We’ve Rebranded! Here’s the Why, the What, and the Wow

Welcome to the new Design Shifu — a fresh coat of color, a sharper voice, and the same mission that’s powered us from day one. Over the years, we’ve grown alongside brilliant marketers, startups,and dev agencies.

What started as a scrappy design subscription has evolved into a full creative partner trusted by teams that move fast and expect excellence.

So, it was time our brand looked—and sounded—the part. This rebrand isn’t just a facelift. It’s a louder expression of who we are and what we stand for: creativity without chaos, design without delays, and partnership without friction.

Let’s walk you through the why, the what, and (yes) the wow of what’s changed—and what’s never going to.

TL;DR — The Glow-Up, Summed Up

Pressed for time? Here’s the fast-forward version of what’s new (and what’s not) at Design Shifu

What Changed

A bold new logo with a sharper icon and clean logotype
All-new illustrations and iconography — expressive, not excessive
A vibrant new palette: Shifu candy (#7F4DED), Golden flax (#F3D074), Slime G (#010101), Coco Black: #1C1C1C, White: #FFFFFF
Digital-first typography (Inter Display) that’s clean, clear, and consistent
A refreshed tone of voice — calm, confident, and human
A sleeker, faster website experience at www.designshifu.com (coming on 15th May 2025)

Why We Rebranded

We’ve grown — and our brand needed to grow with us
To better connect with agile teams like dev agencies, startups, and marketers.
We needed to stand out in a sea of “meh” design solutions

What It Means for You

A more expressive, imaginative, and modern service experience.
Smoother navigation and faster design request workflows. (coming soon)
Still the same promise: 24-hour delivery – 6 days a week, unlimited requests, and zero headaches.

Before the Glow-Up: What We Looked and Sounded Like

Every great makeover starts with a little honesty. Ours? It began with a logo that worked… until it didn’t.

Original Logo & Visual Identity

Our first logo was a simple wordmark in a muted blue palette with a generic pen icon, reflecting a straightforward design approach.

Issues With the old Logo

Not legible at small sizes: The intricate character and detailed brush elements blur out when the logo is reduced in size.
Too many visual elements: The figure, brush, shadow, and background create visual noise and reduce clarity.
Lack of modern balance: The combination of cartoon illustration with bold text doesn’t scale well for digital interfaces.
Inconsistent weight: The logo’s stroke weights and character proportions feel unbalanced when placed alongside other brand elements.
Difficult to apply on dark/light backgrounds: The logo lacks a flexible version for use on different backgrounds, making placement tricky.
Not optimized for square or favicon use: The horizontal layout with extended visuals makes it unsuitable for small square applications or favicons.
No clear focus: Your eyes don’t know where to look first—illustration, brush, or text—each element competes instead of working together.

Brand Voice & Positioning

We used to sound more like a service provider than a true partner.
Our tone was formal, full of technical terms, and didn’t feel warm or helpful. The language we used was stiff and hard to relate to.
This made it tough to connect with fast-moving teams like developers and marketers—people who really need a creative, friendly design team they can count on.

What Worked Well and What Didn’t

Our 24-hour delivery model and unlimited requests were a hit, giving clients the speed and flexibility they needed.
However, our visual identity didn’t reflect the quality of our designs, and our formal tone created a disconnect, making us feel less approachable than we wanted to be for creative teams

Why the Change? Because Growth Deserves a Better Outfit

We didn’t wake up one day and decide to change our logo for fun. This rebrand was years in the making—rooted in the way our customers changed, how we evolved, and what we’re building next.

Here’s what nudged us forward

We’ve Grown—A Lot

What started as a scrappy design subscription is now a creative engine supporting agile dev teams, startup founders, and fast-paced marketers around the world. The old look didn’t match the scale—or the ambition.

Our Clients Got Sharper—So Did We

The people we serve move fast, think big, and expect clarity. We needed a brand that felt as dynamic and human as the teams we work with—approachable, not generic; confident, not cold.

Our Vision Got Crisper

We’re doubling down on simplicity, speed, and creative partnership. Whether you’re requesting a one-off graphic or streamlining your full pipeline, we’re here to take the design weight off your plate.

The Market Changed, Too

Design services started blending into one another. Our rebrand is a clear signal: we’re not here to blend in. We’re here to deliver standout creative that feels effortless—because it’s built for how real teams work today.

This rebrand may feel new, but our mission stays the same: making quality design easy, fast, and built for how real teams work today.

The Process: How We Approached the Rebrand

Rebranding isn’t just about creating a new logo—it’s about realigning with who we are and where we’re going. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the new Design Shifu identity came to life:

Research & Inspiration

The rebrand began with deep research, references, and early sketch explorations. Ali, our senior brand identity designer, led the creative charge—bringing bold ideas and sharp design sense to the table.
He teamed up with Mohsin, our founding designer, and worked closely with the leadership team to shape a look that’s both true to our roots and ready for what’s next.

