughtful nurturing through back-and-forth collaboration. If your printing rep seems to nudge conversations strictly towards rapid turnaround rather than encouraging creative exploration, they likely don’t value design enough within their processes.
There are clear signals that differentiate printing vendors lacking in aesthetic design capacity from those investing in creative talent. Artists require room for sparks of inspiration on design-centric projects. If your gut says a prospective printer won’t provide that room, it’s worth seeking out a vendor valuing graphic design on par with production quality. Prioritizing artistic design alongside printing in one seamlessly bundled service elevates your brand cut-through tremendously. Great design fused with top-tier print shop staten island finishing makes your brochures, signage, packaging, and everything in between shine. Don’t leave graphic creativity out of your custom print buying decisions. When stellar printing meets award-worthy design mastery, the commercial print results simply speak for themselves.
