Test Blog

Challenges Faced By Digital Product Teams

Solutions Offered By External Design Agencies

Limited Expertise

In-house teams may not have multidisciplinary knowledge. External design agencies with expertise across diverse niches can step in and work as an extension of the in-house team.

Apple, known for products with top-notch design, collaborated with Foster + Partners to create Apple Park.

Creativity Constraints

Finding new ideas for every project can be tough. Instead, organizations might want to spend more time on driving growth.

A simple solution is collaborating with an external design agency that would bring new viewpoints and creative ideas.

The “#ShareACoke” campaign created by Ogilvy boosted Coca-Cola's U.S. sales by 2.5%. After a decade of decline, this marked a significant turnaround for the beverage company.

Encouraging collaborative brainstorming sessions between in-house teams and external design agencies also helps foster creativity and idea generation.

Budget Constraints

Organizations often face financial limitations, which impact their design projects. For example, a small startup may have limited funds for design, while an enterprise may face overall budget restrictions.

Hiring an external design agency brings cost-effectiveness while ensuring the right expertise.

Scalability Issues

Organizations with aggressive growth goals and multiple client projects need help scaling their in-house design efforts.

For example, they often need to work on multiple client projects with conflicting deadlines, challenging their ability to deliver high-quality work consistently. The organization’s bandwidth becomes limited when the team already has its hands full, and a new client may be onboarded.  

Collaborating with external design agencies gives organizations access to a diverse pool of resources that can be quickly scaled up to meet tight deadlines for in-house and client design needs.

Implementing The Latest Design Trends

Organizations struggle to keep up with design trends as it is time-consuming. Hiring an external agency is the right solution as it helps them stay relevant and ahead of their competition.

External design partners would prioritize continuous improvement, staying on top of industry trends, user feedback, and emerging technologies. 

UK-based digital marketing agency Nativve has been Patagonia's marketing agency since 2015. They've collaborated with Patagonia Europe, executing digital marketing strategies, launching products and stores, and supporting environmental projects such as - Save the Blue Heart of Europe and Shell, Yeah!

Changing Business Objectives

Organizations may find it challenging to align design efforts with evolving business goals, such as increasing visibility or improving customer loyalty and retention.

External design agencies enable organizations to adapt to changing requirements and meet their business goals.

For example, a skilled design agency partner can help modernize the digital platforms of universities, streamlining the navigation and enhancing overall usability.

This approach boosts user satisfaction and engagement and aligns with crucial business objectives such as attracting top-tier students and optimizing administrative processes.

Inconsistent Designs

Consistency is the key to a seamless user experience. Organizations often struggle with design consistency during rapid scaling.

External agencies help organizations maintain consistent design, especially during rapid scaling. Their expertise ensures a cohesive brand appearance across platforms.

Lack Of User Feedback

Some organizations may need help to gather direct feedback from users.

External design agencies help bridge the gap by employing user research techniques like surveys, user testing, and analytics. 

The research offers valuable insights and data, ensuring user-centric design solutions and improved products.