Team&Tonic
Top-tier design talent for startups, blending agency quality with freelance flexibility
What is Team&Tonic? Complete Overview
Team&Tonic is a premium design service that connects startups with rigorously vetted, top-tier designers from the global top 0.8%. Unlike traditional agencies or freelancing platforms, Team&Tonic offers a unique blend of high-quality design execution with the flexibility startups need. They provide fully managed support from strategy to delivery across various design needs including websites, apps, branding, marketing materials, and presentations. The service is particularly tailored for startups looking for quality design work without long-term contracts or complex hiring processes. Clients can engage designers for one-off projects, hourly work, or ongoing retainers, with the ability to start fast and pause anytime. Team&Tonic's designer vetting process evaluates over 120,000 candidates to ensure clients get exceptional talent matched to their specific project needs, industry, and goals.
Team&Tonic Interface & Screenshots
Team&Tonic Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Team&Tonic Do? Key Features
Elite Designer Network
Team&Tonic maintains a highly selective network of designers, accepting only the top 0.8% of global talent. Each designer undergoes rigorous vetting across multiple dimensions including technical skills, creative problem-solving, communication abilities, and professional reliability. This ensures clients consistently work with exceptional talent capable of delivering high-impact design work across various disciplines.
Flexible Engagement Models
Clients can choose from multiple engagement options that fit their needs: one-time projects (like pitch decks or landing pages), hourly contracts (starting at $40/hour), or monthly retainers for ongoing design work. This flexibility allows startups to scale design resources up or down as needed, without being locked into long-term contracts or complex hiring processes.
Full-Service Design Support
Team&Tonic offers comprehensive design services across all key startup needs including website design, app interfaces, branding, marketing materials, presentations, and packaging design. Their designers can handle everything from initial strategy and concept development through to final production-ready deliverables, providing end-to-end design solutions.
Startup-Optimized Process
The service is specifically built for startup needs, emphasizing speed, flexibility, and growth-focused design. Team&Tonic eliminates the slow processes of traditional agencies while providing more support and quality control than typical freelancing platforms. Clients get quick turnarounds, easy communication, and design solutions that directly support fundraising, conversion, and scaling efforts.
Managed Service Experience
Unlike open freelancing platforms where clients must manage designers themselves, Team&Tonic provides full support from project scoping through delivery. Their team handles designer matching, quality assurance, and project coordination, allowing clients to focus on their business while ensuring professional design outcomes.
Best Team&Tonic Use Cases & Applications
Startup Brand Launch
A new tech startup needs comprehensive branding including logo design, visual identity guidelines, pitch deck, and landing page to introduce their product. Team&Tonic matches them with a designer specializing in tech branding who delivers cohesive assets within 3 weeks, helping the startup successfully present to investors and early customers.
E-commerce Website Redesign
An online store experiences high cart abandonment rates. Team&Tonic assigns an e-commerce UX specialist who redesigns the product pages and checkout flow, implementing best practices that increase conversions by 35% while maintaining the brand's unique aesthetic.
MVP App Design
A founder needs to quickly test a mobile app concept before seeking funding. Team&Tonic provides an app designer who creates high-fidelity mockups and a prototype in 2 weeks, allowing the founder to validate the concept with users and iterate based on feedback.
Investor Pitch Materials
A Series A startup preparing for fundraising needs to upgrade their pitch materials. Team&Tonic assigns a designer with financial presentation expertise who transforms their messy slides into a compelling, investor-ready deck that helps secure $5M in funding.
Marketing Campaign Assets
A company launching a new product line needs coordinated digital and print marketing materials. Team&Tonic provides a designer who creates social media graphics, email templates, and trade show banners with consistent branding, enabling a unified campaign rollout.
How to Use Team&Tonic: Step-by-Step Guide
Identify your design needs by browsing Team&Tonic's service offerings including website design, app interfaces, branding, marketing materials, or presentations. Consider whether you need a one-time project, ongoing support, or hourly assistance.
Contact Team&Tonic through their website to discuss your project. During this consultation, you'll provide details about your design requirements, timeline, budget, and any specific preferences regarding designer skills or experience.
Team&Tonic will match you with the ideal designer from their vetted network based on your project specifics, industry, time zone preferences, and goals. You'll receive designer portfolios and can ask questions before starting.
Begin your engagement with clear project scope and deliverables. For one-time projects, you'll pay upfront. For retainers, payment is made at the start of each month. Hourly work is tracked and billed monthly for the previous month's work.
Collaborate with your designer through Team&Tonic's managed process, providing feedback as needed. The service includes quality assurance and project management to ensure smooth communication and timely delivery.
Receive final deliverables and provide feedback. If extremely satisfied with a designer, you have the option to bring them in-house. For ongoing needs, you can continue the engagement or pause as your business requires.
Team&Tonic Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Team&Tonic Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Team&Tonic combines the quality and support of an agency with the flexibility of freelancers. Unlike agencies, there are no long contracts. Unlike platforms, we handle all vetting and management. Clients get top 0.8% designers with full support but can start/pause anytime.
Yes, you can start with a one-off project like a pitch deck or landing page, or hire a designer hourly. Once confident in the quality, you can scale up to larger projects or ongoing retainers as needed.
We match based on your project type, industry, time zone, language needs, and goals from our vetted talent pool. With over 120,000 designers assessed, we find the ideal specialist for your specific requirements.
For comprehensive needs (e.g., branding + website + marketing), we can create a custom package and roadmap to align all elements. This ensures cohesive execution across all your design requirements.
We'll immediately address any concerns - whether revising the work or matching you with a different designer. Our goal is complete satisfaction with both the process and deliverables.
Yes, if you find an exceptional fit, we support transitioning designers to full-time roles with your company. We're flexible about helping great matches become long-term relationships.