HIRE A FREELANCE DESIGNER

When you're on the hunt for the perfect designer, you're probably picturing someone who delivers top-notch work, handles challenges with ease, and won’t break the bank. That’s where a freelance designer comes in.

Freelancing is at an all-time high in 2023, with 64 million Americans—or 38% of the U.S. workforce—now freelancing, according to Upwork's Freelance Forward report. So, you're more likely to find the talent you need among freelancers than full-time employees.

But what’s driving so many designers to go freelance? And how can your business really benefit from hiring one? Stick around, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about finding and hiring a freelance designer, with tips to make the process smooth and successful.

What is a freelance designer?

A freelance designer is an independent professional who offers design services on a project-by-project basis.

Unlike full-time employees, freelance designers work for multiple clients, bringing flexibility and a wide range of experience to each project. They specialize in various areas, such as graphic design, web design, UX/UI, or branding, allowing businesses to find the right talent for their specific needs.

Freelance designers are self-employed, managing their own schedules, rates, and workload, which often leads to more creative freedom and a diverse portfolio. This flexibility makes them an excellent option for businesses looking for tailored design solutions without the commitment of hiring full-time staff.

Why hire a freelance designer

Let's be honest: businesses choose freelance designers for their cost-efficiency and adaptability. Freelancers deliver services on demand and seamlessly handle multiple projects. Plus, they offer several advantages over full-time employees:

• Take control of project costs

Hiring a freelance designer gives you precise control over project costs. You can choose between two payment methods. The first is the hourly rate system, where the freelancer tracks time spent on the project, providing a clear breakdown of costs. The second option is a fixed-fee system, where the talent offers set prices for freelance design services, allowing you to select what you need and pay accordingly.

• Get talent in high-demand industries

Freelancers often specialize in specific design areas, such as graphic design, web design, or product design, allowing you to find the perfect match for your project. In 2023, web design and UX/UI design ranked among the most in-demand skills, making freelance designers with these specialties highly sought after. Whether you need a sleek website or an intuitive user experience, hiring a freelancer with these skills ensures your project is in capable hands.

• Spend less time supervising

Another benefit of working with freelance designers is their strong time management skills. They’re typically self-starters who can organize their work and keep communication clear, reducing the chances of misunderstandings.

However, it's still important to stay engaged and provide feedback at each stage of the project. Regular check-ins help ensure they meet important milestones and deadlines, and keep revisions to a minimum by addressing any changes early on.

• Get more done with a flexible schedule

Freelance designers have the advantage of managing their time more effectively, allowing them to meet deadlines and deliver quality work. According to Freelancermap, the majority of freelancers (31%) work an average of 40 hours per week, with 16% working 46-50 hours and 13% clocking in 41-45 hours per week. This level of commitment ensures that freelancers are highly efficient, making them a popular choice for businesses.

• Hire talent from anywhere

In today’s digital world, you can easily hire a freelance designer from across the globe if their style matches your vision. Many companies also seek out designers from other countries to benefit from lower rates. However, it’s important to consider factors like language proficiency, time zone differences, and cultural nuances, as these can add time to your selection process.

Freelance designer VS Full-time designer

When deciding between hiring a freelance designer or a full-time designer, it’s important to consider your business’s unique needs, budget, and long-term goals. Both options have their pros and cons, so understanding the differences can help you make an informed decision.

Freelance designer VS Independent contractor

People often use the terms “freelancer” and “independent contractor” interchangeably, but this isn’t entirely true. While both freelancers and contractors are self-employed and work with customers on temporary projects, they have a few differences.

The most popular freelance design services

Have a specific design need and wondering if a freelance designer can handle it? Or maybe you've never worked with a freelancer before and are curious about what they can offer? We’ve done the research on the most popular freelance designer services, so you can discover if an on-demand expert is the right fit for your project.

• Freelance graphic designers

These days, freelance graphic designers make up about 90% of the industry. They work with all kinds of companies, from startups to big enterprises, but small businesses tend to be their main clients.

Most of their work is tied to advertising—think social media graphics, ad banners, and other marketing materials. But they also help boost offline brand presence by designing printed materials, business cards, and even merchandise.

• Freelance web designers

Website design is the second most common service offered by freelancers. In 2023, Upwork ranked web design and UX/UI design among the most in-demand skills.

Freelance web designers provide a range of services, including website development, maintenance, prototyping, and mobile optimization. Many large businesses and enterprises regularly outsource their web design projects to freelancers, building long-term collaborative relationships.

• Freelance UX designers

Currently, three new websites are created every second, and each one needs a UX designer to ensure a comfortable experience for users.

Freelance UX designers can help businesses create responsive websites that are easy for users to navigate. They can also refresh existing web pages, enhancing their performance and user experience.

• Freelance UI designers

Freelance UI designers play a crucial role in creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces for websites and apps. They focus on ensuring that every element on the screen, from buttons to sliders, is designed to enhance the user experience.

UI designers work closely with UX designers to bring the functional aspects of a design to life, ensuring that the final product is both beautiful and intuitive. Whether it's crafting the layout of a mobile app or designing the interface of a web platform, freelance UI designers are key to building engaging digital experiences that keep users coming back.

• Freelance brand designers

Freelance brand designer services are especially invaluable for small businesses and startups during their growth stages. Brand designers combine the skills of a graphic designer and a marketing strategist, helping to jumpstart your business and expand its presence.

The working process of a freelance brand designer is like a chain. It begins with analyzing the brand’s target audience and their triggers. From there, the brand designer adds new links: style guides, logos, brand books, printed materials, and more.

This type of project can span several months. Additionally, companies might reconnect with a brand designer for tasks like rebranding or upscaling their business strategy.

