Freelance Designer vs. Design Agency

Now, there are many posts, a dime a dozen, about the pros and cons of working in a design agency as opposed to being a freelance designer.

I, of course, have worked in the design department of an SEO company as well as working as freelance, and policies toward clients are certainly different.

At the agency, clients get something similar. There are basic templates for each level of design, so there isn't as much of that personal touch added to the designs. They are much cheaper because of this, and there is an imposed timeline, so obviously the design is delivered probably much faster. The main issue with this is that (at least where I design), designs have to pass through management - who are, by all means, not always the most artistic people on the block! Now, I never really had issues with management concerning my designs, but some design agencies impose guidelines on their designs - there's no real 'breaking the grid'.

With freelance, however, I think there is more of that personal touch. Of course, it varies from designer to designer. Some add in more personal touch, others still do the template system. I feel, however, that since there is a level of independence of the designer from management, that they are able to show the client their best.

In the end, though, I don't think that the differences between hiring an agency and hiring a freelance professional are always too different. In the end, it's just a matter of who delivers what the client is looking for price-wise and design-wise.

Of course, if anyone has feedback to offer, that would be great :P Comment here if you've got any other ideas about what's similar or different about working with a freelance web designer or a web design agency.