About the Company

Designious is based in Bucharest, Romania, and operates as a graphic design library. The company offers vector designs, an online designer app, and an API tailored for graphic designers and print-on-demand businesses. Their products are used to create customized merchandise, including clothing, posters, and mugs. Founded by Alex Dumitru, Viorel Popescu, and Ciprian Dragut, the business remains a bootstrapped venture with consistent profitability and a dedicated user base.  

Designious employs a small team of two and works with top designers to maintain the quality of its offerings. The company’s philosophy emphasizes creativity, freedom for its artists, and consistent innovation to meet market demands. Over the years, the business has become a go-to resource for designers looking for unique, high-quality assets.  

Idea Behind Company

The concept for Designious emerged in 2007 when the founders managed a design studio. They realized that many of their designs, unused in client projects, could be repurposed. This sparked the idea of creating a website to showcase and sell their growing design library.  

The founders recognized an opportunity to serve a niche audience by offering high-quality digital assets. They leveraged their experience in building presentation websites to create Designious, focusing on selling digital products. Initially, the venture was a side project requiring minimal investment, built with open-source eCommerce software.  

Despite limited experience in selling digital products, their unique designs and an untapped market niche allowed them to gain traction. From its first iteration, the platform secured sales, proving its viability and paving the way for future growth.  

Creating the Company

Designious started with vector sets crafted by talented artists, many recruited directly from art universities. These designs often began as hand-drawn sketches, which were then digitized using tools like Adobe Illustrator. The creative process included brainstorming sessions, sketching, refining, and finalizing designs to meet industry standards.  

The company prioritized hiring fresh talent with artistic skills rather than experienced graphic designers. This approach ensured that their designs were unique and reflective of traditional craftsmanship. By offering a collaborative and creative work environment, Designious attracted skilled individuals who contributed to its distinctive offerings.  

Through a focused design process and consistent innovation, Designious established a reputation for quality. Their dedication to creating niche-specific designs helped them carve out a loyal customer base in the competitive graphic design industry.  

Launching the Business

Designious launched informally, starting with a basic website and a few design products. The founders leveraged forums and design directories for promotion, as social media was not as prevalent in 2008. Offering free sample designs helped attract users and build trust in the product quality.  

Within the first month, the business generated a few hundred dollars, motivating the team to expand their product offerings. This organic growth strategy, coupled with the founders' persistence, helped the business gain momentum over time.  

The venture was entirely bootstrapped, relying on reinvested earnings for expansion. Consistent product updates, effective SEO practices, and customer-centric marketing approaches contributed to their success without the need for external funding.  

Earnings

Today, Designious earns an average of $13K per month, with over 60% profit margins. Revenue is primarily generated through membership plans, offering customers unlimited access to their design library for a flat fee. This model provides predictable income and value for users.  

Future plans include expanding the platform into a marketplace with products from other designers and introducing new tools for the print-on-demand market. The founders also aim to scale their marketing efforts to regain traffic and reach a broader audience.  

Despite its modest scale, Designious remains highly profitable, requiring only 15-20 hours of management work weekly. By focusing on quality, customer needs, and consistent updates, the business has sustained its success in a competitive niche.