How to Land a Freelance Product Designer Job In 2024
If you’re reading this, you know firsthand how bad the design job market is right now. I bet your TikTok feed is flooded with stories of layoffs, candidates applying for 1000 jobs just to get ghosted, and other business world dramas. Does it mean businesses are no longer hiring designers?
Quite the opposite. Businesses desperately need creatives like you. But here’s the catch: they would rather hire top freelance product designers instead of full-time mediocre ones. After countless interviews with designers and discussions with companies, Awesomic has uncovered the most in-demand product designers in 2024... and how you can join their ranks!
Skills required to be a successful freelance product designer
Technical skills
The top 1% of product designers know that creativity alone is not gonna cut it. Your out-of-the-box thinking needs to be backed up by a technical skillset to bring your ideas to life. Below is your checklist to identify skills you already have and those still lacking (hopefully you’ll score 7 out of 7, fingers crossed!)
#1. User Research
User research is a methodic study of target users’ needs and pain points so designers have needed insights to make the best designs.
#2. Prototyping & User Testing
User testing means using prototypes to evaluate preliminary versions of the product to identify issues and collect feedback to assess its design, functionality, and user experience.
#3. Wireframing
Wireframing is the ability to create wireframes and mockups to visualize the layout and structure of digital products.
#4. UI/UX Design
According to Figma, “user interface (UI) refers to the interactivity, look, and feel of a product screen or web page, while user experience (UX) covers a user’s overall experience with the product or website.”
#5. Graphic Design & Visual Design
While graphic design is a form of communication that uses colors, shapes, images, and words to create visual content, visual design is a mixture of graphic design and user interface (UI) design.
#6. Information Architecture
Information architecture skill means knowing how to organize and structure information within the product to guarantee smooth navigation and content discoverability.
#7. Frontend Design
Front-end Development skill involves proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to understand the technical limitations and possibilities of web and mobile platforms.
Tip: To have competitive advantage over other candidate witht the same skillset, take time to master AI and AR/VR related design skills.
Creative skills
Now, going back to your strong suit—creativity! Creative skills are self-explanatory. They include imagination, curiosity, creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, collaboration, ability to ask the right questions, brainstorming, and analyzing. All these are useful tools for developing new ideas, increasing efficiency, and solving complex problems.
Tip: even if you have inherent creative abilities in some aspects, creativity is a skill that can be acquired and improved with dedication. So don’t neglect to work on it as well.
Communication skills
Do you know that communication scored the highest among the top 10 most in-demand skills? It’s no surprise really, since communication is at the core of everything we do. In the workplace, it helps articulate your ideas, give and receive feedback, build rapport, and effectively collaborate.
Tip: Practice makes perfect. Look for opportunities to engage in conversations, make presentations, or join group discussions to sharpen your communication skills. Other alternatives are taking communication courses, workshops, or reading books on the subject.
Project management skills
Working as a full-time product designer you might not need project management skills of your own. Why? Because you have an actual human (aka manager) in charge of project timelines, flow, milestones, and deadlines. However, the moment you go freelance, it all becomes your responsibility. So if you’re not organized, struggle with time management, and procrastinate, start working on these issues ASAP!
Tip: What’s more, it’s good to have at least some basic understanding of how business works before starting freelancing.
Being a freelance product designer comes with several irresistible bennies like being your own boss, and having the freedom to do what you want and when you want it. BUT there are also challenges you should be aware of. And that’s what we’re going to discuss next.
Challenges faced by freelance product designers
Challenge #1. Finding clients and projects
If you ask any freelancer, he’ll tell you that finding clients is probably the hardest and the most terrifying step when you’re just starting. Though almost every business needs product designers, what makes it difficult to find them?
Here is the thing, if you just sit and wait for your clients to come knocking at your door, you’ll never find them. But if you make every effort to put yourself out there, you’ll find clients that are a perfect fit for you.
Challenge #2. Managing multiple projects and deadlines
If you’ve never done freelancing before, the other challenge you may face is juggling multiple projects with strict EOD deadlines. Remember how you started this whole freelance thing to be your own boss? Now you have it! Nobody is looking over your shoulder. So you’ll have to figure out ways to stay organized with your projects.