Collaboration Across Teams

This wasn’t a solo mission. Our design team worked hand-in-hand with marketing, customer support, and leadership to make sure the new brand captured who we are and how we work.
Every sketch, color choice, and line of copy came from thoughtful collaboration and plenty of back-and-forth across teams.

Values & Themes Explored

We asked: What does Design Shifu stand for?
The answers shaped our direction—speed, reliability, creativity, and friendliness. These values became the core of our visual language and messaging.

Challenges Faced

Rebrands aren’t always smooth. Narrowing down from 34+ logo sketches and staying true to our roots while modernizing was a balancing act. But it made the final outcome stronger and more meaningful.

Sneak Peeks & Design Explorations

From early mood boards to logo concepts and typography tests, we explored a wide range of directions. Here’s a glimpse of what you didn’t see—because the journey is just as important as the destination.

Our Logo Evolution

Design isn’t magic—it’s methodical. Our new logo didn’t appear overnight. It took dozens of sketches, sharp eyes, and bold ideas.

These four frames capture the visual journey from rough ideas to the refined mark you’ll soon see everywhere.

1. Sketch Exploration

Pencil, paper, and raw ideas. We started with freeform sketches—testing shapes, motion, and personality.

2. Concept Variations

From abstract to literal, we explored countless directions. This phase was all about pushing boundaries.

3. Design Refinement

After narrowing in on a concept, we fine-tuned every line and angle for balance, clarity, and uniqueness.

4. Final Concept

The result? A logo that’s clear, confident, and instantly recognizable as Design Shifu. It’s made to be quick to identify and easy to trust.

The New Logo

Before we landed on the final concept, our team explored 30+ variations—each one chasing a different angle of what “Design Shifu” could look like.

These rough sketches capture that early-stage thinking: fast, and full of possibility.

Before and After- The Difference

What’s New? Just About Everything You Can See (and Some You Can Feel)

This rebrand isn’t just skin-deep. It’s a full-on creative refresh—from how we look to how we speak to how you experience us across every touchpoint.

Here’s what’s changed

Logo & Visual Identity

We’ve introduced a bold new logo with a refined icon and logotype, designed to stand out and embody our creative energy.

The logo uses our primary Shifu candy (#7F4DED) and Coco Black (#1C1C1C) for clarity, with white space rules ensuring it remains clean and uncluttered.

Expanded Visual Elements

Our rebrand introduces a vibrant system of icons and illustrations to bring our creative spirit to life.

Our icons are sleek and purposeful, designed for categories like social media, presentations, digital ads, blogs, print design, freebies, and video editing—making it easier for you to navigate our services and resources on www.designshifu.com.

The illustrations, infused with our imaginative flair, add a friendly, approachable touch to our blogs, freebies, and print materials, often featuring subtle accents in Golden flax (#F3D074) and Slime G (#010101).

Together, these visuals reflect our passion for design while keeping things clear and functional for busy teams.

Colors: Our new palette is vibrant and versatile

Primary Colors

Shifu candy (#7F4DED)- Use for primary buttons, highlights, and core brand elements.
Coco Black: #1C1C1C- Use for headings, logo, and text on light backgrounds.

Secondary Colors

Golden flax (#F3D074)- Use for accents, backgrounds, and subtle highlights.
Slime G (#010101)- Use for callouts, infographics, or visual balance.
White: #FFFFFF- Always use for light backgrounds and the logo on dark backgrounds.

Typography

We’ve adopted Inter Display for both headings and body text, using sentence cases for consistency.
Bolder weights highlight headings, while regular weights keep body text legible, ensuring a clean, digital-first experience.

Tone of Voice

Our Tone

From onboarding emails to blog intros to “Oops, something broke” messages—you’ll hear the same personality throughout: calm, helpful, and just human enough to make you smile; it always stays

Clear: Easy to read, understand, and act on. No fluff.
Supportive: We sound like a design partner who’s got your back.
Grounded: Confident in what we do, but never boastful or exaggerated.
Encouraging: Especially when speaking to busy agency owners, founders, and marketers—we keep things frictionless.

The New Website

(Launching 15th May 2025)

The revamped www.designshifu.com is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easier for dev agencies, startups, and marketers to submit unlimited design requests and get high-quality results in 24 hours.

We’re here to help businesses move fast without compromising on great design. That shows in every word we choose.

Old Website vs. New Website

The old Design Shifu website was bold and vibrant but packed with dense visuals and less intuitive navigation. It focused heavily on pricing and service listing upfront, which often overwhelmed first-time visitors.

