Graphic designers have a unique set of skills that can be utilized in a variety of ways beyond the traditional 9-to-5 job.
A side hustle can be a great way to supplement your income, gain new experience and diversify your portfolio.
Here are some side hustles that graphic designers can take on to supplement their income and gain new experience.
Freelance design work
Many businesses and individuals need design work done but don’t have the resources to hire a full-time designer.
Graphic designers can offer their services on a freelance basis, working on projects such as logo design, brochure design, and website design.
This can be a great way for designers to gain experience working with different clients and industries, and to build a diverse portfolio.
Social media management
With the rise of social media, businesses need help managing their online presence.
This can be a great way for designers to stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and gain experience in digital marketing.
Graphic designers can offer their services by creating visual content such as graphics, infographics, PowerPoint templates, and videos for social media platforms.
T-shirt and merchandise design
Graphic designers can create designs on t-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise. Platforms such as Teespring and Redbubble let designers upload their designs and sell them online.
This can be a fun and creative way for designers to express themselves and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.
It’s a great way to make passive income, as you can continue to sell your designs even when you are not actively working on them.
With the rise of e-commerce, there are many opportunities for designers to reach a global audience and showcase their work to a broader audience.
Photo Editing
Editing and retouching photos can be a great side hustle for graphic designers. They can offer their services to photographers, influencers, or individuals looking to improve their photos.
Try BeFunky’s free online editor to start editing and retouching photos. This can be a great way for designers to gain experience working with photography and to learn new editing software.
Blog or YouTube design
Many bloggers and YouTubers need help with the visual aspect of their content. Graphic designers can offer their services by creating graphics, thumbnails, and even animation for their blogs and YouTube channels.
This can be a great way for designers to gain experience working in the digital media space and build a following.
E-book design
E-books have become increasingly popular in recent years. Graphic designers can offer their services by creating eye-catching covers and layouts for e-books.
This can be a great way for designers to gain experience working with typography and also learn the basics of book design.
With the rise of self-publishing, a lot of opportunities have been created for designers to work with indie authors and create unique and engaging designs for their e-books.
E-book design can be a flexible side hustle as it allows you to work on multiple projects simultaneously and you can take on as many or as few projects as you want.
Designing e-books can let you showcase your skills and build a portfolio, as e-books often have a global reach and can be easily shared online.
Game design
Graphic designers can work on the visual aspect of video games, creating characters, backgrounds, and other in-game assets.
This can be a challenging and rewarding way for designers to gain valuable experience working with 3D modeling and animation software.
It can be a great opportunity to work with a team of developers and designers while experiencing the impact of their work in a fun and interactive way.
