Key facts
- Freelancers usually have lower overheads; agencies charge for account management and broader skills
- Ask any supplier for written copyright assignment of final artwork
- A limited company has published accounts and a registered office you can check at Companies House
- Check who actually does the work: some agencies subcontract to freelancers
- dijitul: design and CAD time at £45 an hour + VAT, logos from £150 + VAT, video from £695 + VAT
- Get a fixed price and a written scope before work starts, whoever you choose
The honest trade-offs
There is no single right answer. A good freelancer can be the best value in the market for a defined job, and a big agency can be the right call for a national campaign with many moving parts. What matters is matching the supplier to the size and risk of the work.
| Freelance designer | Design agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Lower day rates, fewer overheads | Higher rates covering account handling, studio and range |
| Who you deal with | The person doing the work | Often an account manager, with designers behind |
| Skills | Usually one specialism | Several disciplines under one roof |
| Capacity | Limited by one person's diary | Can scale for big launches |
| Continuity | Risk if they get busy, move on or fall ill | Files and knowledge usually stay with the business |
| Contracts | Varies; sometimes informal | Usually formal terms and processes |
When a freelancer is the better choice
A freelancer suits a well-defined job in their specialism: a logo, a set of illustrations, a single brochure. You talk directly to the person designing, decisions are quick, and you are not paying for layers of management. Many excellent designers work this way by choice.
The risks are around continuity and paperwork. If your freelancer is unavailable when you need a quick change, there may be no one else with the files. Make sure you receive the editable source files, not just PDFs, and a written assignment of copyright in the final artwork, because under UK law the designer owns copyright unless it is assigned in writing.
When an agency is the better choice
An agency makes sense when a project spans disciplines, for example a rebrand with naming, strategy, photography, video, packaging and a website, or when you need several people working at once to hit a launch date. You get process, project management and cover for holidays and illness.
You pay for that. Ask who will actually work on your project, whether any of it is subcontracted, and what the day rate is for changes after sign-off. Make sure the agency's terms transfer ownership of the final work to you on payment.
Also check minimum spends and retainers. Some agencies prefer ongoing monthly arrangements over one-off jobs, which can be good value if you have a steady flow of work but expensive if you only need a few pieces a year. A clear scope for each piece of work avoids paying for capacity you do not use.
Where dijitul fits
dijitul is a UK limited company (DIJITUL LTD), trading since 2006 and based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. You can check our registered details at Companies House. The media side covers logos and branding, print, social graphics, photography, video and 2D and 3D CAD, so a project that needs a logo, product photos and a technical drawing does not have to be split across three suppliers.
Our prices are published: logos from £150 + VAT, brand identity packs from £395 + VAT, brochures from £295 + VAT, half-day photography from £295 + VAT, video from £695 + VAT, and design or CAD time at £45 an hour + VAT. See pricing and how we work.
Questions to ask any designer before you start
- What exactly is included in the price, and what counts as extra?
- Will I receive editable source files (AI, INDD, PSD, native CAD) as well as PDFs?
- Will copyright in the final artwork be assigned to me in writing?
- Are fonts and stock images licensed for my use, and in whose name?
- Who does the work, and is any of it subcontracted?
- Is printing included, or quoted separately?
- How are changes after sign-off charged?
A supplier who answers these clearly, in writing, is a good sign whether they are a freelancer, an agency or somewhere in between. If you would like dijitul to answer them for your project, ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is a freelance designer cheaper than an agency?
Usually, because freelancers carry fewer overheads such as account managers and studio costs. The total cost also depends on how many revisions, formats and disciplines the project needs. dijitul publishes its prices, with design time at £45 an hour + VAT and logos from £150 + VAT, so you can compare directly.
What should I get in writing from a designer?
Ask for a written scope and price, a list of files you will receive including editable sources, confirmation that fonts and images are licensed for your use, and a written assignment of copyright in the final artwork. dijitul provides a fixed price and scope before starting.
Is dijitul a freelancer or an agency?
dijitul is a UK limited company, DIJITUL LTD, trading since 2006 and based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. It covers design, print, photography, video and CAD, with published prices, so it sits between a single freelancer and a large agency.
Who owns the design files when a freelancer makes my logo?
Under UK law the designer owns copyright unless it is assigned to you in writing, even if you have paid. Ask for a written assignment and the editable source files. dijitul assigns copyright in the final artwork to clients once it is paid for.
Can one supplier do design, photography and CAD?
Yes. dijitul covers logos and branding, print and digital design, photography and video shot on location, and 2D and 3D CAD. Design and CAD time is £45 an hour + VAT, and photography starts from £295 + VAT for a half day.
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