Graphic design is a pervasive skill and profession that is highly sought after, even if you aren’t aware of it. This guide will assist you in discovering how to earn money as a graphic designer, regardless of whether you are embarking on your trip or have already begun.
Designing online is a simple way to make money.
At present, obtaining a graphic design degree from a university is not a prerequisite for getting started as there are various online platforms, including Teachable, Skillshare, and YouTube that offer techniques training.
Continue reading to discover my personal journey and gain insights into becoming a successful freelance graphic designer. This profession is not only highly lucrative, but also ideal for travel enthusiasts seeking remote employment opportunities.
Graphic Design
To start discussing ways to earn money as a graphic designer, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of what graphic design encompasses, which includes creating billboards, logos, and packaging for food products.
Graphic design involves creating visual solutions with a particular intention, such as enticing customers to buy a product, attracting viewers to a TV program, or drawing people to a big event. In essence, graphic design touches on virtually all visual aspects of one’s existence.
In the field of graphic design, there are several areas of expertise that one can focus on. These may include package design, layout design, logo and branding design, or delving into the creation and manipulation of fonts and typography.
All buckets hold the same level of significance, but certain specialties may offer higher compensation based on your proficiency.
Ways To Make Money As A Graphic Designer
Whether your interest lies in any specific niche, there is an abundance of opportunities for graphic designers to earn money online! If you’re looking to pursue a career as a graphic designer, refer to the following list and initiate sales or production of these items to get started.
1. Create and Sell Templates
Selling templates online is perhaps one of the most lucrative methods for graphic designers to generate passive income. Simply create templates for a variety of purposes, such as eBooks, posters, invitations, and Pinterest graphics, and offer them for sale through online platforms.
These products are popular among small business owners and bloggers who have limited time or lack the expertise to design from scratch, as they appreciate the ease of customization.
After establishing your own template store and investing the necessary effort, you could generate revenue with minimal effort by concentrating on advertising your merchandise.
2. Share Knowledge Through Workshops or Webinars
The level of online learning has reached its peak.
If you are well-versed in graphic design, either from studying it or through practical experience, you can offer online courses, workshops, training, or webinars to educate individuals who have limited knowledge about the subject. These courses will introduce the topic to them.
Simply discussing the fundamentals can assist numerous individuals and earn you some money in the process.
3. Sell Stickers
As TikTok’s fame increases, there’s been a surge in small sticker stores. Creating stickers only requires access to Photoshop or Canva for text-based designs or an iPad for illustrative ones. The beauty of sticker-making is that you may use dropshipping, which relieves you from the responsibility of packaging and shipping them if not desired.
By employing the services of a third-party vendor, you can effectively handle all your sales while still receiving a higher profit margin. Optimal online platforms for sticker sales include Society6, RedBubble, and Etsy, while you can also explore setting up your own website using Shopify to showcase your designs.
4. Be A Design Consultant
Becoming a design consultant could be the role for you if you aspire to earn significant revenue as a graphic designer working on expensive projects.
By doing this, you are basically offering your services for a couple of hours to individuals who seek your input and suggestions on graphic designing for their ventures. You establish your price per hour and mentor aspiring designers, offering guidance and directing them towards the suitable path.
Design consulting positions are available through various online platforms like FlexJobs, Upwork, and Fiverr.
5. Design Fonts for Creative Market or Etsy
If typography piques your interest, you can use it to generate a lucrative source of income as a graphic designer through the creation and sale of fonts. With numerous simple methods available, you can design fonts utilizing your own handwriting and make a profit of up to $100 by marketing them on platforms like Creative Market or Etsy.
6. Make Pre-Made Logo Packages
One possible rephrased sentence could be: You have the option to produce and market diverse sets of pre-designed logos that come in vector format, much like how templates are made and sold.
Many small businesses that lack the financial resources to opt for customized branding packages often resort to this widely used method of creating their own logos. They can effortlessly replace the words and colors in the design file and get a brand new logo of their own in no time.
7. Sell Customized Branding Packages
As a graphic designer, you may offer branding as one of your premium services, which can fetch up to $4000 when there is a high demand. These packages encompass a customized logo, color palette, typography, motifs, and other components that assist businesses in defining their identity.
8. Create and Sell Printables
Generating passive income as a graphic designer is a simple feat if one sells printables on a platform such as Etsy. Printables can be designed for various niches like educators, learners, adventure enthusiasts, and virtually anything that can be imagined!
The convenience of printables lies in the fact that they are a digital item, requiring only an automated process to send the PDF version directly to the buyer upon purchase, eliminating the need to handle shipping.
