Do it yourself or hire a professional?

Discussion groups this week have highlighted two different skills related areas under challenge from non-specialists.

Posted under the title, "Good software for leaflet design and easy printing?" was the following question posed on a media discussion group. "I have tried various basic software - word, powerpoint, publisher - to produce my leaflet designs but none ever seem to suit any of the printers I use and they all huff and puff to modify ( or so they say ??!! ). Anyway, can anyone suggest something that is easy for me to use, preferably free and printer friendly!" Interestingly not only is the enquirer seeking to do the job himself and complaining that printers have problems with the output he provides, but also wants the software for free as well.  Another similar discussion group noted how few companies had a budget for photography any more and typically clients provided images from their own digital cameras. While OK for a lot of web applications, creatively and technically they are often poor for print. Even for web based news stories, images often need a lot of tidying up and cropping to be usable.

 

There is much evidence of a move towards 'do it yourself' design, photography, web site construction and video that is prompted by the availability of software, increasingly open source, and cameras but not supported by any actual skills in their use, talent or creativity. The thing is the end results speak for themselves - they look amateurish. So what does that say about the brand, the products, services and company they are seeking to present? 

Bland product pictures will hardly catch the eye of an editor, but then again many publishers are dumbing down in print, online and television offering an acceptance of mundane quality. The flip side of this trend is that professionally produced material will actually stand out better amongst a sea of mediocrity. Think how much R&D investment goes into new product development, then think about making an investment in promoting that product rather than trying to cut corners and in doing so diminish the new product proposition.