A freelance graphic designer provides creative and technical services to clients on a project basis. Freelance graphic designers offer a wide range of services, from creating original artwork to performing prepress production work and image retouching. Here we discuss that What Does a Freelance Graphic Designer Do?

Freelance graphic designer must manage their time efficiently, work well under pressure, and meet deadlines to be successful. They must also have excellent communication skills and develop positive relationships with clients.

If you are looking for a career that allows you to be creative and has plenty of variety, then the freelance graphic design may be a perfect choice!

This article will talk about some basic things that a freelance graphic designer does.

Job Description:

A Freelance Graphic Designer typically works in teams or alone to provide creative and technical services to clients on a project basis. Freelance graphic designers offer a wide range of services, from creating original artwork to performing prepress production work and image retouching. They must also have excellent communication skills and develop positive relationships with clients.

Responsibilities:

Graphic Designers are responsible for the concept development, design layouts/media plan/design execution that supports clients’ marketing strategies across multiple communications channels, including print ads, trade show booth displays, direct mail pieces, point-of-purchase materials, social media campaigns, and multimedia presentations. Freelance Graphic Designers must also work collaboratively with clients and agency teams.

So, What Does a Freelance Graphic Designer Do?

This is a shortlist of things that you will do as a freelance graphic designer:

• Create original artwork (Vector Art) for clients’ needs, whether it’s a logo, avatar, or another design element.
• Meet deadlines for clients’ projects
• Understand your client’s needs and what is needed for their project to achieve its goals.
• Collaborate with others within an agency or organization, including other designers, photographers, copywriters, sales folks, etc.
• Present ideas through sketches/wireframes/mockups using various design programs.

A freelance graphic designer will usually get an assignment from their clients. Then they will create an artboard within the program that they are using, whether it be QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign. After making the artboard, they would produce whatever work is needed for the assignment. This could include designing logos, business cards, flyers, magazines, and more.

They would need to present their work in a client’s style. They might also retouch images if required for another project or part of an assignment they were given. The freelance graphic designer would also submit files if the client needs them and always keep them up-to-date with the assignment’s progress.

Things To Worry About as a Freelance Graphic Designer

One great thing about being a freelance graphic designer is working from home or wherever you choose. You are the boss! However, this also means you are responsible for your taxes and keeping track of your income. There are many different things to consider when doing your finances.

You might need to pay quarterly estimated taxes to avoid paying penalties at tax time if it looks like you owe more money than usual. It’s essential to keep good records of all expenses, too, so that you can subtract them from your taxable income at the end of the year if needed.

It’s also essential to have health insurance coverage or pay penalty fees for not having insurance in the United States. If illness strikes, this will put a significant financial strain on you.

Having your own business also means it is up to you to find clients that will hire you for work or projects. You don’t have a giant company that will send out thousands of resumes and helps you look for jobs.

Improve Your Networking

If you want more clients, it’s up to you to network and build relationships with people and businesses that might need your services. Making those connections is through social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.

You can share your portfolio or some graphic design tips with others and connect with other freelancers in the same industry as yourself!

You can also look at our detailed article on Top 10 Freelancing Websites for Graphic Designers to increase your network and reach many people.

Some of you can also try attending some networking events such as Meetup groups (for graphic designers), where they talk about topics related to the industry. You might also be able to find some local groups on Google+ or Facebook that are in your area.

Another way of increasing your business is through word-of-mouth referrals. This might involve sending out postcards or doing some print advertising in specific places, like next to a laundromat where people would see it while waiting for their clothes!

Freelance graphic designers can offer discounts for services if someone refers another person they know who has a project that needs completing. You could even devise a referral system with bonuses for bringing in more clients!

Things to consider before becoming a freelance graphic designer

Freelance work does have its benefits, but you should consider all possible outcomes before deciding whether this career path is right for you!

Make sure that you have a way to get clients and handle taking care of your finances and taxes. If you’re not the business type and would instead let someone else do all the work, working as a graphic designer for another company might be better suited for you!

If you were a graphic designer, these are some things you would do regularly! You could have a lot of fun working as a graphic designer, and there is so much more work to be done from here!

If you are looking to start a freelancing journey and don’t know where to begin, don’t forget to read our detailed article on How To Start Freelancing in 11 Steps 2022.