In this honest and unbiased review of Design Pickle’s motion graphics service, Wes McDowell shares his personal experience and opinions regarding the company. Wes tried Design Pickle’s unlimited graphic design service for a month, specifically opting for their highest tier package for motion graphics. He initially had high hopes for the service but ended up disappointed with the quality. The designers assigned to him were beginner-level and did not meet his expectations, and the promised professional oversight and approval process proved to be ineffective. Wes also found that the support team was friendly but unable to resolve the problems he encountered. Overall, Wes recommends finding a designer directly rather than using Design Pickle’s service.
In this video by Wes McDowell, he provides a thorough and detailed review of Design Pickle’s motion graphics service. Wes shares his personal experience with the company, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects. He discusses how he signed up for the highest tier package, hoping to enhance his videos with custom motion graphics. However, the designers assigned to him were inexperienced and the promised professional oversight was lacking. The support team was friendly but unable to resolve the issues, and the turnaround time for animations was much longer than anticipated. Based on his experience, Wes advises viewers to consider other options and find a designer directly instead of using Design Pickle’s service.
Overview of Design Pickle’s Motion Graphics Service
Introduction to Design Pickle
Design Pickle is a graphic design service that offers flat-rate packages for unlimited graphic design. They market themselves as a solution for businesses and individuals who need ongoing design work without the hassle of hiring in-house designers or freelancers. Their services range from custom illustrations to motion graphics, making them an attractive option for those looking to enhance their visual content. However, the question remains: does Design Pickle’s motion graphics service live up to its promises?
Focus on Motion Graphics
Motion graphics are a powerful tool for storytelling and engaging audiences. They can bring static designs to life, conveying messages more effectively through animation and movement. Design Pickle’s motion graphics service aims to provide customers with high-quality animated videos, helping them stand out in a crowded digital landscape. With a team of talented designers, Design Pickle claims to have the expertise to deliver visually stunning motion graphics that captivate and engage viewers. But does their service deliver on this promise?
Review Based on Personal Experience and Opinions
Before we dive into the details, it’s important to note that this review is based on personal experience and opinions. As the reviewer, I have tried Design Pickle’s unlimited graphic design service for a month, specifically focusing on their motion graphics offering. I want to provide an honest and unbiased assessment of my experience, shedding light on the pros and cons of their service. It’s crucial to keep in mind that I don’t have knowledge of how the company operates internally; my review is solely based on my interaction with their service.
Signing Up and Initial Impressions
Intrigued But Skeptical About Quality
When I first came across Design Pickle’s ads on social media, I was intrigued by the concept of unlimited graphic design. However, I couldn’t help but feel skeptical about the quality of their work. The monthly rate seemed higher than what I actually needed, but the idea of having access to a dedicated team of designers enticed me to give it a try.
Highest Tier Package for Motion Graphics
To make the most of Design Pickle’s motion graphics service, I decided to sign up for their highest tier package, which cost around $1600 per month. This package was specifically tailored for motion graphics, offering a range of benefits and customization options. I hoped that investing in the highest tier would ensure top-notch quality and attention to detail in the animations I requested.
Providing Detailed Instructions and Examples
To set clear expectations and guide the designers, I spent time putting together a detailed document with reference points. I included examples of animation styles I liked, preferred colors, and specific instructions on what I wanted to avoid. By providing these detailed instructions and examples, I hoped to streamline the process and ensure that the animations created aligned with my vision.
Disappointing Designer Assignments
Beginner-level Designers
Unfortunately, the first issue I encountered was the assignment of beginner-level designers to my projects. While I understand that designers have to start somewhere, the discrepancy between the quality of the animations I received and the level of expertise advertised by Design Pickle was significant. The marketing materials and sales team led me to believe that their designers were highly experienced, but the reality was quite different.
Unmet Expectations
As a result of the beginner-level designers assigned to my projects, my expectations were not met. The animations lacked the polish, creativity, and attention to detail that I had hoped for. The designs did not align with the animation style I had requested, and it was clear that the designers were still honing their skills. It was disappointing to see such a gap between what was promised and what was delivered.
Lack of Professional Oversight
Another contributing factor to the disappointment was the lack of professional oversight in the creative process. Design Pickle’s promise of a professional team leader who would approve designs and provide art direction was not effectively fulfilled. Either this oversight was not taking place, or those in charge were not equipped to guide the designers in producing animations that met the client’s expectations. This lack of professional oversight added to the overall frustration with the service.
Ineffectiveness of Promised Approval Process
Lack of Professional Oversight
As mentioned earlier, the promised professional oversight was not only lacking in the design process but also in the approval process. Design Pickle claims to have a thorough approval process in place, ensuring that clients are satisfied with the final product. However, in my experience, this approval process failed to address the issues I raised or provide satisfactory solutions. It seemed as though the designs were being churned out without much consideration for the client’s feedback or desired outcome.
Approval Process Failures
When I expressed my dissatisfaction with the initial designs, the team leader assigned to my project simply assigned a new designer. While this may seem like a viable solution, the new designer still fell short of understanding and executing the animation style I had requested. This back-and-forth process continued, leading to delays and frustration. The approval process failed to rectify the issues at hand and did not provide a smooth experience for the client.
