Want to have an idea of how long your request will take? This article will tell you all you need to know! However, take note that these are guidelines and not exact estimates.
Our general rule of thumb:
More complex requests will take longer, while simpler ones will take less time.
General Estimates
Graphics:
1 creative round = 1 business day, overnight delivery*
Pro & Premium:
1 creative round = 1 business day, same-day delivery*
Power:
Same-day delivery*
More daily design output
*Overnight and same-day deliveries are only possible for requests submitted before the cut-off time and whose bulk/volume/complexity fits into one creative round. See the table below for the estimate guide:
Request Type | Estimate per subscription* |
Graphic Design: Digital Web Banners, Digital Ads, Social Media Ads & Graphics, Posters, Email Signature Graphics, Blog Headers, Photo Editing, E-commerce Graphics, Logos, etc. | About 1 creative round per 1-2 designs |
Graphic Design: Printed Signage, Packaging Labels, Stickers, Flyers/Posters, etc. | About 1 creative round per 1-2 designs |
Graphic Design: Multipage (Digital or Printed) or Text Heavy Brochures, Menus, Booklets, E-books, Infographics, Web Mockups, etc. | About 1-2 creative rounds per 1-8 pages |
Graphic Design: Merchandise T-Shirt Design, Mug Design, Packaging Design, Pattern Design, etc. | About 1-2 creative rounds per 1-3 designs |
Graphic Design: Any of the above that are of higher complexity, bulk, or both | More than 1 creative round
You may ask your designer for an estimate of the project’s completion if you’d like a more accurate or specific estimate. |
Custom Illustrations: | First Draft Delivery: 1-2 creative rounds* Completed Illustration: (after approval of the draft) 1-2 creative rounds or more, based on complexity
*A draft will always be delivered first (in order to confirm the direction of the illustration) before your creative proceeds to render and finalize the request. |
Presentation Design: Depends on the number of slides & complexity | For new, non-templated designs: About 1-2 creative rounds* per 10 new slide designs
For templated slides with a master design ready: About 1-2 creative rounds* for up to 30 slides |
Motion Graphics: Depends on the complexity & length of the video | About 1-5 creative rounds or more
Click here for the detailed turnaround estimates guide for Motion Graphics. |
Video Editing: Depends on the complexity & length of the video | About 2-5 creative rounds for a 3-minute video (estimate)
Click here for the detailed Video Editing guide |
*All estimates still depend on a request’s specific complexity/bulk. Timelines may vary and are subject to the production team’s assessment.
*Revisions will extend the turnaround time on top of these time estimates.
There are several reasons why a request would take longer than usual. The most common reasons are:
Bulk
Complexity
Priority Numbering & Queue Volume
Scope
1. Bulk
When the total number of deliverables exceeds 3-4 per request.
Examples:
1 instagram post design, but 10 variations required
1 web ad design, but 10 different sizes required
1 workbook design, but it contains 10 pages
Even though only 1 design was requested, the total number of deliverables or output required still adds to the bulk of the request.
2. Complexity
When a design request has a lot of requirements, text, long instructions, or a high level of detail.
Examples:
1 design only, but 10 different images need to be laid out within the design
1 design only, but it needs 5 different sections and 5 paragraphs of text
1 design only, but 3 completely different design options are required
1-page design is requested, but each part of the request needs individual icons or graphical elements
1 illustration, but has many individual elements & details within the illustration
1 illustration, but the color rendering style is advanced or complex
These are just a few examples, but there are plenty of other combinations of scenarios that contribute to a request's complexity. The more details, content, text, and graphics are needed for the design, the more complex it becomes.
3. Priority Numbering & Queue Volume
The number of requests you've submitted into your request queue simultaneously will affect the overall completion of all of your requests. Here are a couple of things to take note of:
The top priority request will be completed first.
Example: If you submit 10 requests at the same time, the 1st priority request will get worked on first, followed by the 2nd priority, and so on.
Revisions are placed at the top priority of your queue by default.
Example: If it takes 3 days for the 1st priority request to get completed, including all revisions, then the 2nd priority request will get worked on starting on the 4th day.
If you'd like to learn more about how to set your priority request, check out How To Manage Your Request Queue.
4. Scope
When a design request has some out-of-scope elements, the team has to take extra time to assess your request and/or try to find a compromise (to bring it within scope) to complete your request.
Examples:
Informing you that your request is out of scope and awaiting your response on suggested workarounds (eg: Asking for a PPT file in a Graphics plan, which is out of scope.)
Awaiting missing information/content needed to complete your request (such as missing files, fixing text sent in the wrong format, etc.)
This does not mean all out-of-scope request types have workarounds, though. We won't be able to work on some requests at all if they are entirely out of scope. Be sure to familiarize yourself with our Official Scope Of Service to know what we can do for you (our scope) and what we can’t (our limitations) for your specific subscription plan.
Why did my designer suddenly ask for an extension?
If your request cannot be completed within 1 creative round, it's most likely due to higher bulk or complexity than normal. Your designer may send you a message letting you know they'll need more time to complete your request.
Why was my request broken into multiple requests?
Requests that have a high number of deliverables will need to be broken down into smaller, more manageable request batches. However, if the request or project is extremely large, the team may ask you to break down the request from your end instead.
Why has my request been delivered in batches instead of being delivered completely?
Presentations requiring complex designs, customized assets, or a high volume of slides are delivered in batches to ensure your designer can maximize your subscription's daily creative output while maintaining quality intact. A batch consists of 2-5 slides or more, and they are delivered progressively until the presentation is completed. This way, your designer can make sure they stay on track with your creative vision for the deck and is also able to set clear expectations regarding the turnaround time of your request.
Why is my new designer slower than my past designer?
You might still be in the dialing-in stage with your new designer, which usually takes up to 2 weeks. Give your designer a little time to learn your design preferences by giving them lots of honest & constructive feedback - doing so will help them learn your preferences quicker and they'll also be able to adjust their work for your review.
I was promised that I would get X designs per day, but I’m not getting that!
The turnaround time or amount of output per business day is something we cannot guarantee. Because each design request, client, and designer has too many different variables between them, it is nearly impossible to give an accurate turnaround time before seeing your actual design brief/instructions. If there was ever any communication about turnaround time, it was most likely an estimate.
Estimates change depending on how smoothly the progress of your request goes, if any revisions are required, or if there’s another higher priority request you want to have completed before continuing with your original request. All these factors affect the turnaround time of your request queue or specific design request.
Need further help? Email us through [email protected], or click the chat button on the lower right-hand side of this window to chat with us.