Challenge #3. Negotiating rates and contracts
Freelancers don’t have a fixed salary that appears on their bank account each month. Your income and taxes are now your full responsibility. Before taking on a project, you’re going to have a money talk with each client to negotiate the best deal possible. I guarantee it will be very uncomfortable at first, but that’s how business relationships work.
Challenge #4. Balancing creativity and client demands
Can freelancing be your chance to unleash all your inner creativity? Well, yes and no! On one hand, you have the power to choose what brands to work with and what ideas to sell them. On the other hand, most likely your clients will also have their demands. To be able to balance both is an art in itself…
Sounds intimidating, eh? Luckily, there is an alternative to freelancing—joining the Aweesomic product design team. You’ll have all the benefits of a freelance designer, minus the pain of finding clients, work overload, and negotiating your own rates. What’s more, you won’t be alone on your design journey. Apply today!
How to become a freelance product designer
Imagine doing your product designs from Bali’s most gorgeous beach while sipping mouth-watering piña colada… Sounds like a dream come true, eh? The only thing left is to quit your full-time job and switch to freelance for this dream to manifest in your life, right?
Wrong! I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how the real world works. To become a highly-paid freelance product designer, you’ve got to hustle smart and hard. Think of it as launching your own business, except you're building your personal brand instead. The reality is—it takes years to reach an overnight success.
Even though there are no shortcuts to freelance success, there is an easy-to-follow 4-step guide to help you kick off your freelance product designer career.
Step 1: Building a portfolio
Just as paintings are a window into the artist's soul, your portfolio provides insight into who you are as a designer. If you don’t have it yet, make it your priority to create one. Most clients won’t even start a conversation with you unless you show them your work first.
If you’re a brand-new product designer with no real projects to showcase, don’t lose heart! Offer free product design services to those in your network or embark on redesigning products from brands that resonate with you.
Step 2: Developing a network
Networking is an essential part of any business, and since you’ve decided to go freelance congratulations, you’re a business! Well, an independent contractor to be exact who provides product design services to clients. Which in other words is a B2B business. And since no advertising can beat word of mouth, networking should become your go-to marketing tool. This leads us to the next point.
Step 3: Marketing yourself
Your success as a freelancer very much depends on how proactive you are in building your personal brand. The simple formula is BE EVERYWHERE! On LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Upwork, and Fiver… communicate, engage, and participate in forums, groups, and communities to truly connect with your audience.
Step 4: Leveraging online platforms and tools
As a freelance product designer, you have a plethora of online platforms and tools that you can use to enhance your visibility, efficiency, and productivity. For instance, to showcase your portfolio, use Behance, Dribble, and Instagram. For project management use tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion. To connect to businesses and build a client base use Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. Let’s talk in more details about that.
Finding freelance product design opportunities
Freelance job platforms
One of the ways to land clients is to have a profile on the most popular job platforms for freelancers. Here are the 3 Top Platforms On The Web:
Upwork
Upwork is a freelance job platform that connects businesses with freelancers. There you can find a wide range of product design projects from short-term gigs to long-term contracts.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is almost identical to Upwork. Freelancers have the opportunity to bid on projects listed by clients and access features like milestone payments, dispute resolution, and collaboration tools.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a renowned platform where freelancers present their services through "gigs" that kick off at $5. Clients can browse listings and hire you based on your expertise and review.
Social media platforms
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are by far the best platforms to grow your personal brand (aka freelance business). The truth is, that’s where your target audience and potential clients spend most of their time. It’s their attention that every business and creator around the globe is fighting for, and so should you.
Be authentic, tell your story, showcase your art, show what’s happening behind the scenes, share your knowledge and expertise, and add value… soon, the right opportunities will come knocking at your door.
Industry events and conferences
A solid number of 6-figure freelance creatives say networking helped them get their first and top clients. So why not learn from those who’ve been there, done that, and succeded?
All you need to do is turn your extravert mode on and list all industry events for the next 3-6 months you’d like to attend like conferences, workshops, and meet-ups. And then, let networking begin!
