DIY Design vs Hiring a Professional: What You Need to Know
- Mark Orriss
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
Introduction: The Canva Temptation
With tools like Canva, Figma templates, and AI design generators, it’s never been easier to create your own designs. Many small business owners start out doing just that - and for some situations, it’s fine. But when it comes to building a brand that lasts, there’s a huge difference between DIY and professional design.
In this blog, we’ll look at when DIY works, when it doesn’t, and why investing in a professional can save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
The Case for DIY Design
Affordability – DIY tools are free or cheap.
Speed – You can whip something up in minutes.
Accessibility – No need for design training.
Control – You don’t have to explain your vision to anyone else.
For quick, temporary graphics (like an event flyer or social post), DIY might be just fine.
The Risks of DIY
Generic templates – If you’ve seen it, so have thousands of others. Your brand risks blending into the crowd.
Lack of strategy – A template can’t tell your brand’s unique story.
Inconsistency – Without guidelines, you end up with mismatched fonts, colours, and layouts.
Lost credibility – Poor design can make your business look unprofessional, even if your product is great.
Consistency breeds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust.
Why Hire a Professional?
Tailored strategy – A designer doesn’t just make things look good; they ensure the design aligns with your brand goals.
Technical expertise – From print specifications to responsive web design, professionals understand the details that matter.
Consistency – A designer builds a visual system so your brand looks unified everywhere.
Long-term savings – Investing once in professional design saves endless redesigns and mistakes later.
Real-World Example
A small startup used a DIY logo for its launch. As they grew, the logo didn’t scale well, colours clashed online vs print, and they had to pay for a full rebrand. The initial savings from DIY ended up costing more in the long run.
"Mark was a pleasure to work with. He completely understood the business and what I was trying to achieve straight away and I love the logo and the website. I would thoroughly recommend Orriss Design." Claire - Little Red Hen
DIY Design vs Hiring a Professional
DIY is okay: social media graphics, short-term campaigns, one-off event posters.
Hire a pro: brand identity, website design, packaging, anything customer-facing long-term.
Conclusion
DIY tools are great for small, temporary tasks. But if you want your brand to inspire trust, stand out from competitors, and grow sustainably, there’s no substitute for professional design.
Don’t let poor visuals hold your business back. Let’s build a professional design system that works now and in the future.
Book a free discovery call today and let’s start shaping the visual identity your business deserves.