The new website reflects clarity, speed, and simplicity. With a clean interface and strategic copy, it’s designed for today’s fast-moving dev agencies, startups, and marketers.

It guides users seamlessly—from submitting unlimited design requests to booking a demo—while reinforcing trust through clear CTAs and testimonials.

It’s more than a redesign—it’s a smarter user experience built to convert

The Why Behind the Design Choices

The new Design Shifu website is more than a visual upgrade—it’s a reflection of who we are and where we’re headed.

What the New Visuals Represent

The clean, minimal layout paired with soft gradients and playful micro-illustrations symbolizes clarity, efficiency, and creativity—core values of our service.
The updated typography and whitespace give the content room to breathe, guiding users effortlessly through their journey.

How It Aligns With Our Mission

Our mission is to help businesses move fast without compromising on great design.
The new interface removes distractions, simplifies interactions, and makes it easy for dev agencies, startups, and marketers to submit unlimited requests and get results—fast. Every design element supports this promise.

Emotional and Symbolic Meaning

The subtle icons and illustrations reflect the creative partnership between us and our clients—supportive, dynamic, and human.
The shift from a darker, intense theme to a brighter, open space conveys trust, modernity, and transparency.

What’s Not Changing

Though our appearance and tone have changed, the essence of Design Shifu hasn’t.

Here’s what you can expect

Our Core Values

We’re still motivated by the vision of making great design accessible, quick, and hassle-free to dev agencies, startups, and marketers.
Speed, simplicity, and quality are still at the core of what we do.

Our People

The same dedicated team is here for you, ready to turn your ideas into stunning designs.
You’ll still work with designers who care deeply about your vision and success.

Quality of Service

Expect the same high-quality, on-brand designs delivered in 24 hours, with unlimited requests, no contracts, and a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Our commitment to excellence hasn’t wavered.

Our Promise to You

We’re as excited as ever about being your go-to design partner, supporting you in moving fast without sacrificing on good design.
You can still find us at www.designshifu.com, eager to help your creative requirements.

This rebrand is about elevating your experience, not altering what you already love about us. Let’s keep creating together!

What’s Next: Our Vision for the Future

Our rebrand isn’t just a new look—it’s a foundation for growth, unlocking exciting possibilities for dev agencies, startups, and marketers like you.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming

New Services to Streamline Your Work

We’re expanding beyond design into web development support with platforms like WordPress, Webflow, and Framer, so you get fully functional sites ready to launch.
Plus, we’re adding video animation and brand explainer videos to help you tell your story across social, landing pages, and pitch decks.

Our Future Roadmap

At Design Shifu, we’re focused on becoming your all-in-one creative partner. Our goal is to take creative production off your plate completely—whether it’s static designs, motion graphics, or interactive sites—all under one subscription.
More seamless support, less stress for your team.

We’re excited to keep evolving, so you can focus on what you do best while we handle the creative heavy lifting. Stay tuned for more!

Join the Celebration

We’ve launched a new look—and it’s built with you in mind. Explore the fresh, faster, more intuitive Design Shifu experience and see how seamless design requests can be.

Take a tour: Visit the new site
Share your thoughts: We’d love your feedback—what do you think?
Join the fun: Use our hashtag #NewDesignshifu and tag us to celebrate with us

Let’s shape the future of design—together.

A Message from Our CEO

When we started Design Shifu, our goal was simple—make high-quality design easy and accessible for everyone. Over time, that mission has only grown stronger—and this new website is a reflection of that evolution. It’s faster, clearer, and built entirely around our users.

This rebrand is our promise to keep innovating, listening, and improving—so your ideas always have a world-class design partner.

Thank you for being part of the journey.
Suvin Shetty, CEO- Design Shifu

FAQs

1. Why did Design Shifu rebrand?
We rebranded to reflect our growth, upgraded services, and modern approach to creative design. It’s a visual and strategic evolution to better serve our clients.

2. What’s new in Design Shifu’s brand identity?
Our new brand includes a modern logo, refreshed tone of voice, upgraded typography, and an improved user experience—designed to reflect clarity, boldness, and strategic creativity.

3. Are your services still the same after rebranding?
Yes—and better! We’ve enhanced our core design services and are expanding into web development and video animation to offer more value and flexibility.

4. Will current clients be affected by the rebrand?
Not at all. You’ll still get the same fast, reliable design support—but with a sharper brand and upcoming features to help you scale even more efficiently.

5. What does the new logo represent?
The new logo represents clarity, bold thinking, and creative precision—everything Design Shifu stands for as your go-to unlimited design partner.

6. When will the new services like web dev and video launch?
Web development and video animation services will be launching soon in 2025. Stay tuned for updates on the exact release dates!