Quality Control Issues
In addition to the approval process failures, there were evident quality control issues throughout the project. The animations did not meet the standards of professionalism and creativity that I had anticipated. It seemed as though the designers were not adequately trained or supervised, which resulted in a lack of consistency and cohesiveness in the animations. This lack of quality control undermined the value and effectiveness of the motion graphics service.
Friendly but Ineffective Support
Friendly Support Team
One aspect of Design Pickle’s service that stood out was the friendly and helpful nature of their support team. Whenever I reached out to them with concerns or issues, they were quick to respond and showed genuine concern for my experience. They provided reassurance and acted as a bridge between the clients and the designers. Their friendly demeanor was appreciated throughout the process.
Inability to Resolve Issues
Despite the support team’s friendliness and willingness to help, they were ultimately unable to resolve the issues I faced with Design Pickle’s motion graphics service. While they were sympathetic and understanding, they did not possess the authority or resources to rectify the fundamental problems I encountered. As a result, my concerns remained unaddressed, leaving me feeling frustrated and dissatisfied.
Limited Support Options
Another limitation I encountered was the limited support options available. While the support team was accessible through email and scheduled calls, there was no real-time chat feature or immediate assistance. This lack of real-time communication hindered effective problem-solving and further prolonged the resolution process. The support options felt insufficient for addressing complex issues and finding timely solutions.
Unexpected Turnaround Time
Extended Waiting Periods
One of the most significant drawbacks I experienced with Design Pickle’s motion graphics service was the extended waiting periods. The time it took for animations to be delivered was much longer than anticipated. What was promised as a quick turnaround time turned into several days, even weeks, of waiting for a finished product. This prolonged waiting period created challenges in meeting project deadlines and hindered the overall workflow.
Longer than Anticipated Production Time
In addition to the waiting periods, the actual production time of the animations was also longer than expected. The process of creating and revising the animations took considerably longer than it should have, resulting in delays and frustration. The slow production time not only affected the timeliness of the deliverables but also caused unnecessary stress and impeded productivity.
Delays in Animation Delivery
Due to the extended waiting periods and slow production time, the delivery of the completed animations was delayed. This delay further added to the dissatisfaction and hindered the seamless integration of the motion graphics into the scheduled projects. The inability to rely on Design Pickle’s service for timely deliverables ultimately compromised the effectiveness and efficiency of my overall workflow.
Limitations of Unlimited Graphic Design Service
False Claim of Unlimited Service
One of the crucial aspects of Design Pickle’s offering is their claim of unlimited graphic design. However, upon closer inspection, it became evident that this claim was more deceptive than accurate. The reality was that the designers assigned to me were overworked and spread too thin across multiple clients, resulting in a lack of attention and focus on individual projects. This limitation contradicted the notion of unlimited service, creating a mismatch between expectations and reality.
Designers Overworked and Spread Too Thin
As mentioned in the previous point, the designers at Design Pickle seemed to be overwhelmed with the number of clients they were assigned. This overworking and spreading thin of designers ultimately affected the quality of the work delivered, as they were unable to dedicate adequate time and attention to each project. The notion of unlimited graphic design was undermined by the practical limitations faced by these designers.
Lack of Attention to Individual Clients
Another consequence of the designers being overworked and spread too thin was the lack of attention given to individual clients. Instead of offering personalized and tailored solutions, the service provided felt generic and impersonal. It seemed as though the designers were rushing through projects to meet the demands of multiple clients, resulting in a lack of individualized attention and care. This limitation further obstructed the potential benefits of a dedicated graphic design service.
Refund Request Denied
Requesting a Refund
Given the significant shortcomings and unmet expectations, I decided to request a refund for the service. I felt that the discrepancies between what was promised and what was delivered, coupled with the misleading marketing and sales process, justified a refund request. I wanted to express my dissatisfaction and seek a resolution to the issues faced.
Denial of Refund
To my disappointment, Design Pickle denied my refund request. Despite the valid concerns raised and the clear gap between expectations and reality, the company offered no satisfactory explanation or resolution. This denial of a refund further magnified the frustration and disappointment I felt with the service overall.
Unsatisfactory Resolution Process
The resolution process for addressing the issues faced was unsatisfactory. Design Pickle did not provide a clear path or mechanism for resolving concerns and finding a mutually beneficial solution. This lack of a structured resolution process added to the overall dissatisfaction and frustration experienced as a result of using their motion graphics service.
Conclusion
Recommendation to Find a Designer Directly
Based on my personal experience and opinions, I cannot recommend Design Pickle’s motion graphics service. The numerous shortcomings and unmet expectations I encountered throughout the process were indicative of a mismatch between their promises and reality. Instead, I would recommend finding a designer directly, whether through freelance platforms or by hiring in-house. This way, you can have more control over the quality, communication, and timeliness of your motion graphics projects.
Final Thoughts on Design Pickle’s Motion Graphics Service
Design Pickle’s motion graphics service, although enticing in theory, fell short of expectations in practice. The issues with designer assignments, lack of professional oversight, ineffective approval process, friendly but ineffective support, unexpected turnaround time, limitations of unlimited graphic design, denial of refund, and unsatisfactory resolution process all contributed to a disappointing experience. While Design Pickle may have its merits in other areas, it’s evident that their motion graphics service has room for improvement.