Like any freelance specialty — web developer, writer, editor, you name it — becoming a freelance graphic designer takes hard work. If it were as easy as waving a magic wand or enchanted apparatus of your choice, everyone would do it, wouldn’t they?
This isn’t to discourage you; in fact, it’s to encourage you. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to become an in-demand graphic designer, you most certainly can do so. And I’m going to show you how to do just that in this Unemployable Guide to becoming a freelance graphic designer.
Ready to get started?
What types of projects do freelance graphic designers do?
Freelance graphic designers do so much, and are in high demand. From branding and advertising to websites and traditional print materials, there are so many types of projects to sink your teeth into.
Here are some of the types of projects graphic designers can take on:
- Logos
- Business cards
- Brochures and flyers
- Print ads
- Package and label design
- Invitations
- Social media ads
- Websites
As you can see, there’s a lot you can do. But the question is, what is right for you?
Graphic design is such a vast specialty, and so to stand out, you need to figure out what you do best. In other words, your niche. Becoming an expert in a specific area of graphic design is key to becoming an in-demand freelancer.
For example, if you become a freelance graphic designer who specializes in branding for women-owned businesses, it’ll be easier to position yourself as a go-to person in that industry. The same goes for, say, becoming the go-to freelance graphic designer for packaging and label design for cannabis companies.
So, how do you figure out your niche? We’ll talk about that in more detail later.
Next, let’s discuss the skills you need to kick off your graphic design career (if you’re starting from scratch, of course).
What skills do I need to become a freelance graphic designer?
Building a foundational skill set is critical to becoming a freelance graphic designer. You not only need to master the basics of design, but you need to have a comprehensive understanding of popular tools, like Adobe Creative Suite, to do your job effectively.
As with other visual specialties, your presentation of your skills is super important. Here are some of the foundational things to know when getting started as a graphic designer.
Education and foundational skills
There are many routes to take when it comes to establishing (and honing) your graphic design skills. You can enroll in a university or college program and obtain a degree in graphic design. Or you can choose an alternative path to learning about graphic design.
No matter what route you take, as I mentioned above, it’s essential to learn the basics of graphic design as well as the programs you’ll likely be using.
If you’re thinking of taking a DIY route, there are several resources available for you to tap. Here are just a few notable ones:
Learning platforms
Color Theory
- Principles of Color Design: Designing with Electronic Color
- Interaction of Color: New Complete Edition
- Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color
- The Fundamentals of Understanding Color Theory
Type
Graphic Design
- The Elements of Graphic Design
- Big Brand Theory
- Above the Fold: Understanding the Principles of Successful Web Site Design
Tools and software
In addition to learning the fundamentals of design, you must also get very familiar with (read: master) popular graphic design tools, like Adobe Creative Suite. It’s one thing to understand the function of design and how to bring your client’s vision to life as a freelancer, but it’s another thing entirely to execute on that design.
Some of the most widely-used tools include:
You can view the entire Adobe Creative Suite for graphic designers here.
Hardware
With high-powered tools and programs typically comes the need for high-powered machines that can run them. Now, we’re no saying that you need to order everything off the Apple store, but, as they say, you have to spend money to make money.
Some of the best desktops for freelance graphic designers include:
And as far as laptops go, these are great options to consider:
Do what you can with what you have to start. There’s no need to run out and buy up every program or high-powered computer system. If you can make it work with Adobe Photoshop and a MacBook Pro, make it happen! You can always upgrade your setup later on once you get a few clients under your belt.
Now that you have the basics of graphic design down and the tools you need to implement what you’ve learned let’s get to the business side of things.
How to pick a freelance graphic design niche
By choosing a niche, you set yourself up to become the go-to person for a specific audience and a particular type of project.
Aside from that, there are tons of benefits to picking a niche for your business:
- Build a knowledge base, so you don’t have to start from scratch with every new project
- Understand the nuances of your industry
- Build a network of clients and referrals
It may feel like you’re pigeonholing yourself into one thing, but the truth is, it’s hard to be good at everything if you only know a little about it.
However, if you realize at some point in your career that you want to switch industries, you can always do so. You’re not locked into one niche for the rest of your career.
In fact, I encourage you to shop around and see where you might fit in the best based on your interests and skills.
With that said, where do you start?
First, as you learn more about graphic design, take note of the types of design you like. Do you love simple, minimalistic design? Take note of that. Are you someone who loves bold color and imagery? That’s right; take note.
Pay attention to the type of design that gets you excited and learn all you can about it. Don’t forget to put what you’ve learned into practice daily. As with anything, you’ll only improve if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to practice your skills. The more you learn about and practice, the better you’ll become.
Once you pick a route to take, find ways to learn about (and keep up with) your niche. The more you can learn, the better.