Tip: Do yourself a favor, don’t go there begging people to give you a project. Instead, ask yourself, how can add value to those around you? Oh, and good luck!
Setting rates and fees as a freelance product designer
Factors to consider in setting rates
Let’s say you’ve got clients ready to start working with you ASAP. But here comes that dreaded question… “How much do you charge?” Since it’s your first gig, you clearly have no idea. Considering these factors by Alex Cattoni should help set your rates right from the start:
- Time (How much time will the project take?)
- Scope (How much work is involved?)
- Deadline (How urgent this project is?)
- Experience (How much experience do you have specifically in what you’re asked to do?)
- Expertise (How many years of experience do you have in product design?)
- Relationship potential (Is there a potential long-term partnership with this client?)
- Portfolio potential (Would you like to add this project to your portfolio?)
Pricing models for freelance product design work
Nicolas Cole, one of the most-read writers on the internet and co-founder of Premium Ghostwriting Academy and Typeshare, introduced an ultimate guide to pricing models that any freelancer can use. The idea is to go from level 1 to level 4 when you start making the most profit.
1. Hourly Rate: You simply charge clients based on the time spent on a project or service.
2. Fixed or project-based pricing: Instead of charging clients per hour, you charge them a fixed price per project.
3. Revenue share: You charge clients based on a percentage of the revenue generated from the project. Meaning, you receive a portion of the profits earned by the client.
4. Retainer: Clients are paying a recurring fee to retain your services on an ongoing basis. Typically, you get paid a fixed amount upfront for a set period.
Negotiating rates with clients
The art of negotiations… it is indeed an art! Before you even start negotiations, research industry standards and based on that assess your skills and experience to determine rates. When negotiating, focus on what you bring to the table and how you can benefit the client and his business. It all comes down to how much value you can add.
Bottom line: If you’ve made up your mind and are ready to embark on a new journey as a freelance product designer, then break a leg! Use this article as your blueprint to find clients, set rates and build your personal brand. OR better, join us at Awesomic!
If you’re reading this, you know firsthand how bad the design job market is right now. I bet your TikTok feed is flooded with stories of layoffs, candidates applying for 1000 jobs just to get ghosted, and other business world dramas. Does it mean businesses are no longer hiring designers?
Quite the opposite. Businesses desperately need creatives like you. But here’s the catch: they would rather hire top freelance product designers instead of full-time mediocre ones. After countless interviews with designers and discussions with companies, Awesomic has uncovered the most in-demand product designers in 2024... and how you can join their ranks!
Skills required to be a successful freelance product designer
Technical skills
The top 1% of product designers know that creativity alone is not gonna cut it. Your out-of-the-box thinking needs to be backed up by a technical skillset to bring your ideas to life. Below is your checklist to identify skills you already have and those still lacking (hopefully you’ll score 7 out of 7, fingers crossed!)
#1. User Research
User research is a methodic study of target users’ needs and pain points so designers have needed insights to make the best designs.
#2. Prototyping & User Testing
User testing means using prototypes to evaluate preliminary versions of the product to identify issues and collect feedback to assess its design, functionality, and user experience.
#3. Wireframing
Wireframing is the ability to create wireframes and mockups to visualize the layout and structure of digital products.
#4. UI/UX Design
According to Figma, “user interface (UI) refers to the interactivity, look, and feel of a product screen or web page, while user experience (UX) covers a user’s overall experience with the product or website.”
#5. Graphic Design & Visual Design
While graphic design is a form of communication that uses colors, shapes, images, and words to create visual content, visual design is a mixture of graphic design and user interface (UI) design.
#6. Information Architecture
Information architecture skill means knowing how to organize and structure information within the product to guarantee smooth navigation and content discoverability.
#7. Frontend Design
Front-end Development skill involves proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to understand the technical limitations and possibilities of web and mobile platforms.
Tip: To have competitive advantage over other candidate witht the same skillset, take time to master AI and AR/VR related design skills.
