Are you still wondering whether you should hire a graphic designer or invest in animation services? If you just nodded your head, then you are at the right place. In this article, we will talk about everything you need to know before hiring an animator or UX designer. But prior to that, let’s start with a little backdrop.
The Need to Hire Graphic Designers
Art and images evolved long before letters and were used by people to communicate or illustrate their surroundings. Even ancient scripts like Hieroglyphics mostly consisted of images. Our affinity towards art and images explains why businesses need to invest in animation services, simply to capture attention and eyeballs. A recent phenomenon that captured and exemplified this affinity is the popularity of Ghibli art.
Yes, if you weren’t living under a rock, then you must have noticed the craze surrounding the Ghibli art form. As people across the world raced to create Ghibli art, ChatGPT’s GPUs witnessed a meltdown, raising the question of whether using GPTs to create Ghibli is judicious. Also, the trend received criticism across art circles for using Miyazaki’s style without giving proper credit.
But leaving the debates and controversies aside, the popularity of the Ghibli art form again proves the universal love for animation, a unique relation that is perhaps shaped by the way our brains are wired. Research shows that the average human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90% of the information transferred to the brain is visual, explaining why cave paintings emerged prior to the written word.
Our affinity for art and graphics hasn’t altered much from those prehistoric times, and that was evident through the Ghibli art example above. Marketers have long recognized our affinity toward art and widely use this in their brand marketing efforts, starting from brand logos. This is why visuals take center stage in any brand marketing effort.
Graphics and animation help create engaging content, provide lucid explanations of complex topics, and enhance brand memorability. Take, for instance, the golden arches or the image of Captain Sanders. These images are works of graphic designers and create an instant recall of the brand associated— namely, McDonald’s and KFC. Therefore, if you are trying to carve out a unique identity for your brand, you need to concentrate your efforts on design, explaining the need to hire graphic designers.
Cost of Hiring Animators
Given the above facts, it isn’t any surprise that there were 73,300 special effects artists and animator jobs in 2023, a number that was projected to increase by 4% between 2023 and 2033, leading to the creation of 3,200 additional vacancies. Moreover, the median pay for animators in 2023 was $99,060 per year or $47.63 per hour. The high salary and scarcity of talent make it prohibitive for small businesses to hire top-notch animators.
Will AI Replace Animators?
If the recent use of ChatGPT and other AI tools to create Ghibli images has influenced you to believe that generative AI tools can replace animators, think again. While AI tools can automate certain tasks and speed up animation timelines, they can never replace human creativity and the art of storytelling. Humans have emotional intelligence and the ability to connect deeply with other humans, a trait that bots lack.
Therefore, you can only use AI tools to support your animators, not replace them. These tools help augment the job that animators perform. That is why the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth in the job roles of special effects artists and animators.
Outsourcing Animation Services: Does it Work?
Therefore, many businesses choose to outsource animation services. Outsourcing helps businesses achieve cost savings, take advantage of economies of scale, and scale with ease. Moreover, by outsourcing non-core activities, businesses can concentrate their efforts solely on core functions, thereby excelling at them. However, with outsourcing, you lose control over project output and remain uncertain about project progress.
What About Hiring Freelancers?
You can hire freelancers for your animation or graphic design projects at a much lower cost compared to local hires. However, the issue with this model is that you have to conduct extensive assessments to figure out the gems in the sea of millions. Moreover, freelancers often take on and work on multiple projects simultaneously, leading to frequent overshooting of budgets and delivery timelines.
Besides, most businesses hire freelancers for a short period, meaning you have to start the hiring process all over again every time you are looking to onboard an animator or graphic designer.
Advantages of Hiring Remote Resources
This is why it is better to hire virtual employees instead of outsourcing animation services. To hire remote talent, you need to partner with a remote staffing organization. Top remote staffing organizations like Remote Resource offer a triple-vetted talent pool at a fraction of local hiring costs, resulting in huge cost savings and faster hiring cycles.
Moreover, the remote employee you hire as a UX designer, animator, or graphic designer continues reporting to you regularly, giving you complete oversight over all work. Besides, with this model, you enjoy other benefits like scalability and flexibility, allowing you to easily sail over all market conditions.
Final Words
Graphics and animation are a must for businesses to carve out their own space, enhance brand memorability, and create engaging content. In this context, businesses need to hire animators, graphic designers, and UX designers. And while AI can help, it can never replace the artists.
In the above paragraphs, we have covered everything that you need to know before taking the leap to hire an animator, graphic designer, or UX designer. Connect with us if you have more questions or start with a talented remote designer over a one-week free trial to get started.