7. How can I explore the new brand and services?
Visit our updated website to explore the refreshed brand, see what’s new, and get a sneak peek at upcoming services tailored to modern businesses.

Top Graphic Design Companies in 2023: Unlimited & Traditional Design Companies

In the fast-paced digital world we live in today, having the ideal creative collaborator can make or break your brand. Which is why finding out about the Top Graphic Design Companies in 2023: Unlimited & Traditional Design Companies is vital for those wanting to upscale their visual presence.

From adjustable subscription-based strategies to customized, project-based solutions, this blog explains both the strategies in a way that you can pick what suits your recurrent or one-off design requirements the most.

Traditional graphic design companies operate on a project-oriented basis, where clients approach them for specific design tasks, such as creating a logo, designing marketing materials, or developing website graphics. Each project is handled individually, with a tailored pricing structure based on the complexity and scope of the design work.

Clients pay per project, emphasizing focused delivery of predetermined design outcomes. However, this approach may prove cost-efficient and time-consuming for those with recurring design needs or evolving requirements.

In contrast, unlimited graphic design companies have revolutionized the industry with a subscription-based model. Clients subscribe to a fixed monthly plan, granting them unhindered access to design services. This model offers a more dynamic and flexible approach, enabling clients to request an array of designs without the constraint of per-project costs.

The emphasis here is on a continuous workflow, ensuring clients have ongoing design support and the ability to make revisions without incurring additional charges.

In this blog, we will decode which graphic design company would be the best fit for your design needs in 2023. Let’s get started:

What is Unlimited Graphic Design?

Unlimited graphic design is a modern and innovative approach to design services that has gained momentum in recent years. Unlike the traditional project-centric model, where clients approach design agencies with specific one-off projects, unlimited graphic design operates on a subscription-based structure.

In this model, clients pay a fixed monthly fee to access an array of design services without any limitations on the number of requests or revisions.

The essence of unlimited graphic design lies in providing a seamless and continuous design workflow. Clients can request various design tasks, from social media graphics and marketing collateral to website elements and branding materials, throughout the subscription period.

Moreover, the model emphasizes collaboration and communication between the client and the design team, ensuring a clear understanding of design requirements and preferences. This model is particularly appealing to businesses and individuals with consistent design needs or agencies looking for white-labeling solutions.

How is Unlimited Graphic Design Different from Traditional Graphic Design?

Unlimited graphic design and traditional graphic design represent two distinct approaches to delivering design services, each with its own set of characteristics and operational dynamics. Understanding the differences between these models is essential for businesses and individuals to make informed choices based on their specific design needs and objectives.

Service Structure

Traditional Graphic Design: Operates on a project-based structure where clients approach the design agency with specific, isolated design projects. Each project is quoted individually, and costs are determined based on the scope and complexity of that particular task.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Adopts a subscription-based model, allowing clients to pay a fixed monthly fee for uninterrupted access to a wide array of design services. This subscription model facilitates ongoing collaboration and a continuous workflow, enabling clients to request an unlimited number of design tasks and revisions without additional costs.

Cost Efficiency

Traditional Graphic Design: Involves a per-project pricing model, potentially resulting in higher cumulative costs for clients with recurring or frequent design needs. Revisions and iterations may also incur additional charges.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Offers a cost-effective solution, particularly for clients with consistent design requirements. The flat monthly fee allows for budget predictability and eliminates the need to negotiate prices for every project or revision, resulting in potential cost savings over time.

Turnaround Time

Traditional Graphic Design: Project-based engagements often require negotiation, quoting, and approval processes for each design task, which can extend the overall turnaround time.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Streamlines the design process due to its subscription nature, enabling quicker request fulfillment and more rapid iterations, resulting in faster project completion.

Flexibility and Scalability

Traditional Graphic Design: Suited for specific, well-defined projects with clear objectives. It is ideal for one-off tasks or sporadic design needs.

Unlimited Graphic Design: Offers flexibility and scalability, making it ideal for businesses requiring ongoing design support, multiple design projects simultaneously, or frequent design revisions due to evolving requirements or market dynamics.

While traditional graphic design operates on a project-centric, pay-per-project structure, unlimited graphic design adopts a subscription-based, all-encompassing approach. The choice between these models hinges on factors such as the frequency of design needs, budget considerations, and the need for continuous design support.

When Should You Opt for Unlimited Graphic Design Over Traditional Graphic Design?

The decision to opt for unlimited graphic design over the traditional project-based model depends on a variety of factors and specific needs. Here are scenarios where choosing an unlimited graphic design subscription proves to be the ideal choice:

Need for Abundant Creatives, Regularly

If you need frequent, high-volume design work, an unlimited graphic design subscription is ideal. It ensures consistent, daily creative output.

