Should you do your own designing?
You wouldn’t try to fly a plane without knowing how, so why attempt to design a print job without the proper skills? Just like flying, designing takes expertise. So, the real question is: to design or not to design?
Your business image is everything—it’s your first impression to potential clients and sets the tone for how they will view your company. Why take the risk of cheapening that image with a poorly designed business card, brochure, or other marketing material put together hastily in Microsoft Publisher, Word, or Canva?
Having been in the printing industry for over 40 years, I’ve seen it all. We’ve been handed business cards with glaring grammar mistakes, blurry low-resolution images, and misaligned or overly large text. It’s astonishing how often subpar designs are passed off as “good enough.”
When we advise against printing a job due to design flaws, some clients are taken aback. They insist they’re satisfied with the design and just want it printed. However, here’s the catch: when people see the final product, they don’t criticise the design; they assume it’s the print quality. They say, “Who printed that terrible job?”—and that affects our reputation, even when the issue was entirely in the design and not our fault.
That’s why I always recommend investing in a professional graphic artist for your business cards, brochures, or any design work. Graphic artists have the expertise and tools to create stunning, polished designs that reflect the quality of your business and leave a lasting impression.
And don’t be misled by platforms like Microsoft Publisher or Canva, which may seem like quick and easy design solutions. These tools simply do not have the same functionality or capabilities as industry-standard software like Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Photoshop. Without the right tools and skills, it’s easy for designs to fall short of professional standards.
Your business image—and by extension, your reputation—is too important to gamble with. Don’t risk cheapening it with a poorly designed card or brochure. When you invest in a graphic artist, you’re investing in quality, creativity, and a “WOW” factor that helps your business stand out from the competition. Let a professional handle the design, and give your brand the attention it deserves. Of course at Simply Print we can design anything you like. Just ask us.