A few simple ways to keep up with your niche are:
- Follow notable industry experts on social media
- Subscribe to industry newsletters and blogs
- Keep up with trends and news
Build a freelance design portfolio that attracts the type of clients you want to work with
With any visual skill, it’s essential to show potential clients you know what you’re doing (and that you can do it for them!)
Showcase the work you’ve done that will resonate with your ideal client the most—from your portfolio’s look and feel to what case studies you display.
These portfolios do a great job of emulating what these graphic designers can do:
There’s no “right way to create a portfolio. As long as it displays your experience and caters to the types of clients you want to work with, you’ll be in good shape.
Don’t have any relevant work to share?
Create a mock project for either an existing company or one you’ve made up yourself. This is a great way not only to show you know what you’re doing but to practice your skills, too.
How much do freelance graphic designers charge?
This is the age-old question all freelancers encounter. The thing is, there’s no one right way to charge for your graphic design services. Some methods may work better than others, but how you choose to charge your clients is totally up to you.
There are a few essential things to keep in mind when setting your rates, though. But before I dive into that aspect of pricing, let’s quickly touch on the different pricing structures for graphic designers:
- Hourly rate: The rate of which you charge a client per hour of work you do
- Retainer: A set, pre-billed fee that spans a specific period
- Project fee: A predetermined cost that is billed in exchange for particular items
These are just a few of the standard pricing structures. It comes down to what makes the most sense for you and your clients. For long-term client engagements, a retainer fee is probably the best route. But for one-off projects, the project fee or hourly rate may work better.
Now, when figuring out how much to charge your clients, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you’ve searched for the holy-grail pricing method, you’ve likely come across the term “charge what you’re worth”. Now, I believe freelancers should be paid for the value they provide. But “charge what you’re worth” isn’t synonymous with “charge whatever you want”.
The figure you arrive at should take into account:
- Your experience
- What the market can hold
- The value you bring to your clients
Take each of those variables into consideration when determining your rates. Don’t worry if your pricing structure isn’t perfect by the time you lock-in your first client. Your pricing will evolve as you do and you’ll likely raise your rates as you begin to deliver more value to your clients.
Related
- Everything Freelancers Need to Know About Setting Rates – Unemployable
- 3 Signs It’s Time to Raise Your Rates (And How to Raise Them) – Unemployable
- How to Deal With Clients Who Pay Late [Plus Email Templates] – Unemployable
Establish your freelance processes
What’s the difference between a veteran freelancer who is booked months in advance and a newbie freelance graphic designer who continues to experience the “feast and famine seasons this career path can bring?
Process.
Having a turnkey process for every step of your client relationship will not only make you look like a professional, but your processes will save you from headaches, missed details, and stress. Clients hire freelance graphic designers because they need to solve a specific problem, and if you can make that happen in the easiest way possible, you will quickly be on your way to a thriving freelance career.
So what does this look like in practice?
A few core components of a reliable process include:
- Onboarding (welcome, vetting, proposal, invoicing, contract, terms & conditions, etc.)
- Workflow (software, timelines, revisions, etc.)
- Wrapup (invoicing, testimonial gathering, referrals, etc.)
Much like your rates, your processes will change as you and your business evolve. Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out right now. You’ll learn what works best for you over time. Think about how you can make things easier for your client (and yourself) without sacrificing the quality of your work.
Where to find graphic design clients
After you’ve figured out your niche, set your rates, and put a portfolio together, it’s time to search for clients.
There are many places you can find graphic design clients:
- Social media
- Job boards
- Other freelancers (referrals)
- Previous employers
Like other areas of freelancing, what works for other people may not work best for you and vice versa. But one thing is for sure: the more you put yourself out there, the better results you’ll see. After all, how will clients know you exist unless you put yourself out there?
Focus on a few channels and give them an honest try. Learn all you can about how to maximize that channel and see if it works for you.
Related
- The Ultimate Client Appreciation Gift Guide For Freelancers – Unemployable
- Should You Use Job Boards to Jumpstart Your Freelance Career? – Unemployable
- 9 Client Red Flags That Should Send You Running For The Hills – Unemployable
- 3 Unexpected Ways to Find New Freelance Clients – Unemployable
- 4 Ways Freelancers Can Leverage Content Marketing to Find Quality Clients – Unemployable
- What High-Quality Clients Look Like (And How to Find Them) – Unemployable
Continue learning and up your freelance design game
Freelancing isn’t a linear path. It’s full of twists and turns and unexpected happenings. But the learning doesn’t stop after you’ve nailed the basics of graphic design.
If you continue to learn and work on your craft, you’ll set yourself up for a long career of success and exciting opportunities.