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Do you have a dream of leaving your day job and becoming a full-time freelance graphic designer? But, how to become a freelance graphic designer? Most freelancers start with graphic design as a side hustle, but with determination, business planning.
And a solid work ethic, you can build as many businesses as you want to create a sustainable career. Then, how to become a freelance graphic designer? Here are the steps to help you get started.
How To Become A Freelance Graphic Designer
So, you have to develop your skills if you want to become a freelance graphic designer. You might even want to set up your own creative agency. Why not read the step-by-step guide below to help you get started:
1. Choose a specialization
Specializing is very useful in densely populated industries such as design. Any differentiation and expertise you can offer will help you attract jobs and allow you to excel in the projects you take. You may naturally find your specialty during the experience you have gained. But if you haven’t, is there an aspect of the design that you really like? Here are some niches you can focus on:
Visual identity – Think branding, including logos, images, color palettes, and typography
- packaging – product packaging can be beautiful even for simple products like soap bars or juice cartons – and organizations need talented people to create designs
- Content Marketing – Designers working in the traditional marketing space can work on a variety of projects, from digital guides and brochures, social media assets, to email marketing templates
2. Start your business
Many freelance graphic designers work alone. But many also want to start their own design bureau. Whatever direction you choose, you need to treat what you do as a business, set goals, and have a plan for how you will achieve them.
- write a business plan – it helps you answer important questions before you leave
- choose a business structure – determine whether you will set up as a sole trader or a limited company
- understand the Self-Assessment process – You must complete an annual tax return
3. Develop the right business skills
While you may be well versed in practical design elements, running a business requires different skills. Think about the following:
- Winning clients – You need great communication skills to network with potential clients and win jobs. Building good relationships not only helps you find projects, but also helps you understand your client’s goals and directions.
- Happy clients are more likely to shout about you to other potential clients the price of your work – this is hard for freelancers to get it right. There is no definitive answer to how much you should charge, but keep in mind the perceived value
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4. Get the right insurance
It’s a good idea to think about designer insurance when you’re starting out.
- Professional indemnity insurance – this is one of the most important protections for freelancers because it protects you if you make a mistake in your work, or you give the wrong advice, which causes harm to your clients
- Public liability insurance – the ultimate protection for businesses, it covers you if a member of the public gets sick, hurts or suffers a loss and blames your business
Well, that was a little talk about how to become a freelance graphic designer. Hope it is useful.
