Design as a Service – Agile and Flexible Solution for Your Business Needs

Jun 7

What is Design as a Service?

Design as a Service (DaaS) is a business model that provides your company with design services on-demand, ensuring you have continuous access to design resources. One of the key benefits of the DaaS model is its flexibility. You have access to the extensive expertise of an experienced design agency, which can be utilized precisely according to your changing needs, without the need to hire an in-house design team. This saves time and money, enabling more efficient use of your company's resources. By using the DaaS model, you can focus on your core business and leave the design work to the professionals.

Who is Design as a Service suitable for?

The DaaS model is scalable and cost-effective, making it particularly suitable for companies with varying design service needs. You can quickly access design resources and adjust the subscription model according to your changing requirements. You can also choose a light or part-time service model.

The DaaS model is especially beneficial for companies looking to enhance their design process by leveraging the deep and extensive expertise of a design agency, which may not be available by hiring a single designer. At Ultra, we have worked across various industries, providing design and strategy services for automotive, marine, drone, electric vehicle technology, furniture, earned media projects, and many more. Our wide-ranging experience allows us to bring expertise in materials, technology, and manufacturing techniques.

Design as a Service facilitates smooth collaboration.

The DaaS model eliminates time-consuming bidding processes and provides you with a clear deal, with the price known in advance. It allows for efficient testing of new ideas and receiving feedback, which helps in developing better products. The DaaS model lightens your workload, as the competent design agency is self-directed and proactive, taking care of schedules and ensuring clear communication and ongoing dialogue. The design agency offering DaaS becomes part of your team and can also work at your company's premises, if needed.

When should you choose a project-based model instead of the DaaS model?

If you know that your design needs are a clearly defined project and not continuous, a project-based model may be a better option. On the other hand, if you anticipate a continuous need for design services over, for example, the next quarter, but the specific needs are not known in advance, Design as a Service is a good solution. Its coverage can be adjusted based on anticipated needs, and the service package can be scaled up or down as required.

Products Designed by Ultra's Design as a Service Model

Great examples of products designed by Ultra using the DaaS model include the award-winning Framery One and the models Skydio 2, Skydio X2, and Skydio Dock for an American drone manufacturer, Skydio. DaaS is an agile and flexible alternative to traditional design processes, particularly suitable for companies that want to focus on their core business and gain access to broader design expertise in a risk-free manner with a lighter model.