If you’re an online brand, you’ll already be aware that Shopify agencies have a range of offerings available - here at Radiant we have four ‘core’ services:
app development (custom functionality)
ongoing support (maintenance and support to continuously improve your Shopify store’s functionality and performance)
It’s common to partner with an agency for all, some, or just one of these areas - it depends on your own in-house resources, budget, needs and project.
In this article, we’re looking at the difference between using your own inhouse designer, versus hiring an agency to design your Shopify store.
Traditionally, when a client comes to us for a new Shopify website, we would expect to manage and deliver the design and development of the store - working with the client through the project to define, create, design, and then bring their visions to life.
However, some brands approach us to develop their Shopify stores, using designs they have already signed off internally.
While we can - and have - done this, it’s not the ideal way to complete a web build project. Here are a few of the reasons we prefer to design AND develop our clients’ stores.
Graphic Designer Vs UX/UI Designer
Often, brands hire graphic designers to create the designs for a new website. Our design team is made up of UX/UI designers and it’s important to understand the differences between the two roles. While these two design-centric job titles may sound similar, they perform distinct tasks using different skill sets.
Graphic Designers
Graphic designers use colours, shapes, images, and fonts to create visual content for print and digital media. These designs are often static, non-interactive layouts for things like logos, product packaging, advertisements, signage, brochures, or displays, used to communicate with customers.
UX/UI Designers
While graphic designers create static visual content, user interface (UI) designers create interactive visual content. This includes the graphical elements of apps and websites that users interact with.
Graphic designers have a focus on visual elements, but UX designers focus on the complete interaction between a user and the website, including how that experience made them feel. This type of design goes beyond the visual to include information architecture. UX designers advocate for the user, making sure the website meets user needs in a way that is accessible, intuitive, and enjoyable.
So in summary, one of the biggest differences between graphic and UX design is the scope. Graphic designers focus on visual elements while UX designers take a broader perspective by focusing on the interaction between a user and the website. Graphic design is often just one part of the bigger user experience.
Graphic designers design visual elements and UX designers design interactions. Graphic design involves a specialised set of design-related skills, like colour theory, typography, and computer-aided design, while UX and UI design uses a multidisciplinary set of skills that includes design, user research, information architecture, wireframing, and prototyping.
UX and UI designers understand not just the visual elements, but how websites work, how users interact with them, and how to create designs for ecommerce stores that will engage the visitor and help encourage more sale on the site.
Other Benefits of An Agency Designing and Developing Your Ecommerce Website
More Cost-Effective
The hourly rate for a freelancer, or the employment costs of a graphic designer might be lower. However, if they take longer to complete the project because they are working alone, or don’t design a website which takes into account user experience and sales, the total project cost can easily end up being more than that of an agency. In addition, the final website may not be engineered to convert sales as effectively.
Experienced Project Managers
Talking to our Project Management team, from their perspective it's easier for our designers to be involved in the project. This lets them communicate directly with developers at the design stage which ensures the feasibility of the design. It also lets them gather real-time feedback before it goes to development.
It's also easier for managing timelines, as we can keep on top of the turnarounds and ensure we have designs when we need them. It gives us more control over the process and helps improve the overall efficiency of the project.
We’re also a close-knit team and are familiar with the inter-departmental way of working, which helps keep things moving.
Faster and More Efficient
Communication is important. As a design and development agency, our teams can work together in real time, as well as liaising with clients. The result is a project completed in less time because we have the resources to meet demand, and the experience honed over dozens of projects to know how to complete the work efficiently.
The flexibility, expertise, and scalability offered by design and development Shopify agencies like Radiant means we’re a valuable resource and extension of your own ecommerce team.
Improved Design and Development Collaboration
Based on years of experience developing Shopify websites, our Lead Developer prefers to build them based on designs created by our colleagues in the design team here at Radiant. He said:
“If we manage the design and development phases, there are lots of benefits to the client and the project team here at Radiant. Firstly, it’s easier to contact and liaise with the designer quickly if there are questions. or if we need to request further assets or information.
Our design team also knows Shopify inside out so we know its strengths and limitations - with external designers we’ve had situations where the designs submitted weren’t fit for purpose, as the designer wasn't familiar with the platform.
There are also other niggles that happen when the designers aren’t part of our team - spending time sorting issues like assets with incorrect dimensions, for example sometimes external designers work with 1920x width and it throws all the font sizes off. We’ve had times when the formats are incorrect - if we receive Photoshop files they don’t convert well to Zeplin (the tool we use to ensure the design to development process is friction-free).”
Better Results
With a full team of UX/UI designers, Shopify developers and a Project Management team to keep everything on track, site builds move more smoothly when we are responsible for the design work as well. When working with Radiant, your project is in the hands of a dedicated team of people who share the load.
If you employ an in-house designer, you take on the responsibility of completing high-quality work on time and within budget. While it can seem more expensive to hire an agency in terms of initial outlay, you’re paying for the expertise of the design team who know how to create websites that not only look beautiful but convert to sales as well, which is, after all, the whole point of an ecommerce store. The extra skills, combined with the speed and efficiency of the project, means it’s worth looking at cost vs outcome rather than just what might be the cheapest initial outlay.
Conclusion: In-House Design Vs Shopify Agency
An employed graphic designer will know your business inside out. However, our UX/UI designers bring fresh ideas and skills specific to ecommerce website design and the Shopify platform.
We will always work with clients who bring their own designs for the project, but the benefits of having a unified design and development team manage your project from start to finish means a better result for you, and your customers.