9. Web Elements and Icons
In today’s world of almost 200 million active websites, business owners aim to distinguish themselves. To exhibit their identity, companies can utilize distinct web icons and personalized illustrations, enabling them to narrate their tale.
Custom illustrations are considered a prominent trend in current web design by 99designs. It is inferred that this trend will persist and the demand for unique web illustrations will increase as the internet becomes more saturated. Thus, graphic designers can potentially earn extra income by selling online packs of icons and illustrations as digital art.
10. Instagram Highlights Covers
It is widely understood that one’s presence on social media is crucial to their existence, and in addition to that, individuals have come to comprehend the significance of using high-quality and captivating graphics to appeal to and maintain their followers.
Even though Facebook remains the top choice for daily users, Instagram is a strong competitor. Nevertheless, Instagram places greater emphasis on visual appeal, making it the go-to platform for showcasing visuals. Therefore, if you’re wondering where to concentrate your efforts when crafting your visual portfolio, look no further than Instagram.
In addition to images for the feed, Instagram Highlights Covers are currently very popular. Although they may be subtle, they are crucial for creating a professional and polished image for anyone who visits the profile.
Despite recognizing the importance of Instagram Highlights Covers, brands currently have limited options available. Therefore, take advantage of this trend before it becomes overly crowded.
11. Printable Wall Art
Research analysts have found that the home decor industry is experiencing a consistent growth rate of approximately 20% per annum. Printful, a custom-printed product drop-shipping company, has stated that their second most popular item sold ever is posters, with millions of pieces of wall art being sold on an annual basis.
Wall art such as posters, canvases, and wall stickers will continue to be popular among individuals and businesses who relocate and revamp their spaces. Fortunately, selling wall art online does not necessarily entail printing and shipping physical products. You can offer print files that customers can download and print themselves, eliminating the hassle.
12. Printable Party Decorations
With Instagram and Pinterest being such prominent platforms, decorations have become a significant priority for people. Nowadays, it’s common for parents to spend around $250 on their children’s birthday party decor, and couples are spending up to $2000 to ensure their weddings look flawless for photographs.
Seizing this trend for passive income may never be more opportune. In addition to the opportunity to earn as a freelancer, selling party decorations presents unlimited avenues for self-expression.
Direct your attention towards a particular aspect.
- theme (e.g. superheroes, disco, high tea party)
- style (e.g. rustic, minimal, the 20’s)
- type of party (e.g. birthdays, weddings, bachelorette parties)
- age (e.g. adults, teenagers, toddlers)
You have unlimited opportunities to use your creativity and make money, therefore, select a specific area and pursue it.
13. GIFs or Animations
Although animated images have existed for more than 25 years, it wasn’t until the past three years that they became widely popular. Nowadays, GIFs are utilized in digital communication by nearly everyone and can convey stories and emotions.
The inclusion of GIFs in Instagram’s stories gave rise to a new opportunity for astute brands seeking increased brand exposure. Consequently, they began fabricating bespoke GIFs that could be utilized by all.
Currently, as the trend gains momentum, an increasing number of businesses are searching for unique GIFs to procure and utilize in their interactions. Thus, if generating animated graphics is a pastime of yours, this presents a lucrative opportunity to vend your creations and earn an income from them.
14. Premade 3D Designs
The use of 3D designs allows for achieving unattainable possibilities in the virtual sphere, creating a personal experience. It has been projected by professionals that naturalistic 3D visuals and animations will become increasingly prevalent in the future, not solely in extravagant promotions, video game designs, or blockbuster films.
It is foreseeable that in the coming years, there will be an increasing demand for ready-made 3D models, particularly among small enterprises who would like to embrace the trend without breaking the bank.
To cut costs, businesses are likely to seek existing content that can be tailored rather than starting from scratch when creating 3D models. Thus, one can capitalize on this trend by offering previously developed assets intended for either leisure or another venture.
15. Business Branding
In the past few years, business branding has become increasingly popular and essential. Entrepreneurs and startups may not have the necessary designers on staff, therefore they seek individuals with the ability and creativity to develop a powerful visual identity.
By designing crucial elements of a fresh brand such as logos and business cards, you can showcase your abilities and make money. This will not only result in a remarkable portfolio but also guarantee comparable prospects in the future.
Engaging in business branding can also bring emotional benefits, particularly when your brand attains international recognition, causing numerous individuals to be impressed with your design skills. Why not tap into this lucrative market and promote your services with Sellfy? Check out our guide on how to commence with ease and speed.
