Graphic Designer Freelancing is becoming more and more popular in the Freelancing industry. But what should you do if you want to freelance as a graphic designer? Whether you are looking to freelance full-time, part-time, or just on the side, there are several tips you can keep in mind to make the transition to freelancing as a graphic designer easier. In this article, we will discuss many ways that will help you to think like a graphic designer
Why freelance as a graphic designer?
Graphic Designer Freelancing is becoming more and more popular and It’s a great way to make a living, work from home, and have the flexibility to do other projects on the side.
Many different types of freelance work are available in graphic designing, including web design, illustration, UX/UI Design, photography, and many more. It is essential to find a field that you enjoy in order to be able to do it for a long time.
Understand the basics of graphic design
Before taking any further steps, it is important to take time to learn the design principles and have a good understanding of them.
Let’s assume that you have never taken any courses and at this stage, you don’t know anything about graphic design. In that case, you have to read the history of graphic design and design principles, along with practising graphic design skills.
Even more good news is that there are plenty of free online resources that can help entry-level designers get their foot in the door. From there you can also start online graphic design courses.
Follow these steps and become a better Graphic Designer
- Pro Tip 👇
Graphic Designer Freelancing
Take online courses
Not long ago, a simple portfolio and normal experience were all the person needed to start freelancing and get clients, but that time is over now. Now you must build a strong portfolio and good communication skills. Some certifications are also good.
While doing that course take some of the free graphic design software and start practicing on it.
Start with free graphic design software to get knowledge about drawing and tracing
You can start with Vectornator, which is completely free and offers features such as:
- Standard vector editing tools
- Get Access to over 1M free images from Unsplash
- Get Access to over 80k icons
- Advanced collaboration tools
- Auto Trace technology that converts images into vector form
- A cross-platform feature that synchronizes your projects between MacBook, iPad, and iPhone
Find your style and niche
Competition for design jobs is increasing continuously and In order to be a successful designer, you have to define yourself in a niche or specialization.
Choosing a niche is an important part of defining your freelance business. Not every freelancer will choose a niche, but you’ll find that narrowing your focus, especially when you’re starting out, can make it easier to find the right clients.
There are several ways you can define your place. It could design your do or social media graphics, websites, logos, etc. You could choose to only work with certain kinds of businesses – startups, coaches, online retailers, etc. You could also choose a niche based on the kinds of brands you work with you to want to work with – fun, juvenile, serious, or similar. If you’re not sure where to start, identify the graphic design skills you feel most confident in and home them.
Some common niches for graphic designers are as follows:
- Web design
- Illustration
- UX Design
- UI Design
- Logo Design
- Photography
Don’t restrict your choice to just 2D work. Also, look into (After 2D):
- 3D modeling
- Texture artist
- Character and prop design
- Character rigging
- Animation
Tons of excellent freelance opportunities on the 3D site.
Graphic Designer Freelancing
Create a portfolio
Build your online presence. Every graphic designer needs to have some kind of online presence. You should have a portfolio where your potential clients can see your work. However, most designers will want to have a personal website, design portfolio, and social media presence.
Design Portfolio
Your portfolio should include a few basic things: information about you and your background, images of your work, a way for clients to connect with you, your skills and testimonials, and at the very least a form for contacting you or any other way to communicate.
Social media
A social media presence is an important marketing tool for many freelance graphic designers but tries not to spread too much on social media. Choose a few sites to target. Think about your target audience, where they spend most of their time online. It can be LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or elsewhere. However, finding clients on LinkedIn can be easier.
When creating social media content, make sure you keep your images and messages on brand Create a content posting schedule and stick to it.
“Remember: Key to social media (and every other) success is Consistency.”
Make sure your resume states that you are available on social media for hire.
Network with other graphic designers
The work doesn’t stop with your design portfolio. Professionals should never underestimate the power of networking and community building. Building connections among fellow graphic design professionals is invaluable for improving your skills, engaging in valuable conversations with industry experts, and also gaining new opportunities through referrals and partnerships.
Getting to know the work of famous graphic designers and artists and also following them on social media can be useful in the long term. You will understand how they are doing what they are doing, and you can also understand them and their work. This way, you’ll create your own graphic design style, which can gradually become clear to you as soon as you create a couple of graphic pieces.
Get Some Work Experience
Now, it’s time to showcase it and gain some work experience by applying for entry-level positions. Doesn’t matter if it’s a paid job or an internship because this experience will be valuable to you in the long run, especially if you’re just starting out and need someone to vouch for or write a reference letter for you.
Internships are a great way to get real-world experience at an entry level and create professional relationships. Some internships are even paid! So take advantage of internship opportunities if you can.
This will also allow you to add your new creations to your portfolio. You will also build professional relationships with other graphic designers, art directors, motion designers, creative teams, and design teams and become part of the design community.
Remain current
Graphic design is an ever-changing field that evolves and evolves every year. While this is a great thing, it also means that as a graphic designer, you will need to keep up with the new trends that come out every year.
An easy way to keep up with current visual trends is to follow famous graphic designers or pay attention to your fellow graphic designers. Potential clients and employers are always looking for graphic designers who don’t stick to the same style throughout their design careers but try to adapt and evolve every year.
Staying current with current graphic design trends also means using new and updated graphic design software programs or any other online program. The software and tools are evolving and updating every day. Designers must keep up with the changes to be competitive and ensure, they have the best and newest tools at their disposal.
Own a Specialization
While it’s not a requirement (many freelance designers are very successful), it’s always helpful for you and your clients to know what area you specialize in. This does not mean that you should only focus on one area and leave other graphic design areas unexplored.
It simply means finding out what area you are best at and branding yourself as the best in that particular area. Maybe you are talented in logo design, motion graphics or web design, and so on.
Having a niche will help you stand out from other graphic designers and convince companies or clients why they should hire you instead of others specializing in the field.
Never stop learning
Even if you are not currently studying graphic design, it’s essential to stay in “student” mode and never stop learning. Even if you are well established in your graphic design career, pushing your design skills, and discovering the latest trends is always valuable.
Yes, it’s always recommended that follow the latest trend. But you don’t have to stay a follower for your entire career. Create innovative design concepts yourself, and hope that your work and evolving style will inspire others.
If you later decide to get a college degree in graphic design, you can do it, It’s never too late to go back to school. The level of your education should never stop you from building a career in graphic design. Hands-on experience will always set you apart from those who have a formal education but lack graphic design experience.
Pro Tip. Learn professional copywriting
Many may overlook this step, but it’s a great skill to have as a graphic designer. As a graphic designer, you should primarily focus on all design elements. However, it has a significant role in how your work is perceived.
If you work in a company and always have copywriters writing and proofreading for you, you can be “freer” to make mistakes. However, if you are a freelancer or self-employed person, you will need to have excellent communication skills.
You won’t always have the luxury of relying on a copywriter or someone to edit or check your copy for grammatical errors. That’s why it’s always helpful to work on your copywriting skills early. Graphic designers with solid writing skills always have an advantage over those who still use “lorem ipsum” placeholder text.
Excellent copywriting skills for a graphic designer don’t mean being able to write short or long copy. It simply means writing hot headlines, short descriptions, calls to action, etc. It also means you need to be extra careful with typos and grammatical errors and reflect the voice of whatever brand you are promoting.
More good news, the best teachers to learn copywriting are Alex Cattoni and Hisham Sarvar
The Best Teachers
Starting a freelance business should be a fun and exciting process. Taking the time to get it right from the start will help you have a smoother time with your business.
Graphic Designer Freelancing
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