How I Make $3,500 A Month With Graphic Design

Are you passionate about visual creativity and marketing? Are you one of those people who go, ‘If I were this business, I would be doing this to get more customers’? If so, you sound like me and should consider getting into marketing!

If you find joy in transforming ideas into stunning visuals that capture people’s attention, graphic design is for you. Don’t worry if you have no experience and are not sure how to get started. I’ve got all the details for you here.

In this post, we’ll go over:

What a graphic design side hustle entails
How to get started in graphic design
Skills you need to be successful
Common challenges you’ll face

Let’s get started!

What is a graphic design side hustle?

A graphic design side hustle can mean many things, but it’s primarily a job where you’re designing projects for clients or companies. You may use graphic design tools like Canva, Adobe, and more.

How do I get started with a graphic design side hustle?

This totally depends on where you’re at. Do you have experience in the field already? If so, create a profile on sites like Upwork and Fiverr to start getting jobs. There are always tons of new jobs being listed in graphic design and marketing.

A good tip to remember is most companies slow down their hiring for Q4 because of budget constraints, so if you have trouble finding jobs at the end of the year, you know why.

When creating your profile on Upwork, make sure you have a bomb portfolio. You can either make yours from scratch or use handy tools in Canva that come with templates already made, where you can change the colors, fonts, styles, photos, etc.

How can I increase my graphic design income?

There are many ways to increase your graphic design income including:

Networking with people you know in the field
Using LinkedIn to network (which we’ll talk more about below)
Increasing your skillset and learning new tools

For example, you may also want to specialize in a specific area like branding, web design, packaging, and/or print materials. There are tons of tutorials out there to learn anything about graphic design. For example, I’m currently working through a free Wix training so I can start making websites via Wix for the marketing firm I work at.

How can I upsell my services?

A great way to increase your graphic design income is by offering additional services or upgrades to any projects you’re a part of. You can offer additional revisions, extended branding packages, or social media graphics to clients.

What other services can I provide in graphic design?

Besides websites, branding, print material, and social media graphics, you can also specialize in selling design templates on Etsy, and stock graphics like Ivory Mix. You can even get into selling online courses about graphic design.

What skills do I need for a successful graphic design side hustle?

To work in graphic design, you need skills like:

Having a good eye for detail
Proficiency in design software (Adobe, Canva, Figma, etc.)
Ability to understand and meet client needs

You also need to have creative skills and understand design principles, typography, color theory, and layout/composition. Your visuals need to be pleasing to the eye.

Understanding marketing concepts like branding, social media strategies, and audience engagement is definitely going to give you a boost in this field, especially if you’re working with clients on campaigns

How do I manage my time effectively with a side hustle?

Working from home and managing a side hustle while working a full-time job is tough. You must stay organized, and take advantage of productivity tools and apps, and even schedule side hustle working hours.

For example, I use Google Calendar to block out chunks of time for everything in my life, and it makes it easy to see what I do and do not have time for. I also never forget anything because I have all of my tasks written out in the app.

What are some common challenges of running a graphic design side hustle?

The most common challenges of running a graphic design side hustle include:

Finding new clients
Handling administrative tasks, like going back and forth in email, bookkeeping, etc.
Dealing with fluctuating income (which is why it’s best to only accept long-term work)

How can I network on LinkedIn?

Almost everyone I know has gotten their favorite job from networking and knowing someone. This is why it’s essential to build meaningful connections, reach out to people, and engage in relevant communities. LinkedIn can help you do this.

Here are the best tips for optimizing LinkedIn.

Create a stand-out profile.

Include a professional picture and an engaging banner image that reflects your graphic design work. Craft a compelling headline like “Creative Graphic Designer | Marketing Specialist Helping Brands Tell Their Story Visually”.

You should also include your portfolio and show samples of your work in the “Featured” section. Detail your relevant work experience and skills in the “Experience” section.

Build your network

Now, it’s time to send personalized connection requests to other graphic designers, marketers, and potential clients. Something like this is a good idea:

“Hi [Name], I noticed we both know [Mutual Connection]. I admire your work in [Industry], and I’d love to connect and explore how we might support each other’s efforts.”

You can also join relevant groups on LinkedIn in graphic design, marketing, and freelancing. Participate in discussions and connect with group members.

Posting regular updates on LinkedIn with design tips, marketing insights, and industry trends helps you keep your network engaged, too. Engage with others on Linkedin by commenting on their content and sharing posts.

How can I stand out from other freelance graphic designers?

In a sea of graphic designers, you may find it difficult to land jobs. Don’t worry about this too much, especially since you’re going to do a few key things to make yourself stand out.

Here are some key strategies:

Identify your strengths (minimalistic design, specific color pallets, bold designs)
Provide excellent communication, and always meet deadlines
Build a website that reflects your personality and design skills
Include case studies on your website or portfolio that outline project goals, your design process, and the results
Specialize in a niche like restaurants, life coaches, finance, etc., and tailor your website and portfolio to them
Invest in continuous learning and keep learning new tools

What tools and resources are helpful for a graphic design side hustle?

I’ve compiled a list of the most helpful graphic design software, courses, financial tracking tools, and apps to help you in your graphic design side hustle journey.

Graphic design courses:

1. Coursera – Graphic Design Specialization

Details: A comprehensive five-course series that covers the fundamentals of graphic design, including typography, image-making, and composition.

Duration: Approx. 6 months

2. Udemy – Graphic Design Masterclass

Details: This course covers essential graphic design principles, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and branding techniques.

Duration: 15+ hours

3. Graphic Design Masterclass: Learn GREAT Design

Details: This course provides a deep dive into graphic design, covering essential concepts like typography, layout, and color theory.

Duration: 20 hours

4. Canva Design School

Details: Free design tutorials for beginners focusing on the basics of graphic design, typography, color, and branding using Canva.

Duration: Self-paced

5. Tuts+ – Adobe Illustrator for Beginners

Details: A beginner’s course that provides a deep dive into Adobe Illustrator, teaching vector graphics, logos, and illustration design.

Duration: 1+ hour

Design software:

Adobe Illustrator
Photoshop
Figa
Canva
Sketch

Best apps for productivity and time management:

Google Calendar
EverNote
Trello

Financial tracking tools:

Quickbooks (what I use)

Summary

The key to building up your graphic design side hustle is slowly adding small gigs here and there. Search for jobs that give consistent 5-10 hours a week of work and consistently add new contracts.

To make $3,500 a month, you need to work 30 hours a week at a rate of $29. You can totally do this by leveraging different freelancer platforms, networking, and managing your time effectively. And who knows, you may decide you want to start your own graphic design business one day.