Creative skills
Now, going back to your strong suit—creativity! Creative skills are self-explanatory. They include imagination, curiosity, creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, collaboration, ability to ask the right questions, brainstorming, and analyzing. All these are useful tools for developing new ideas, increasing efficiency, and solving complex problems.
Tip: even if you have inherent creative abilities in some aspects, creativity is a skill that can be acquired and improved with dedication. So don’t neglect to work on it as well.
Communication skills
Do you know that communication scored the highest among the top 10 most in-demand skills? It’s no surprise really, since communication is at the core of everything we do. In the workplace, it helps articulate your ideas, give and receive feedback, build rapport, and effectively collaborate.
Tip: Practice makes perfect. Look for opportunities to engage in conversations, make presentations, or join group discussions to sharpen your communication skills. Other alternatives are taking communication courses, workshops, or reading books on the subject.
Project management skills
Working as a full-time product designer you might not need project management skills of your own. Why? Because you have an actual human (aka manager) in charge of project timelines, flow, milestones, and deadlines. However, the moment you go freelance, it all becomes your responsibility. So if you’re not organized, struggle with time management, and procrastinate, start working on these issues ASAP!
Tip: What’s more, it’s good to have at least some basic understanding of how business works before starting freelancing.
Being a freelance product designer comes with several irresistible bennies like being your own boss, and having the freedom to do what you want and when you want it. BUT there are also challenges you should be aware of. And that’s what we’re going to discuss next.
Challenges faced by freelance product designers
Challenge #1. Finding clients and projects
If you ask any freelancer, he’ll tell you that finding clients is probably the hardest and the most terrifying step when you’re just starting. Though almost every business needs product designers, what makes it difficult to find them?
Here is the thing, if you just sit and wait for your clients to come knocking at your door, you’ll never find them. But if you make every effort to put yourself out there, you’ll find clients that are a perfect fit for you.
Challenge #2. Managing multiple projects and deadlines
If you’ve never done freelancing before, the other challenge you may face is juggling multiple projects with strict EOD deadlines. Remember how you started this whole freelance thing to be your own boss? Now you have it! Nobody is looking over your shoulder. So you’ll have to figure out ways to stay organized with your projects.
Challenge #3. Negotiating rates and contracts
Freelancers don’t have a fixed salary that appears on their bank account each month. Your income and taxes are now your full responsibility. Before taking on a project, you’re going to have a money talk with each client to negotiate the best deal possible. I guarantee it will be very uncomfortable at first, but that’s how business relationships work.
Challenge #4. Balancing creativity and client demands
Can freelancing be your chance to unleash all your inner creativity? Well, yes and no! On one hand, you have the power to choose what brands to work with and what ideas to sell them. On the other hand, most likely your clients will also have their demands. To be able to balance both is an art in itself…
Sounds intimidating, eh? Luckily, there is an alternative to freelancing—joining the Aweesomic product design team. You’ll have all the benefits of a freelance designer, minus the pain of finding clients, work overload, and negotiating your own rates. What’s more, you won’t be alone on your design journey. Apply today!
How to become a freelance product designer
Imagine doing your product designs from Bali’s most gorgeous beach while sipping mouth-watering piña colada… Sounds like a dream come true, eh? The only thing left is to quit your full-time job and switch to freelance for this dream to manifest in your life, right?
Wrong! I hate to break it to you, but that’s not how the real world works. To become a highly-paid freelance product designer, you’ve got to hustle smart and hard. Think of it as launching your own business, except you're building your personal brand instead. The reality is—it takes years to reach an overnight success.
Even though there are no shortcuts to freelance success, there is an easy-to-follow 4-step guide to help you kick off your freelance product designer career.
Step 1: Building a portfolio
Just as paintings are a window into the artist's soul, your portfolio provides insight into who you are as a designer. If you don’t have it yet, make it your priority to create one. Most clients won’t even start a conversation with you unless you show them your work first.
If you’re a brand-new product designer with no real projects to showcase, don’t lose heart! Offer free product design services to those in your network or embark on redesigning products from brands that resonate with you.
