If you want to do graphic design work at home, keep reading! We have everything you need to know about this creative career field.
A career that allows you to work from home is graphic or web designer. Graphic design is a way to communicate with people visually. It can be a poster, a magazine ad, a website design, a business logo, social media graphics, postcards or even a font (hand lettering). These are just a few examples of resources created by graphic designers.
What training do you need to become a graphic designer?
There are several ways you can become a graphic designer. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communication, fine arts, computer graphics, multimedia, illustration, advertising, marketing or industrial design. The second way you can become a graphic designer is to teach yourself the craft of design or take an online course.
Graphic Designer Example #1
Heidi YargerOwner of Spitfiregirl, LLC Design, started her business because she was tired of dictating to others about her time, salary and vacations. He says:
“I called design studios, agencies and businesses and somehow got a foot in the door. I was relentless, and eventually, it paid off. To back it up, I never went to design school (I have a BFA), so I supplemented with design classes where and when I could. I learned almost everything on the job; That’s right; I am self-taught! Over time I have developed a distinctive style, found niche clients and now have a thriving business. I believe talent is talent, regardless of degree or lack thereof. On a personal note: I’m an absolute proponent of going to design school if you have the ability/opportunity/funding to do so.”
Graphic Designer Example #2
Another well-known, self-taught graphic designer Karen Cheng. He says:
“I got my job without going to designer school. I hacked together my own design education in 6 months while working a full-time job. I didn’t think I was ready but started applying for jobs anyway – and landed a job at a great startup, Exec. To be clear, I’m nowhere near a design prodigy coming out of a 4-year education at an elite school like RISD. But I am definitely good enough to do my job well. I’m the only designer at Exec, so I do a pretty wide range of things – visual and interaction design, print, web and mobile app design.”
How much do graphic designers make?
According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, graphic designers can earn an average annual salary of $50,710. They also suggest that graphic design jobs have a slower than average growth rate and job outlook. I’m not sure why this is but it might be due to the platform Canva and PicMonkey, which makes it easy for anyone to create good-looking graphics.
As a business owner, I’ve worked with many graphic designers, and I can tell you that the good ones earn a lot more. According to Jeep RecruiterA freelance graphic designer earns an average of $58,437 annually, with top graphic designers earning $93,000 annually.
Where can you find freelance graphic design jobs?
There are several routes you can take with graphic design. You can work as an employee for a traditional marketing firm or corporation. Or you can start your own freelance design business. Most in-house firms require you to have an advanced degree, which is why many graphic designers go out on their own.
Here are the best places to search for freelance graphic design gigs, part-time jobs, and remote work.
If you want to work for a design agency or large company, you can search for remote graphic design jobs. LinkedIn And indeed. Be sure to include the terms art director, creative director, UX designer, and visual designer in your search. You can also write down a list of dream companies you want to work for and check their websites for remote design positions. Many companies keep their marketing team in-house and hire a dedicated designer for the team.
Ready to start your graphic design business?
As with any home business, you need to educate yourself on best business practices, file all the appropriate paperwork, and get your legal and financial ducks in a row. Once you’ve written your business plan and set up the basic business structure, you can start working on the fun parts of your business.
1. Get the training and design software you need
If you haven’t taken a class or online course, doing so will help you quickly learn basic design principles. Topics such as design principles, typography, color, and the mechanics of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop. There are many online certification programs and graphic design courses from Coursera And LinkedIn Learning Which can take you faster. You will also need to purchase a copy of this Adobe Creative Cloudwhich allows you to create high-quality professional designs and images that are easy to modify
If you’re not fully committed to graphic design as a work-from-home option, you can test the waters using the free version of Canva and design simple graphics for clients. In fact, there are many Pinterest virtual assistants who create and schedule pins for clients. Other people, choice Julie Beringer, use Canva to create and sell printables on Etsy. If you decide this is the right path, you can invest in your graphic design skills and tools once you have some money coming in.
2. Decide what services to offer and what style
As a graphic designer, you can work on a variety of projects. From creating brochures and flyers to logos, book covers, website layouts, business cards, printables and more! But what art you want to work with and what your style is are a few other things to consider. While some graphic designers are generalists and work on a variety of projects, it can be easier and more profitable to choose a specialty and focus. In this case, Champagne design Focuses on graphic design projects in the wedding niche!
When you’re determining your services and fee structure, you’ll want to come up with a design brief and contract that discusses payment schedules, revisions, deliverables, project scope, and deadlines. Having these ensures that both parties understand their responsibilities and it protects you from misunderstandings
3. Create a website
While I think having a website can help you attract more clients, if you don’t have the funds right away, you can start your business without one. With visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, there are plenty of places to showcase your portfolio of work. However, if you are designing websites, you should have a website that represents your creative abilities. Also, as a user, I want to know that you are able to incorporate user experience into your design, and the best way to do that is to test your website.
If you are interested in creating a website for your graphic design business, WordPress is a great option! Here are simple step-by-step instructions to create your website.
4. Market your business
One of the easiest ways to land your first client is to tell your friends and family that you’re open for business! These people know, like, and trust you, and while they may not need your design services, they can spread the word to people in their networks. Once you’ve reviewed your contacts, you can write a dream list of clients to pitch to. Following them on their social media platforms, signing up to their newsletters and thoughtfully commenting on their blog posts is helpful in building relationships. Taking the time to get to know them and their business will help you craft a thoughtful pitch. Some experts believe that you should follow up with five to ten potential clients per day until you have a steady flow of clients in your pipeline.
Of course, there are many ways to promote your graphic design business; The thing you have to remember is that consistency is key. Choose two to three methods that you think you will enjoy doing and spend time each day working on those methods.
Not sure about your options? Here are some ways you can market your business:
5. Get organized
Before you start pitching clients, you need to create a system so you know when to follow up and when projects are due. Not sure what to use? No problem! I created the Ultimate Online Business Planning Toolkit to help freelancers stay on top of all their business tasks. Whether you need to track pitches, create an invoice or have a checklist for your project, the Ultimate Online Business Planning Toolkit has you covered!
6. Invest in your design business
As your cash flow builds, you’ll want to reinvest some of it in professional development. Fortunately, they are events, conferences, webinars, teleconferences, online courses, books, membership sites, mastermind groups, and coaching sessions. There is something to fit every budget and every niche. By investing in your self-development, you gain the knowledge, information and skills to make your freelance business a success.
Conclusion
As you can see, you don’t need a college degree to become a graphic designer. With some motivation and self-study, you can learn the craft and quickly sell your freelance design services online. Need more tips for working from home as a designer? Meg Farrington shares some great tips for a successful first year as a freelance web designer.
Originally published in March 2009. The content was updated in March 2023.
No Comments
Leave a comment Cancel