Diverse Range of Design Requests

If your design needs span across various formats, such as custom illustrations, social media posts, posters, ads, videos, GIFs, vector emailers, and more, an unlimited graphic design service is tailored for you. You won’t face varied rates for different design formats, common in traditional agencies or freelancers.

Fast Turnaround Times and Urgent Projects

When time is of the essence, and you require swift design turnarounds or need to manage urgent projects effectively, an unlimited graphic design subscription shines. This service delivers designs within hours based on brief complexity, with the added flexibility to cancel your subscription anytime.

Limited or No In-House Design Support

If you lack an in-house design team or have limited design resources, an unlimited graphic design subscription is a practical solution. It provides the necessary design support, whether you don’t have an in-house designer or need to augment your existing design team’s capabilities.

Cost-Efficient Approach to Design

If you are cautious about managing marketing costs and seek an agile and affordable design solution, opting for an unlimited graphic design service is a prudent choice. The subscription model offers cost predictability and ensures your design needs are met without incurring exorbitant expenses.

An unlimited graphic design subscription is ideal for businesses with frequent, varied design needs, fast turnaround demands, limited in-house resources, or a need for cost-effective creative solutions.

Top Unlimited Graphic Design Companies

Design Shifu

Plans:

Unlimited – $199/month
Unlimited Plus – $399/month
Unlimited Pro – $599/month

Pros:

100% 14-day money-back guarantee.
24-hour support.
Dedicated designer.
Option of multiple active requests up to 5 at the same time.

Cons:

Motion graphics are not included in any of the plans.
Currently, only English-speaking designers are available.

Design Pickle

Plans:

Graphics – $499/month
Graphics Pro – $995/month
Graphics Premium – $1695/month

Pros:

Unlimited graphic design services.
Quality output.
Advanced features like Canva file delivery.
Dedicated designer in $995 & $1695 plans.

Cons:

Pricing is on the higher side.
A dedicated designer is not offered in the $499 plan.
The $499 plan offers very limited design services.

Penji

Plans:

Pro – $499/month
Team – $699/month
Unlimited Graphic Design Services Daytime – $999/month

Pros:

30-day money-back guarantee.
USA daytime designers (Only in the top $999/month plan).
Dedicated art director (Only in the top $999/month plan).
AI feature to choose the most appropriate designer according to your industry & needs.

Cons:

No option of getting a one-off request done.
They don’t offer motion graphics.

Many Pixels

Plans:

Advanced – $549/month
Business – $899/month
Designated Designer – $1199/month

Pros:

Small feedback loop.
Strong team.
Quick turnaround.
100% 14-day money-back guarantee.

Cons:

Crucial features like a dedicated designer and Slack communication are only offered in the top $1199 plan.
They don’t deal with motion graphics, UI/UX design, etc.

Kimp

Plans:

Graphics – $599/month
Video – $699/month
Graphics + Video – $995/month

Pros:

The video plan is great in case you have a video-only requirement.
Team of 250+ members.
Dedicated design team.

Cons:

No dedicated designer.
Mixed reviews about the quality of the designs.

Top Traditional Graphic Design Companies

Sagmeister & Walsh

Distinctive Design Philosophy:

Sagmeister & Walsh, under the creative leadership of Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh, is celebrated for its avant-garde designs that challenge conventional norms. Their approach often intertwines surrealism and vibrant aesthetics, pushing boundaries to create designs that evoke emotions and provoke thought.

Unconventional Strength:

A unique aspect of Sagmeister & Walsh is their periodic sabbaticals—every seven years, they shut down their studio for a year to rejuvenate creatively. This practice, while unusual, reflects their commitment to constant evolution and redefining creativity.

Pentagram

Legacy and Influence:

Pentagram, a renowned design consultancy, is notable for its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach. Founded by five designers, each with distinct design expertise, it continues to be a symbol of design excellence with a global influence.

Diverse Design Perspectives:

With a vast team of partners, each bringing their unique design perspective, Pentagram ensures a dynamic range of design styles and approaches. This diversity enables them to cater to a broad spectrum of clients and projects.

Glitschka Studios

Creative Versatility:

Glitschka Studios, led by Von Glitschka, is known for its versatility in design styles. From bold and modern to intricate and vintage, their adaptability allows them to craft designs that resonate with various brand identities and target audiences.

Emphasis on Authenticity:

One of their distinctive traits is the emphasis on authentic, handcrafted designs. Their commitment to infuse authenticity and personal touch into their work sets them apart in the traditional design landscape.

Duck. Design

Human-Centric Design:

Duck. Design, with a mantra of “Design for Humans,” prioritizes empathy and understanding people’s needs in their design approach. Their human-centric design philosophy ensures that their creations are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and user-friendly.

