Hiring or Not Hiring a Product Design Agency?
There are millions of different ways to design your digital product. As well as millions of possibilities to fail…
WHOOPS! Sorry for giving you the red pill! The only reason I want you to keep that in mind is to understand what is at stake here. The truth is, your entire business is on the line. So you better get your product design right the first time. Now, do you need a product design agency to help you with that? Read to find out the answer.
What is a product design agency?
A product design agency is a company that works closely with businesses or individuals to create innovative and user-friendly products for their target market.
What makes these agencies so wildly popular is their product development process built around the client’s needs, goals, and target market. As a rule, they employ designers, engineers, researchers, and project managers to tackle complex tasks from conceptualization and prototyping to user research. Below are some wildly popular services that these agencies offer.
What services do product design agencies offer?
- Concept development is all about brainstorming and perfecting ideas to establish a strong base for your product. Design agencies help you to ensure that your concept is feasible, striking, and aligned with your business goals.
- Graphic design helps you make your product eye-catching and visually appealing to resonate with your specific target audience.
- User research is a process of understanding your users’ needs, preferences, and pain points through surveys, interviews, and usability testing. This step is crucial for creating a killer product!
- Analysis service is needed to analyze data from user research and extract needed insights from it. It usually comes down to analyzing user feedback, market trends, and competitor strategies to optimize your product design for maximum success.
- Design consultancy provides guidance throughout the product development process including strategic planning, design direction, or project management.
- Market research is a service that helps collect information about your industry and competition to ensure effective product positioning.
- Product design is the process of creating a product from concept to launch.
- Software Testing is performed to help find and fix bugs, glitches, and usability issues in your product. It’s done to ensure smooth functionality and satisfaction with your product.
- Validation is simply testing your product with real users. The main goal of testing is to see if a product solves users’ problems. With this service, you can easily pinpoint what to improve or verify assumptions before committing to large-scale production.
- Wireframes help to visualize the flow of your product to refine the user experience before moving on to the visual design stage.
If you’re considering hiring a product design agency to assist you with your product development process, this article will give you all the ABCs: the WHYs, the WHAT, the HOWs, and even the HOW MUCH! Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
Why should businesses hire a product design agency?
If you’re still on the fence about hiring a product design agency for your business, these 3 WHYs might give you a little nudge to help make the right decision.
WHY #1: Product design agency filled with creative geniuses. They've got the magic touch to make your product stand out in a sea of "meh.
WHY #2: Your competitors have probably hired one already, and you know what they say – if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (aka competitive advantage)
WHY #3: Want to add product design to your already burned-out team? – I do not recommend it!
Still debating? Maybe it’s because hiring a product design agency is not for you, and that’s ok. Not every company has the budget to hire one anyway. But if you still like the idea of outsourcing your product design and have the benefits that come with it, Awesomic is your match made in heaven!
Awesomic is an app that connects you with a top product design team handpicked for your business in less than 24 hours. All you need to do is to create a task, and ta-da! Our AI algorithm has matched you with experts in your industry experienced in the task you requested. Need help getting your product design projects off the ground? Talk to us!
Key factors to consider when choosing a product design agency
In case you like checklists like we do at Awesomic, use this one to select the right product design agency for you.
✅ Expertise and experience of the design team
Do you know why creative agencies are growing like mushrooms after a rain? This level of talent, experience, and expertise is unmatched anywhere else. When choosing the one for your business, make sure they have specific industry expertise AND proven experience with your product design tasks.
✅ Range of services offered
Another thing to consider when choosing a product design agency is the services they offer. Niche agencies with a proven track record of the services you need might be more beneficial for you than overpriced all-in-one agencies.
✅ Portfolio of successful projects
Please, don’t fall for perfect demo sessions and convincing sales pitches. If the agency has no portfolio to showcase. Opting for a team with a history of successful product designs can be the most cost-effective and time-saving option.
✅ Client testimonials and reviews
The recipe for business success lies in customer satisfaction. Watch out for product design agencies with no client testimonials or one-star reviews! Unless you have time to waste and money to spend.
✅ Alignment with your business goals and objectives
This one is a must-have! A product design agency you hire should have your best interest in mind, beware of those overly obsessed with their own greatness.
Now let’s move on to our next section…
The role of a product design agency in the design process
Just like every other business, product design agencies follow a particular creative process that you need to be aware of before partnering with one of them. Below are 6 fundamental stages of every product design process.
