More professional and financial services firms are moving away from traditional ‘pay-per-project’ design support in favour of subscription-based services, as pressures mount for speed, consistency, and cost predictability.
The subscription model, long used in software and IT services, is gaining traction in the creative sector.
Instead of commissioning isolated projects, firms pay a fixed monthly fee for ongoing design support. Supporters of this approach argue that it delivers greater agility, continuity of brand expression, and improved budget control.
The conventional transactional model – brief, project, invoice – has been criticised for lacking flexibility and failing to build lasting creative partnerships. By contrast, subscription-based support gives firms access to a design resource that understands their brand and can respond quickly to shifting priorities.
Richard Silbermann, Creative Director Brand Remedy, who has recently introduced a subscription model, told The Professionals: “Firms increasingly see design not as an occasional cost, but as a continuous asset. Brand guardianship becomes far easier when creative support is embedded into business operations.”
Employing an in-house designer can exceed £100,000 a year once salary, software and workspace are factored in. Subscription-based services convert these costs into a predictable monthly investment while still offering access to a wider creative team, from creative specialists to strategic consultants.
Kate Sadler, Project Manager, Brand Remedy said: “The project-by-project model is slow with scoping, costing and approval required ahead of any task. By contrast, subscription design enables us to provide a level of responsiveness and brand continuity that’s hard to achieve any other way.”
Advocates argue that continuity is the model’s biggest advantage. In sectors where reputation and trust are paramount, consistent brand expression across pitches, campaigns, and digital assets can be business-critical.
Industry observers suggest the shift reflects a broader trend: professional services firms are competing as much on client experience and brand strength as on technical expertise.
Strategic benefits at a glance:
— Fixed monthly cost vs. variable project fees
— Access to a full creative team without headcount risk
— Flexibility to scale support up or down
— Greater continuity of brand expression
— Reduced administrative burden
With firms under pressure to differentiate in crowded markets, subscription design services are being positioned not just as a logistical fix, but as a strategic tool for sustained brand impact.
To find out more about how subscription design can work or insights into broader adoption within the sector contact please contact Richard Silbermann.