Why You Should Become a Freelance Graphic Designer

Share this

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit

Did you know that over 25% of the freelance graphic design industry is self-employed, meaning that they can work on their own schedules and be their own bosses?

In recent years, the graphic design industry has generated over $11 billion in revenue.

The takeaway here?

Becoming a freelance graphic designer is a lucrative, creative, and flexible career choice. If you’ve ever thought about getting into graphic design, then read on to learn why you should go for it!

1. It’s a Career You Can Take Anywhere

Do you have a love of travel?

Do you find yourself frequently needing to take time off work to deal with family situations?

Do you just wish you had a job that would allow you to pack up and go whenever you felt like it?

As a freelance graphic designer, you can do all that. You can work from home, from another country, and even from the beach – as long as you have Internet access, of course.

This also means you can work for a variety of companies, in a wide array of fields. This will help you to strengthen and diversify your skill set, so if you ever do feel like transitioning to another career, you’ll have experience with lots of different work environments.

2. You’ll Have Skills People Need

As a freelance graphic designer, you’ll quickly learn that thinking creatively doesn’t come as naturally to others as it likely does to you.

As a designer, you possess a set of unique skills that companies really need – especially if they’re on the less creative side of the business world.

This means that you won’t have as challenging of a time as other freelancers might when you’re building up your initial client list. Plus, graphic designers can easily develop long-lasting partnerships with firms and brands, and ask for referrals.

However, keep in mind that this is still an intensely competitive field. To stand out, make sure you frequently update your website and portfolio. Also, make it a point to attend lots of industry events and keep growing your network at school.

3. It Can Work As a Side Gig

So, you’re already working full time…but it’s not exactly paying you as much as you’d like.

The great news?

Working as a freelance graphic designer is also an awesome (and fun!) side gig. Especially if you don’t have as much time to think creatively at your current workplace as you’d like, this is a great way to keep on flexing your creative muscles.

Plus, who knows? With dedication and great networking, you could one day be able to transition to working as a graphic designer full time!

Be sure to let your current employer know that you’re developing these skills, as well.

A bonus, extra work, or even a promotion could be in order if your boss finds out you have these in-demand talents. Plus, you’ll get to build up your portfolio in the process.

4. You Have Control Over the Projects You Choose

Are you tired of having to constantly work with people that make you want to pull your hair out?

Sick of dealing with clients, projects, and even coworkers that drive you crazy?

Then we have some great news for you. As a freelance graphic designer, you can choose not to work on projects that don’t interest you, play into your skill set, or that you feel aren’t worth your time.

Instead of being assigned projects, you can choose to say yes or no to clients and ideas. This will not only help to lower your stress level and give you a greater work-life balance, but it will also ensure that you’re able to deliver better results to clients.

In addition to choosing the specific projects you work on, you’re also in charge of how much you get paid to work on a project. Wouldn’t it be awesome to know you’re actually getting compensated fairly for all the hard work you do?

This is certainly one of the biggest benefits to becoming a graphic designer. To make sure you’re not under or overcharging for your services, reach out to other services and designers and ask about their rates.

5. You Can Be At Your Best All the Time

Let’s get real: sometimes, you’re just not your best and most productive self at 9:00 AM…especially if you had a little bit of a wild night.

We know that the 9:00-5:00 isn’t just a grind for some people – it can also mean that clients aren’t getting employees when they’re at their best. If you’re a night owl or a morning person, being a freelancer means you can control when you work.

This won’t just make you happier, it will also improve the quality of your work. When you can work at your best, you’ll be much more productive, and much more likely to get referrals.

As an added bonus, you can also show up to work in whatever you want to wear! No more stuffy suits or arguing over the thermostat with the rest of the office.

If you’d rather roll out of bed and head straight to your computer at 8:58 every morning than sitting on a bus to work for an hour, this is a great opportunity for you.

Ready to Become a Freelance Graphic Designer?

We hope this article has inspired you to give serious thought to beginning your career as a freelance graphic designer, enrolling in a graphic design program/course, or just taking your graphic design gigs to the next level!

Of course, life as a freelancer offers as many challenges as it does opportunities. Things like taxes, deadlines, an even pay scale can sometimes be difficult to figure out.

That’s where we come in.

We offer invaluable advice about launching your career and help you to find awesome, paid work as a graphic designer.

Questions? Leave them in the comments.

Don't get left behind

Stay up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, and business tips.

Need work done?

Boonle has hundreds of US-based students ready to help.

Share this

Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Share on google

Leave a Comment