Craftsmanship and Attention to Detail:

Known for their meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship, Duck. Design places a strong emphasis on delivering polished and refined designs, making them a sought-after choice for clients who value precision.

Burst Digital

Integrated Digital Design:

Burst Digital stands at the intersection of traditional graphic design and the digital landscape. They seamlessly blend traditional design principles with modern digital techniques, creating a unique design proposition that resonates with the digital age.

Agility and Innovation:

A standout quality of Burst Digital is its ability to swiftly adapt to evolving trends and technologies. Their agility allows them to provide innovative solutions in the fast-paced and ever-changing digital landscape.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to finding the ideal graphic design solution for your needs, both traditional graphic design companies and innovative unlimited graphic design providers have their merits. Traditional firms bring years of experience and expertise, crafting designs with meticulous detail. On the other hand, unlimited graphic design companies like Design Shifu offer a modern and efficient approach, providing a constant stream of designs without the need for a hefty budget or hiring multiple designers.

At Design Shifu, we pride ourselves on revolutionizing the design process, offering unlimited design solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. If you’re ready to elevate your design game and experience the advantages of limitless creativity, start by booking a free demo today. Let’s create an experience that transforms your vision into exceptional visuals.

Click here to book your demo and take the first step towards stunning, unlimited graphic design.

5 Best Penji Alternatives for Unlimited Graphic Designs

Finding a compatible graphic design team is hard, especially if you’re searching for the best Penji alternatives that match your creative needs and budget. The truth is, you’re not alone. In fact, over 50% of organizations have revamped their graphic designing budget since 2021. And since over 90% of graphic designers prefer working freelance, getting the perfect design can be daunting, let alone in one go.

So how do you integrate graphic design into your marketing without sacrificing a huge budget or hiring a large design team? Penji does it like clockwork, no wonder there. But here, we’re going to discuss a few Penji alternatives and dig a little deep into the unlimited graphic design services.

How does Penji work? An overview

Penji is one of the popular unlimited graphic design service providers in the industry that works with startups, small businesses, agencies, marketing teams, and merch sellers for recurring graphic design requirements. The company caters to a wide range of design needs for an affordable monthly subscription. From logos to custom illustrations to app and website design — they do it all.

Penji has three monthly plans for its subscribers:

Pro plan at $499
Team plan at $699
Daytime plan at $999

While the company offers unlimited designs and revisions with quick turnaround times, its packages are not really worth the money if you’ve fewer design needs.

As a business owner looking to partner with unlimited design service providers, look at some of the most sought-after Penji alternatives you might fancy using instead.

5 Best Penji Alternatives

Design Shifu

It is hard to bridge the gap between what you’re selling and what the customers THINK you’re selling. This is a task for your designers and marketers. Design Shifu understands and caters to this plight with its Unlimited Graphic Design Service.

Now, how exactly does this help your business get better graphic designs? With outstanding testimonials from clients ranging from a diverse array of industries, Design Shifu eliminates the need for a discrete designing segment in your business by providing a comprehensive design solution.

Afraid of long-term subscriptions?

You’re free to cancel any time you want.

Have too much to work on?

Send in the work, and let the professionals take care of the rest.

Need a revision?

The designers there thrive off suggestions and constructive criticism.

Design Shifu offers 3 different pricing options:

Unlimited

The Unlimited plan costs $399 a month against a single active request at a time. It offers graphics services with a turnaround time of 24 hours. It caters to infinite revisions and brands, along with stock image licenses and 24-hour support.

This subscription-based service has helped brands with digital graphics, logos, branding, and infographics. It also allows brands to integrate with platforms like Trello, Slack, Canva, and Asana.

Unlimited Plus

This plan costs $599 a month to sign up with and offers all services included in the Unlimited plan with a few of its own. Organizations looking for graphics and multimedia services usually opt for this plan.

Unlimited Plus offers custom illustrations to coalesce the elements of a brand’s identity around a shared perspective. Brands also leverage this plan for GIF designs and presentation decks.

Unlimited Pro

This plan is more suited to organizations looking for motion and multimedia graphics. Along with all the perks of the former, this plan offers a turnaround time of 48-72 hours for video creation. You can sign up for this package at $1499.

Click here to sign up for one of our paid plans with a 14-day 100% money-back guarantee.

Kimp

Launched in 2019, Kimp offers a way out of chasing after unreliable designers by giving you your very own design team at a fraction of the price. Besides unlimited requests and revisions, Kimp takes design requests in your desired sequence at a flat monthly rate.

It offers two pricing plans — the Graphics plan at $599 a month and the Video Design plan at $699 a month. However, should you ask for both, Kimp has you covered with a Graphics + Video plan that costs $995 a month.

Having served in the graphic design industry since 2003, Kimp’s founding members have been working on a global scale with SMBs, non-profit organizations, and marketing agencies to change lives.