Understanding the client's needs and requirements
The starting point of any product design project should always be the discussion about your business needs and requirements. So get clear on what those are before scheduling a discovery call with the potential agency. The more details you can provide, the better the outcome will be.
Conducting market research and analysis
The next stage is market research and in-depth analysis that is done by the agency. The goal of market research is to gather and analyze consumer preferences and industry trends. This process isn't just about quantity data. It's about understanding users’ needs, desires, and pain points to tailor make your product stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Collaborating with designers and engineers
Stage three is about effective collaboration between your business and a dedicated team assigned to you as the agency’s client. Be ready for endless back-and-forth: brainstorming sessions, reviews, presentations, meetups, and Zoom calls. Yes, this stage takes lots of time and energy, but it is crucial for perfecting your product.
Creating design concepts and prototypes
Next, is the stage when ideas take shape in the form of design concepts and prototypes of your future product. These early-stage models allow for experimentation, iteration, and refinement, serving as touchstones for collaboration and feedback.
User testing and feedback iteration
After crafting prototypes, comes the stage where your product is being refined by fire, known as user testing. Essentially, this stage is when real users use a prototype of your product and share their feedback with the team. Based on those reviews, the product design team fixes bugs, glitches, and usability issues in your product.
Finalizing the design for production
Finally, your product is ready to see the light of day! When everything is finalized and you’re satisfied with the results, it’s time to start production. What next? Long-awaited launch of course!
Notable product design agencies
In the realm of product design, certain agencies stand out for their innovation, creativity, and impact. These are the greatest agencies in 2024 according to, well, the World Wide Web.
- Designit (High-profile services: Innovation & Futures, Brand & Marketing, Experience & Loyalty, Sustainability by Design.)
- Frog Design (High-profile services: Business Strategy, Startup Growth, Brand Strategy, Design & Performance, Content & Communication Strategy, Product Design & Build, Customer Research & Insights, and more.)
- IDEO (High-profile services: designing the products, services, and experiences of the future.)
- Clay (High-profile services: Branding, Digital Products, Experiences, Websites, Content, Product Development.)
- UX studio (High-profile services: UI/UX Design, Redesign, UX Research, UX Audit, Expert Review, Discovery, UX Consulting, UX Training, Design System Refinery, Research Ops, etc.)
Benefits of hiring a product design agency in the digital age
Leveraging digital technologies for innovative solutions
New cutting-edge technologies are being born almost daily, and the area of product development is no exception. You see, product design agencies are skilled in utilizing the most innovative tools for effective product development. By collaborating with them, companies like yours gain access to knowledge and resources which allows offering second-to-none solutions to users worldwide.
Designing user-centered digital experiences
Imagine the most intuitive interface that provides an almost seamless app experience… Do you think such a digital product is easy to sell?
Duh! That’s one of the main reasons why companies pay for product design agencies' costly services. Creating a user-centered digital experience is their strong suit. They use user research, prototyping, and iterative design processes to create products users are obsessed with.
Maximizing market share through digital transformation
If you’re trying to remain competitive and expand your market share in today's digital-first world, digital transformation is non-negotiable. Full stop. And working with product design agencies can just be the way to help with that.
Integrating data-driven insights into the design process
Product design agencies are known for collecting valuable data about user behaviors, preferences, and pain points. Integrating these data-driven insights into the design process helps to craft exceptional products that are destined to win users' hearts.
The only thing left to discuss is MONEY…
The cost of hiring a product design agency
Factors that influence the hourly rate
Product Design Agencies’ hourly rate can vary significantly depending on a) expertise and experience; b) location; c) complexity of the project; and d) scope and scale.
Additional costs for design collateral and services
After the negotiation stage with the product design agency of your choice, don’t forget to ask about additional or hidden costs that may occur. These can be…
- Costs for physical or digital prototypes,
- Charges for extra visual elements,
- Costs for revisions and iterations,
- Expenses like licensing fees, when third-party tools or resources are used.
Determining the return on investment (ROI) for product design
Investing in your product design is 100% worth the hype. It can help you not only shorten the time to market, but also increase sales, build a strong brand, and gain competitive advantage. Who wouldn’t like that?
Bottom line: At the end of the day, hiring a product design agency or not is totally up to you. You know your business better than anyone else. Use this article more as a guide to make the right call when it comes to your product design. Good luck!
