Why DIY + Pro Design = A Branding Mess (and What to Do Instead)
A lot of businesses try to save time or money by mixing DIY design with professional design. On paper, it looks smart. In reality? You end up with what I call graphic salad, a random mix of fonts, colors, and visuals that don’t belong together. And just like a bad salad, it’s unappetizing, confusing, and not something anyone’s coming back for.
The Budget Trap
I get it, budgets are real (VERY real). Branding feels expensive, and the DIY route seems like a way to cut costs (I mean, google any how-to related to Canva and you are going to get tons of information). But here’s the thing: when you cobble together DIY work, Canva templates, and the occasional agency project, you don’t actually save money. You spend it in pieces, and then you spend it all over again when you need to fix the mess (I know, this is depressing news, but I see it over and over again)
The “budget-friendly” approach often costs more than hiring one consistent designer to do it right the first time.
What Graphic Salad Looks Like
A luxury fragrance brand suddenly shoving in a clip-art icon.
Packaging that looks high-end but is paired with colours better suited for a dollar store.
A website that has nothing in common with the product packaging.
None of these are strategic choices. They’re the result of too many cooks in the kitchen and no one making sure the meal actually works together.
A Real Example (Without Naming Names)
Just this week, I met with a client who DIYed their second website. I had designed their first site, and they still loved it. But this new version? On the surface, it looked pretty good. Under the hood, it was a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Accessibility? Nonexistent.
Slugs and meta descriptions? Missing.
Internal linking? Zero.
Colour palette? Amateur.
The person who built it simply didn’t know what they didn’t know. And that’s the problem with DIY: you can’t see what you’re missing until it’s too late.
The Real Cost of Going Patchwork
Confused buyers who can’t tell what your brand actually stands for.
Lost credibility when your premium product suddenly feels amateur.
Wasted money because you’ll eventually pay to redo everything. Sometimes what you actually need is a clear rebrand or refresh, not a patchwork fix.
How to Keep Your Brand Consistent (and Actually Save Money)
Build from a strategy, not scraps.
Remember: consistency isn’t boring, it’s powerful.
Work with one designer who knows your brand inside and out.
Bring in an outside perspective to stop you from straying into “salad” territory.
Closing
Your brand isn’t a buffet. It’s not about grabbing a little DIY here, a template there, and a logo from whoever’s available. Every piece has to work together, or the whole thing falls apart. If you’re not sure whether your visuals are telling a consistent story, my Mini Brand Audit was designed to catch these exact issues before they cost you money, credibility, and customers. And if you need more, you know where to find me, send me a quick message and let’s set up a call.
