A Brief Guide to Pricing
While we track our time to ensure we are running a healthy business, we prefer to price based on outputs and value.
When you hire us, you are not just paying for a designer’s time on the clock. You are paying for the years of experience that allows them to work efficiently. You are paying for the professional software stack, the camera gear, and the technical infrastructure that ensures your files are safe and your website stays online.
We price to ensure we can give every project our full attention. We do not churn and burn. If we take your project on, it means we have the capacity to do it right.
We believe in being as clear about our costs as we are about our creative process.
Pricing creative work can often feel like a dark art. We want to change that. At The Various Artists, we do not believe in hidden fees or surprise invoices. We believe that honest work deserves a fair price, and that you should know exactly what you are paying for: technical excellence, reliable delivery, and a team that cares about the outcome.
How We Structure Costs
We generally work in two ways, depending on the needs of your organisation:
Project-Based (Fixed Fee)
For distinct pieces of work- like building a website, designing a brochure, or shooting a campaign video – we provide a fixed project fee. We scope the work in detail before we start, so you know the total cost upfront. If the scope changes, we discuss it with you immediately. No surprises.
Retainer (Month to Month)
For clients with in-house marketing capability, we often work on a retainer basis. This provides you with a set amount of our capacity each month to handle the nitty gritty of execution social graphics, edms, landing pages, and content updates. This is often more cost-effective than quoting individual small jobs and guarantees our availability.
Indicative Commitments
Strategic Brand Development
Best for: Organisations undergoing change or growth. This is our most comprehensive level of work. It involves deep research, strategy workshops, visual identity creation, and the development of full brand guidelines. This is a higher investment because it sets the foundation for everything else your business will do for the next 5 to 10 years.
Design & Build Projects
Best for: Brands needing a specific tool or asset. This is where we combine design with technical craft. Examples include a custom WordPress website, a short documentary video, or a comprehensive packaging suite. The investment here reflects the complexity of the build and the testing required to ensure it works in the real world.
Tactical Support & Production
Best for: In-house teams needing “extra arms and feet.” This involves taking your existing brand assets and rolling them out into new formats. This might look like a day shoot for social content, a suite of banners, or a templated document design. These are generally lower-investment, high-speed engagements focused on technical precision and polished delivery.