There are millions of different ways to design your digital product. As well as millions of possibilities to fail…
WHOOPS! Sorry for giving you the red pill! The only reason I want you to keep that in mind is to understand what is at stake here. The truth is, your entire business is on the line. So you better get your product design right the first time. Now, do you need a product design agency to help you with that? Read to find out the answer.
What is a product design agency?
A product design agency is a company that works closely with businesses or individuals to create innovative and user-friendly products for their target market.
What makes these agencies so wildly popular is their product development process built around the client’s needs, goals, and target market. As a rule, they employ designers, engineers, researchers, and project managers to tackle complex tasks from conceptualization and prototyping to user research. Below are some wildly popular services that these agencies offer.
What services do product design agencies offer?
- Concept development is all about brainstorming and perfecting ideas to establish a strong base for your product. Design agencies help you to ensure that your concept is feasible, striking, and aligned with your business goals.
- Graphic design helps you make your product eye-catching and visually appealing to resonate with your specific target audience.
- User research is a process of understanding your users’ needs, preferences, and pain points through surveys, interviews, and usability testing. This step is crucial for creating a killer product!
- Analysis service is needed to analyze data from user research and extract needed insights from it. It usually comes down to analyzing user feedback, market trends, and competitor strategies to optimize your product design for maximum success.
- Design consultancy provides guidance throughout the product development process including strategic planning, design direction, or project management.
- Market research is a service that helps collect information about your industry and competition to ensure effective product positioning.
- Product design is the process of creating a product from concept to launch.
- Software Testing is performed to help find and fix bugs, glitches, and usability issues in your product. It’s done to ensure smooth functionality and satisfaction with your product.
- Validation is simply testing your product with real users. The main goal of testing is to see if a product solves users’ problems. With this service, you can easily pinpoint what to improve or verify assumptions before committing to large-scale production.
- Wireframes help to visualize the flow of your product to refine the user experience before moving on to the visual design stage.
If you’re considering hiring a product design agency to assist you with your product development process, this article will give you all the ABCs: the WHYs, the WHAT, the HOWs, and even the HOW MUCH! Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
Why should businesses hire a product design agency?
If you’re still on the fence about hiring a product design agency for your business, these 3 WHYs might give you a little nudge to help make the right decision.
WHY #1: Product design agency filled with creative geniuses. They've got the magic touch to make your product stand out in a sea of "meh.
WHY #2: Your competitors have probably hired one already, and you know what they say – if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (aka competitive advantage)
WHY #3: Want to add product design to your already burned-out team? – I do not recommend it!
Still debating? Maybe it’s because hiring a product design agency is not for you, and that’s ok. Not every company has the budget to hire one anyway. But if you still like the idea of outsourcing your product design and have the benefits that come with it, Awesomic is your match made in heaven!
Awesomic is an app that connects you with a top product design team handpicked for your business in less than 24 hours. All you need to do is to create a task, and ta-da! Our AI algorithm has matched you with experts in your industry experienced in the task you requested. Need help getting your product design projects off the ground? Talk to us!
Key factors to consider when choosing a product design agency
In case you like checklists like we do at Awesomic, use this one to select the right product design agency for you.
✅ Expertise and experience of the design team
Do you know why creative agencies are growing like mushrooms after a rain? This level of talent, experience, and expertise is unmatched anywhere else. When choosing the one for your business, make sure they have specific industry expertise AND proven experience with your product design tasks.
✅ Range of services offered
Another thing to consider when choosing a product design agency is the services they offer. Niche agencies with a proven track record of the services you need might be more beneficial for you than overpriced all-in-one agencies.
✅ Portfolio of successful projects
Please, don’t fall for perfect demo sessions and convincing sales pitches. If the agency has no portfolio to showcase. Opting for a team with a history of successful product designs can be the most cost-effective and time-saving option.
✅ Client testimonials and reviews
The recipe for business success lies in customer satisfaction. Watch out for product design agencies with no client testimonials or one-star reviews! Unless you have time to waste and money to spend.
✅ Alignment with your business goals and objectives
This one is a must-have! A product design agency you hire should have your best interest in mind, beware of those overly obsessed with their own greatness.
Now let’s move on to our next section…
The role of a product design agency in the design process
Just like every other business, product design agencies follow a particular creative process that you need to be aware of before partnering with one of them. Below are 6 fundamental stages of every product design process.