DotYeti

DotYeti is yet another Penji alternative — a subscription-based service that eliminates the hassle of managing your graphics team. All it takes is a form submission and any suggestions you might have for revisions. Let DotYeti take care of the rest.

DotYeti offers three subscription options — A basic plan for $399 a month, a Premium plan for $995 a month, and a Royal plan for $2195 a month. DotYeti assigns a designer, illustrator, and account manager in the respective subscriptions.

Along with the basic stuff, DotYeti offers some of its own unique services, including a personal art director and hand-drawn illustrations with its Premium plan. Users registered with the Royal plan also have access to extensive brand style guides and unlimited brand profiles.

Draftss

Draftss is an all-in-one graphic design service that helps clients with landing pages, UI, and motion graphics for a flat fee. It offers a myriad of graphic designing tasks, including brochures, mascots, and character animations among others.

Draftss offers three pricing plans — Branding plan at $299 a month, Experience plan at $449 a month, and Build plan at $1012 a month for a period of 3 months. All Premium plan benefits are included in all the packages with a turnaround time of 1-3 days.

The plans vary based on the services they provide. While the Branding plan is limited to graphic design and illustration services, the Experience plan includes services like motion and UI design. The Build plan ramps up the game with front-end development services.

DarkRoast

DarkRoast offers a wide range of graphic designing services to D2C and CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brands. It has provided value to various beverage, cannabis, and eCommerce brands, saving in costs and efforts in hiring a freelancer.

The monthly subscription costs $1695 which includes unlimited design projects and revisions along with VIP print and photography pricing. DarkRoast boasts glowing testimonials from several industry titans across brands, and offers a free test project should you ever want to test it out.

What to look for when subscribing to Penji alternatives?

It all boils down to your use case and business, but depending on the services provided, there are certain factors that you shouldn’t neglect:

Make sure the contractual terms are according to your needs.
Look out for unlimited revisions, requests, and a reasonable turnaround time. Also, testimonials offer actionable insights into the quality of service; do not pass them over.

Customer support also plays a big role in the quality of service; however, it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

Make sure that they offer industry-specific services for better results without any hidden costs.

Check for platform integrations and workflow. This plays a major role depending on your business needs. Design Shifu offers SaaS integrations like Slack, Trello, Asan, Grab, and Canva.

Explore Penji Alternatives

All in all, an unlimited graphic designing service is far more rewarding for businesses and agencies with consistent volumes of design requirements than hiring a freelancer or a design agency. It saves you a lot of hassle, given you are thorough in your choice of service. And while it offers excellent service, there are some terrific Penji alternatives we’ve discussed along the way that you must explore. Just make sure you base your choice on exhaustive research and not because one platform boasts a better design.

5 Best Design Pickle Alternatives for Unlimited Graphic Designs

The need for design is never going to fade away. Whether it is a logo for your business, a banner for your blog, or a social media post for your marketing campaign, you cannot bring results without a great design. However, with the looming fear of recession, businesses have started to cut corners looking for sustainable and affordable design pickle alternatives to hiring in-house designers or agencies.

This is where unlimited graphic design service providers enter and disrupt the market by offering unlimited designs and revisions by professional designers for a flat monthly subscription fee. One of the popular unlimited graphic service providers in the industry is Design Pickle which helps small business owners and agencies with their consistent design requirements by charging them a flat monthly fee. However, Design Pickle is not the only pick in the market.

Several service providers have come up in recent years who have garnered the attention and admiration of reputed businesses. Read the blog to learn more about Design Pickle’s alternatives to find the most suitable option for your business.

An overview of Design Pickle

Design Pickle is a done-for-you design service that offers simple, scalable, and reliable plans to its clients, which is why many businesses rely on it for all things design.

They offer 2 plans:

Standard plan- $499/Month
Pro plan- $995/Month
Graphics premium – $1695/Month

There is, however, no free trial available.

You can email your design requirements or use their dashboard to make requests. Submit your design request by filling in basic info like your name, file size, dimension, reference, description of the design you’re looking for, and file type. After that, you’ll get an option to upload a demo photo or select one from their collection. Finally, you upload any assets you wish to use in your design.

You get updates on the process and design through the dashboard. However, many users complain about their interface. It is difficult to navigate, especially for first-time users. There is no flexibility to switch between designers. Only Pro plan subscribers can communicate and collaborate via the slack channel. The turnaround time is 24 hours, but if your designs are complex, they may take more time.

Several other service providers offer better user interfaces, more convenient mediums of communication, quicker turnaround times, and relatively cheaper plans than Design Pickle. We’ve put the top 5 alternatives to Design Pickle below. Scroll to find out.