• Freelance motion designers

In recent years, video has become an essential marketing tool, leading to a growing demand for motion designers. Today, many businesses collaborate with freelance motion designers to enhance their projects.

Tech startups often hire freelance motion designers to create explainer videos that showcase their products. These talents can also craft animated sketches for social media to attract more customers. Additionally, motion designers frequently develop website icons and small interactive elements to make interfaces more engaging.

5 practical tips to hire the best freelance designers

The process of hiring a freelance designer is pretty straightforward. But how can you find and hire the best freelance designers for your project?

Here are 5 practical tips:

1. Define your project needs clearly

Before reaching out to a freelance designer, be clear about what you need. Outline the project’s scope, deliverables, deadlines, and budget. The more detailed your brief, the easier it will be to find a designer whose skills align perfectly with your project. Clear communication from the start sets the stage for a successful collaboration.

2. Review portfolios thoroughly

A designer’s portfolio is the best indicator of their style, skill level, and experience. Take the time to review their past work. Look for projects similar to yours and assess whether their design style matches your vision. A good portfolio will also showcase versatility and the ability to work across different design mediums.

3. Check references and reviews

Don’t hesitate to ask for references or look at reviews from previous clients. This can give you insight into the designer’s reliability, work ethic, and how they handle feedback and revisions. Reviews on platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or LinkedIn can also provide a sense of the designer’s professionalism and communication skills.

4. Start with a small project

If you’re unsure whether a designer is the right fit, start with a smaller project or a test task. This allows you to evaluate their work quality, communication, and how well they meet deadlines without committing to a larger project. It’s a practical way to gauge if they’re the right choice for a long-term collaboration.

5. Set clear terms and expectations

Once you’ve selected a designer, make sure to set clear terms and expectations. This includes agreeing on deadlines, payment schedules, revision policies, and communication frequency. A written contract or agreement can help avoid misunderstandings and ensure that both parties are on the same page throughout the project.

Top platforms for hiring freelance designers

Here’s a list of the best platforms to find and hire freelance talents. Whether you need graphic design, web design, or something in between, these platforms connect you with top-tier professionals ready to bring your project to life.

Social media

Social media platforms are powerful tools for networking, building connections, and sharing ideas online. They allow you to quickly identify experts based on their communication style and hire them directly.

Posting a job request on social media can make it visible to a vast audience—Instagram alone has over a billion active users worldwide. This means your ideal freelance designer could be just a few shares away.

However, there are downsides. If your network isn’t extensive or diverse, it may take months before someone reaches out to you. Additionally, there’s a risk that someone might refer an entry-level graphic designer when what you really need is a seasoned web design expert, since posts aren’t always read thoroughly.

Pros and cons:
✅ Completely free
✅ Hundreds of candidates within reach
❌ Time-consuming, especially with a smaller network
❌ High chance of receiving referrals for the wrong type of expert
❌ Some experts may not use social media as their main communication channel

Referral programs

Another effective approach is to look for a freelance graphic designer within your team through referral programs. The process is straightforward: ask your employees if they know someone who fits the role, and if they refer a potential candidate, they receive a reward.

Candidates are more likely to accept an offer recommended by a friend, which means using a referral program can help you fill the position quickly.

However, your employees aren’t HR specialists and may not fully understand your company’s needs. They might recommend someone who doesn’t quite meet your requirements, especially if you’re looking for a highly specialized designer. This could lead to the process being repeated several times.

Pros and cons:
✅ Faster than working with a recruiter
✅ Employee incentives are more affordable than HR costs
❌ Employees might be biased
❌ Developing a sustainable incentive program takes time
❌ Employees might not know any suitable candidates

Freelance websites

Freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr, Dribbble, and Behance offer a wide range of web, graphic, product, and other design professionals. These platforms allow you to filter freelancers by skills and hourly rates and provide tools to enhance communication and project management.

However, most freelance websites don’t verify the credibility of the designers. This means you might encounter a low-level designer posing as an expert, or even receive clip art and stolen ideas presented as original designs.

Pros and cons:
✅ Vast talent pool to choose from
✅ Ability to compare designers and review portfolios before hiring
✅ Average market rates make cost estimation easier
❌ Risk of encountering low-quality work or plagiarism
❌ Some platforms charge additional fees for posting jobs or using services
❌ Browsing and evaluating candidates can be time-consuming

Flat rate talent marketplaces

Finally, you can explore design subscription websites that offer a variety of design services for a fixed monthly fee. These platforms often have a rigorous vetting process; for instance, Awesomic works exclusively with designers who have at least three years of experience.

Some platforms focus solely on design services, while others expand their offerings to include content writers, marketing strategists, and video editors.

When selecting a design platform, consider factors like unlimited revisions and scalable plans. For example, Awesomic offers several subscription plans tailored to various needs, allowing you to choose one that best fits your project scope. You can work with talent on a part-time or full-time basis, ultimately saving money in the long run.

Pros and cons:
✅ Thorough vetting process for designers
✅ Platforms are focused on delivering daily results
✅ Talent pool includes more than just designers
✅ Flexibility through different subscription plans
❌ Some platforms lack trial or refund periods and require full payment upfront
❌ Lower-cost platforms may hire less experienced designers

Wrapping up

Recruiting a freelance designer is a multi-step process that requires careful consideration. But is it really any harder than finding a regular designer?

You can take the slow and steady approach, like a seasoned climber, by posting your request on social media, browsing freelance websites, and carefully selecting the best candidates yourself.

Or, you can take a helicopter straight to the top. In this case, talent marketplaces like Awesomic are your go-to solution. With an AI-powered algorithm, Awesomic can match you with the perfect candidate in as few as 24 hours.

Plus, at Awesomic, you’ll receive daily updates on your project and enjoy unlimited revisions until your design is just right—all for a fixed monthly fee. So, are you ready for that helicopter ride?