The Hidden Cost of DIY Design

Design Smarter: Why Professional Design Is an Investment—Not an Expense

Here’s a story I’ve seen play out more than once—and it’s worth sharing.

A client came to me looking for a polished, high-end promotional piece to help them reach a new market. We met, aligned on the goals, and I created a mock-up that hit the mark. Everything was moving in the right direction.

Then, things paused. Internally, they decided to have someone with somedesign software experience step in to make minor edits and help move the project along—thinking it would save time and money. Unfortunately, that person made unauthorized changes to the brand colors and formatting, and even used the wrong tools to build the files.

By the time I was brought back in, the project needed a full clean-up: correcting brand inconsistencies, rebuilding files properly, and prepping everything for print. The final piece turned out beautifully, but the extra steps could have been avoided.

Here’s the lesson:
Good design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about protecting your brand, knowing how to set up files for print or digital, and ensuring consistency from start to finish.

Trying to cut corners may seem cost-effective in the short term, but it often leads to delays, rework, and hidden costs down the line.

If you’re planning a project and want to do it right the first time, let’s connect. I’d love to help.