Small Studio or Big Agency? What You're Really Paying For

When a company needs someone to create its brand, packaging or website, it often turns to a big agency. It feels safe: a big office, lots of people, a long client list. But how much of that actually makes its way into your project?

What you pay for at a big agency

A big agency has big overheads. Offices, salespeople, account managers, project managers and layers of approval. Your brief travels from the salesperson to the account manager, from them to the art director, and only then to the person who actually does the design. Something gets lost at every hand-off, and something gets added to the invoice.

Nothing against big agencies; some projects genuinely need them. But most companies don't need a big office. They need a great result.

How it works with us

At DHMO, you talk directly to me. The person who designs your project, runs it and stands behind it. Over more than twenty years in design, marketing and web, I've learned two things: good work is built on understanding the client and on attention to detail. Neither delegates well through three people.

My clients don't see me as a supplier, but as a partner. They call when they need something, and they know they'll get an answer right away, not a week later after a meeting.

How one person handles so much

Thanks to a modern approach. I use the latest tools, including AI agents that take care of the routine for me: converting source files, variants, translations, checks. Where an agency once needed a team of juniors, today a well-tuned process and the experience to recognise what's good are enough.

And when a project needs more hands, I bring in specialists from my network: photographers, 3D artists, illustrators, developers, printers. Exactly when they're needed, and only for the part they do best. Performance campaigns and data are handled by our sister company, Independency.

Often, I deliver more than a big agency

• Faster: no waiting for meetings, decisions are made in conversation. The first version of the AXA Racing website was ready in three days.
• More holistically: strategy, design and development in one head, so packaging, website and campaign fit together.
• More personally: I know your business, not just your brief. I remember what we worked on last time.
• Without the fluff: you pay for expertise and results, not for an office and hours of meetings.

Clients come back, even years later

The most valuable things I have are quality and strong references. For YOBAR, I did a complete rebrand and their stores in 2015, and three years later they trusted me with the new visual style for their campaigns. There are many relationships like that: clients come back when they need packaging, a website or a new brand, because they know what to expect from working together.

When a big agency is the better choice

Honestly: when you need dozens of people providing non-stop service all year round, such as running a global campaign across many countries at once. But for a brand, packaging, a website, a campaign or 3D visualisations, most companies get more for less by talking directly to an expert.

Want to give it a try? Send me a few lines about your project. I'll get back to you personally.