The Unpopular Opinion: Should Graphic Designers Really Buy Other Designer's Templates?

In the dynamic world of graphic design, the debate rages on about whether graphic designers should buy other designers' templates, whether it's for proposals, brand guidelines, or social media templates. This divisive topic challenges the conventional wisdom that creativity should always be completely original. In this blog post, we'll explore the unpopular opinion that purchasing designer templates can be a valuable asset for graphic designers and their businesses.

HAUS | Logo Kit via Creative Market

Efficiency and Time Management
Time is a precious commodity for graphic designers. Juggling multiple projects, client meetings, and creative brainstorming can be overwhelming. Buying well-crafted templates can be a lifesaver, saving you countless hours of design work. Rather than reinventing the wheel with every new project, templates provide a starting point that can significantly streamline your workflow.

Templates for proposals, brand guidelines, or Canva Instagram posts allow you to focus your creative energy on the unique aspects of each project while still delivering high-quality, professional results promptly.

Consistency in Branding
Consistency is king when it comes to branding. Clients expect their brand identity to be uniform across all platforms and materials. By using templates, you can maintain a consistent look and feel, ensuring that your client's branding stays on point.

Templates for brand guidelines, in particular, can serve as a handy reference, guaranteeing that every design element aligns perfectly with the established brand standards. This consistency not only pleases clients but also reinforces your reputation as a reliable designer.

Learning and Inspiration
While we advocate for creativity, there's value in studying and learning from others. Buying templates can offer insight into various design techniques and strategies employed by seasoned professionals. It's akin to studying art history or the works of master painters before developing your unique style.

Templates can be an invaluable source of inspiration, helping you explore new design trends, colour palettes, and layout ideas. They can serve as a foundation upon which you can build your distinctive design signature.

Client-Centric Approach
Sometimes, clients have specific requests that align with popular design trends or templates they've seen elsewhere. Having a library of templates at your disposal allows you to cater to these requests efficiently. It demonstrates your willingness to adapt and your commitment to fulfilling the client's vision.

In conclusion, while the concept of using designer templates may be unpopular among some purists, it's a practice that can offer significant advantages to graphic designers. Templates provide a balance between efficiency, consistency, and creativity, allowing designers to meet their clients' needs effectively.
The key is not to rely exclusively on templates but to use them strategically as a tool in your creative toolkit. Ultimately, it's your unique artistic perspective and problem-solving skills that set you apart as a graphic designer. So, embrace templates as a means to enhance your business efficiency and deliver even more outstanding results to your clients.