5 Best Design Pickle alternatives

Design Shifu

Established in 2018, Design Shifu is a US-based flat-rate graphic design company with a team of experienced in-house designers dedicated to providing consistent quality designs.

You can add multiple design requests (up to 5) at once. The turnaround time is 24 hours. Design Shifu’s interactive dashboard saves all the requests, conversations, and designs in one place.

Design Shifu offers 3 plans:

Unlimited (graphics)- $399/month
Unlimited plus ( graphics+multimedia) – $599/month
Unlimited pro (graphics+multimedia+motion graphics) – $1499/month

Pros:

Get editable Adobe + JPG, PNG, and PDF for each file.
24/7 live chat support
Dedicated designer
A monthly rolling plan which you can cancel anytime
A 30-minute demo call
SaaS Integrations: Slack, Grab, Zapier, and Trello

Cons:

Design Shifu has a team of only English-speaking designers.
US Daytime turnaround is not available.

Click here to sign up for one of our plans with a 14-day 100% money-back guarantee.

Penji

Penji is another fast-growing company in the industry that has worked with brands like Reebok, the University of Pennsylvania, express, Lyft, and Aweber.

Here’s how their plans look:

Pro- $399/month
Team- $499/month
Agency- $899/month

You get unlimited design projects in all the plans. But, they do not offer any free trials.

Pros:

They offer more than 120 design services in one plan, including logos, print material, infographics, landing pages, illustrations, and more.
You can swap designers anytime.

Cons:

No committed account manager, unlike their competitors.
No motion graphics, website, and app design services.
No one-off design requests are accepted.

Flocksy

Flocksy was released to the public in 2017 to make creative services accessible to all businesses – big or small. Besides graphic designing, they offer copywriting, web development, and voice-over services.

They offer two plans:

Team plan: $420/month
All-access plan: $995/month

They don’t offer any free trials.

You’ll get a 24-hour turnaround and unlimited photos and projects in both plans.

In the team plan, you can add only 5 users while working on 1 active project with 5 brand buckets. You get access to a few other services — copywriting, video editing, and a graphic design team.

In the All-access plan, you’ll have access to all its features. You can add 20 users and can activate 2 projects with an unlimited brand bucket. In addition, you get access to all its services — web development team, audio, and voiceover team, custom illustrations, and animated GIFs.

Pros:

Fast response time
Unlimited projects

Cons:

Accepts only one active project at a time in the team plan.
Even minor design requests may take more time than other providers.

Digi Float

Founded in 2019, Digi Float is an India-based design firm that offers unlimited graphic design solutions, UI/UX development, video creation, and content writing services to businesses, agencies, and independent creators.

Digifloat has 3 pricing plans:

Standard- $399/month
Pro- $649/month
Agency- $999/month

Digifloat doesn’t have any free trial.

Pros:

Get a committed account manager and designer.
Unlimited revisions.

Cons:

Standard Plan doesn’t give access to all services.
Communication channels are restricted to Trello and email.

Kapa99

Kapa99 is another great Design Pickle alternative with affordable packages that offers a wide range of graphic design services, including logo designs, packaging, brochure, book covers, podcast covers, and illustrations.

2 plans of Kapa99

Business: $299 for first 2 months
Business Express: $499 for first 2 months

The Business Plan delivers designs within 24-48 hours, whereas the Business Express delivers within 12-24 hours.

Both plans provide unlimited designs, unlimited revisions, and all source files. Unlike other Design Pickle alternatives, Kapa99 provides a 15-day free trial.

Pros:

Most likely same-day turnaround if the request is submitted early.
Free trial designs don’t have watermarks.

Cons:

They don’t offer HTML/CSS, and video graphics.
Their reviews say that they lack consistency in the quality of the designs.

What to look for when deciding on a Design Pickle alternative?

While the market is flourishing with new unlimited graphic design service providers, here’s how you can determine the best fit for your business:

Services

Understand your company’s needs. How many designs do you need in a day? Do you have consistent requirements? What kind of design requirements do you have? For instance, a basic plan would work if your design needs are limited to blog post banners and Instagram posts.

Portfolio

Go through their previous work and reviews to know how they have served their previous clients. You would subscribe to an experienced provider in your industry rather than someone completely new.

Customer Service

While you may not need constant support, the availability to reach out without countless follow-ups can help you speed up the feedback loop and get immediate updates on your project.

What’s your pick?

There’s no one-size fit for all. What seems suitable for one company may not be the best fit for another. Unlimited graphic design service providers act as an extension of your in-house team with no strings attached. If you wish to explore other providers beyond Design Pickle, determine your requirements and compare our top 5 Design Pickle alternatives to find the right partner for your business.

Start exploring Design Shifu’s paid plans that offer a 14-day 100% money-back guarantee.