If you’re looking for a side hustle opportunity that’s going to give you the chance to be creative, graphic design is a great choice. This varied career is another in-demand skill that businesses are willing to pay a lucrative sum for.
You will need qualifications to get started, but you’ll find many online courses available. Here, we’ll look at what graphic designers do, the pros and cons and how to get started with this side hustle opportunity.
What is a graphic designer?
Graphic designers are basically visual storytellers. They are responsible for creating graphics for websites, advertisements, logos and a wide range of other types of media.
As well as creating images, they also specialize in fonts, print designs, and colors. They are very creative and usually work from a brief for each client. As well as the actual design of the graphics, a graphic designer also has other responsibilities. These include meeting clients, creating design briefs, working with a range of media platforms and working within a team.
What are the pros and cons?
Like any career, there are pros and cons to being a graphic designer. The pros include:
- Great for creative types
- No two jobs will be the same
- Plenty of work opportunities
- Good pay
A career in graphic design is great for creative types. It requires a lot of creativity and you can even potentially influence future products and designs with your creations.
No two graphic design jobs will ever be the same. This provides a great level of variety, ideal for those who don’t enjoy doing the same thing day in and day out. You’ll also find there are lots of opportunities out there too. Brands are constantly looking for graphic designers to help them generate memorable, attention-grabbing images.
Of course, the pay is good too. If you’re looking to make a decent income from a side hustle, this is definitely one of the best opportunities if you have the right skills.
So, what about the cons of graphic design? The main disadvantages to account for include:
- Creative constraint
- Unstable income
- Startup costs
- Mental exhaustion
While graphic design is a very creative role, it isn’t always your creativity you’ll be working with. You’ll need to create graphics based upon client specifications. So, at times you may need to work to strict guidelines. This can really limit your creativity.
The income, like most side hustles, can also be unstable. You’ll earn different amounts of money throughout the year, making it a potentially stressful career option.
You’ll also face a lot of start-up costs, especially when you take into account the costs of training and software you’re going to need. You will also need to continuously train in the latest techniques and software that is released.
Finally, graphic designers are prone to mental exhaustion. It’s hard work creating graphics and it can become very mentally challenging. These are the main pros and cons you’ll need to consider.
How to get started
If you’ve decided graphic design is the best side hustle for you, it’s time to get started.
You don’t need a typical degree to get into this career. However, you will need some qualifications. It’s a good idea to start by taking free online courses in graphic design. Invest in graphic design software and tools too.
Once you have the knowledge and skills you need, you can start offering your services. Market the business online, targeting businesses that may need help with their graphics.
As you can see, it’s pretty easy to get started with graphic design. There are no major start-up costs to worry about and it’s a service that’s going to be in demand for many years. Just remember to do your research before getting started and take as many online courses as you can.
