Many students and fresh graduates are now joining the world of freelancing in an effort to make some money in their free time. Now, there is no denying that it can be quite rewarding, especially when you think of graphic design and web design.
Skilled in the art of visual storytelling, a graphic designer is in increasing demand these days as the digital marketing world develops at a breakneck speed.
In fact, there are freelance graphic and web designers who make over $6000 building a simple WordPress website, so if they can do it, you can too.
In this post, we will walk you through some of the skills that you need to be a freelance graphic designer.
The 6 Skills that Every Freelance Graphic Designer Needs to Have
1. Get a Solid Understanding of User Experience
User experience or UX focuses on the function and usability of your products, so learning the fundamentals of UX will undoubtedly enhance your work and make you stand out from the crowds.
2. Always Assume That You Know Nothing
You would often think that you go through plenty of HTML/CSS websites, it is a given that you are a professional website designer. But, let’s not forget that thanks to the many online resources available today, anyone could easily become a coder.
Still, that doesn’t necessarily make them qualified to become a freelancer, so you should always be eager to learn more especially when it comes to coding.
3. Learn About Servers, Domains and Web Hosting
When you take on a project to design a website, for example, expect your clients to ask you to manage the domain and hosting plan of their website and complete the whole thing on your own.
4. Develop an Understanding of the Business Side of Things
Know that being a freelancer will require more than just the creativity and technical knowledge that you have.
You will need to get a general idea of the business side of things, and that includes sales and accounting techniques.
As such, spend some time learning how to pitch yourself for more sales.
Moreover, develop invoice and proposal templates to modify for each project/client.
5. Set the Right Rate
This is arguably one of the most challenging parts of being a freelance graphic and website designer. Always make sure to research what other freelancers are currently charging relative to their portfolios and experiences.
You can also check out some freelance marketing platforms such as Upwork to get an idea of the average pay and what feedback clients leave to the freelancers.
6. Build a Good Portfolio
This goes without saying but, when a client approaches you to help them with a project, the first thing they’re going to ask you is to show up some examples of your previous work. Duh!
This is your opportunity to show your kickass designs. If you have none, get to work and design some new sites and never give up.
For instance, you can design a great theme and then release it online (for free). Alternatively, you can reach out to certain businesses and offer to design a brand-new website for free as well.
Start Your Freelance Graphic Design Career Today
Becoming a freelance graphic designer is a very rewarding experience. It not only requires skills in visual and digital design but also a desire and a passion to be your own boss and accept the responsibility of seeing the business side of things.
By taking the time to set things up properly right from the start, you’ll certainly have a smoother time running your freelance business.
Master the skills laid out in this post and rest assured you will be on your way to becoming a successful freelance graphic designer in no time.
Remember to always stay up-to-date on the latest graphic and web design trends!