Understanding the client's needs and requirements
The starting point of any product design project should always be the discussion about your business needs and requirements. So get clear on what those are before scheduling a discovery call with the potential agency. The more details you can provide, the better the outcome will be.
Conducting market research and analysis
The next stage is market research and in-depth analysis that is done by the agency. The goal of market research is to gather and analyze consumer preferences and industry trends. This process isn't just about quantity data. It's about understanding users’ needs, desires, and pain points to tailor make your product stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Collaborating with designers and engineers
Stage three is about effective collaboration between your business and a dedicated team assigned to you as the agency’s client. Be ready for endless back-and-forth: brainstorming sessions, reviews, presentations, meetups, and Zoom calls. Yes, this stage takes lots of time and energy, but it is crucial for perfecting your product.
Creating design concepts and prototypes
Next, is the stage when ideas take shape in the form of design concepts and prototypes of your future product. These early-stage models allow for experimentation, iteration, and refinement, serving as touchstones for collaboration and feedback.
User testing and feedback iteration
After crafting prototypes, comes the stage where your product is being refined by fire, known as user testing. Essentially, this stage is when real users use a prototype of your product and share their feedback with the team. Based on those reviews, the product design team fixes bugs, glitches, and usability issues in your product.
Finalizing the design for production
Finally, your product is ready to see the light of day! When everything is finalized and you’re satisfied with the results, it’s time to start production. What next? Long-awaited launch of course!
Notable product design agencies
In the realm of product design, certain agencies stand out for their innovation, creativity, and impact. These are the greatest agencies in 2024 according to, well, the World Wide Web.
- Designit (High-profile services: Innovation & Futures, Brand & Marketing, Experience & Loyalty, Sustainability by Design.)
- Frog Design (High-profile services: Business Strategy, Startup Growth, Brand Strategy, Design & Performance, Content & Communication Strategy, Product Design & Build, Customer Research & Insights, and more.)
- IDEO (High-profile services: designing the products, services, and experiences of the future.)
- Clay (High-profile services: Branding, Digital Products, Experiences, Websites, Content, Product Development.)
- UX studio (High-profile services: UI/UX Design, Redesign, UX Research, UX Audit, Expert Review, Discovery, UX Consulting, UX Training, Design System Refinery, Research Ops, etc.)
Benefits of hiring a product design agency in the digital age
Leveraging digital technologies for innovative solutions
New cutting-edge technologies are being born almost daily, and the area of product development is no exception. You see, product design agencies are skilled in utilizing the most innovative tools for effective product development. By collaborating with them, companies like yours gain access to knowledge and resources which allows offering second-to-none solutions to users worldwide.
Designing user-centered digital experiences
Imagine the most intuitive interface that provides an almost seamless app experience… Do you think such a digital product is easy to sell?
Duh! That’s one of the main reasons why companies pay for product design agencies' costly services. Creating a user-centered digital experience is their strong suit. They use user research, prototyping, and iterative design processes to create products users are obsessed with.
Maximizing market share through digital transformation
If you’re trying to remain competitive and expand your market share in today's digital-first world, digital transformation is non-negotiable. Full stop. And working with product design agencies can just be the way to help with that.
Integrating data-driven insights into the design process
Product design agencies are known for collecting valuable data about user behaviors, preferences, and pain points. Integrating these data-driven insights into the design process helps to craft exceptional products that are destined to win users' hearts.
The only thing left to discuss is MONEY…
The cost of hiring a product design agency
Factors that influence the hourly rate
Product Design Agencies’ hourly rate can vary significantly depending on a) expertise and experience; b) location; c) complexity of the project; and d) scope and scale.
Additional costs for design collateral and services
After the negotiation stage with the product design agency of your choice, don’t forget to ask about additional or hidden costs that may occur. These can be…
- Costs for physical or digital prototypes,
- Charges for extra visual elements,
- Costs for revisions and iterations,
- Expenses like licensing fees, when third-party tools or resources are used.
Determining the return on investment (ROI) for product design
Investing in your product design is 100% worth the hype. It can help you not only shorten the time to market, but also increase sales, build a strong brand, and gain competitive advantage. Who wouldn’t like that?
Bottom line: At the end of the day, hiring a product design agency or not is totally up to you. You know your business better than anyone else. Use this article more as a guide to make the right call when it comes to your product design. Good luck!