Step 2: Developing a network
Networking is an essential part of any business, and since you’ve decided to go freelance congratulations, you’re a business! Well, an independent contractor to be exact who provides product design services to clients. Which in other words is a B2B business. And since no advertising can beat word of mouth, networking should become your go-to marketing tool. This leads us to the next point.
Step 3: Marketing yourself
Your success as a freelancer very much depends on how proactive you are in building your personal brand. The simple formula is BE EVERYWHERE! On LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Upwork, and Fiver… communicate, engage, and participate in forums, groups, and communities to truly connect with your audience.
Step 4: Leveraging online platforms and tools
As a freelance product designer, you have a plethora of online platforms and tools that you can use to enhance your visibility, efficiency, and productivity. For instance, to showcase your portfolio, use Behance, Dribble, and Instagram. For project management use tools like Trello, Asana, or Notion. To connect to businesses and build a client base use Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. Let’s talk in more details about that.
Finding freelance product design opportunities
Freelance job platforms
One of the ways to land clients is to have a profile on the most popular job platforms for freelancers. Here are the 3 Top Platforms On The Web:
Upwork
Upwork is a freelance job platform that connects businesses with freelancers. There you can find a wide range of product design projects from short-term gigs to long-term contracts.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is almost identical to Upwork. Freelancers have the opportunity to bid on projects listed by clients and access features like milestone payments, dispute resolution, and collaboration tools.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a renowned platform where freelancers present their services through "gigs" that kick off at $5. Clients can browse listings and hire you based on your expertise and review.
Social media platforms
LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are by far the best platforms to grow your personal brand (aka freelance business). The truth is, that’s where your target audience and potential clients spend most of their time. It’s their attention that every business and creator around the globe is fighting for, and so should you.
Be authentic, tell your story, showcase your art, show what’s happening behind the scenes, share your knowledge and expertise, and add value… soon, the right opportunities will come knocking at your door.
Industry events and conferences
A solid number of 6-figure freelance creatives say networking helped them get their first and top clients. So why not learn from those who’ve been there, done that, and succeded?
All you need to do is turn your extravert mode on and list all industry events for the next 3-6 months you’d like to attend like conferences, workshops, and meet-ups. And then, let networking begin!
Tip: Do yourself a favor, don’t go there begging people to give you a project. Instead, ask yourself, how can add value to those around you? Oh, and good luck!
Setting rates and fees as a freelance product designer
Factors to consider in setting rates
Let’s say you’ve got clients ready to start working with you ASAP. But here comes that dreaded question… “How much do you charge?” Since it’s your first gig, you clearly have no idea. Considering these factors by Alex Cattoni should help set your rates right from the start:
- Time (How much time will the project take?)
- Scope (How much work is involved?)
- Deadline (How urgent this project is?)
- Experience (How much experience do you have specifically in what you’re asked to do?)
- Expertise (How many years of experience do you have in product design?)
- Relationship potential (Is there a potential long-term partnership with this client?)
- Portfolio potential (Would you like to add this project to your portfolio?)
Pricing models for freelance product design work
Nicolas Cole, one of the most-read writers on the internet and co-founder of Premium Ghostwriting Academy and Typeshare, introduced an ultimate guide to pricing models that any freelancer can use. The idea is to go from level 1 to level 4 when you start making the most profit.
1. Hourly Rate: You simply charge clients based on the time spent on a project or service.
2. Fixed or project-based pricing: Instead of charging clients per hour, you charge them a fixed price per project.
3. Revenue share: You charge clients based on a percentage of the revenue generated from the project. Meaning, you receive a portion of the profits earned by the client.
4. Retainer: Clients are paying a recurring fee to retain your services on an ongoing basis. Typically, you get paid a fixed amount upfront for a set period.
Negotiating rates with clients
The art of negotiations… it is indeed an art! Before you even start negotiations, research industry standards and based on that assess your skills and experience to determine rates. When negotiating, focus on what you bring to the table and how you can benefit the client and his business. It all comes down to how much value you can add.
Bottom line: If you’ve made up your mind and are ready to embark on a new journey as a freelance product designer, then break a leg! Use this article as your blueprint to find clients, set rates and build your personal brand. OR better, join us at Awesomic!
