Have you ever felt that your income is not enough, although working so hard? Then, this is the time for you to start exploring how to make passive income as a designer, so you can earn much more money with less effort for a long time. But what are the effective ways to achieve it? We’ve compiled everything in this article for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Selling digital products is so promising for earning income effortlessly
- There are tips and tricks to earn design passive income while being active as a graphic designer
15 Ways for Your Design to Generate Good Passive Income
Upwork reports that all businesses always require various types of designers, either for full-time or freelance employment. In addition to that, the demand will continue to increase by 2% from 2023 to 2033, which means there is so much potential to earn money.
The list below will guide you on how to make passive income as a graphic designer or any other kind of designer effectively, depending on your expertise.
1. Selling Fonts
Vicarel Studios shares that some famous font designers can make more than $100,000 on Creative Market. You can also try on Etsy and MyFonts, but do pay attention to the percentage of the sharing profit beforehand.
Also Read: How to Price Your Design Work Without Underselling
2. Offering Online Courses about Designing
Mara Kucirek assures that the income level of selling online courses is varied, with the small creators generating between $5,000 and $10,000 per year. You can advertise your modules on your website or other platforms, like Udemy and Skillshare.
3. Creating Print-on-Demand Merchandise
Gelato informs that designers usually earn around $27 per hour, depending on their popularity and niche. But your growth will surely increase, one step at a time, after uploading your artwork to good platforms, like Printify and Printful.
4. Templates for Printables, Websites, and Social Media
Templates (Source: Freepik – Scrapbook notes & cards)
Selling templates is one of the ways to answer the question of how to make passive income as a designer because of the high potential. Moneeka D shares that the Canva template, like a schedule sheet and calendar, can give you around $15.
Also Read: Clean Website Design: 10 Sites That Get It Right
5. Offering Your Skills as an Independent Freelancer
Easyhosting quotes ZipRecruiter that the beginner designer can be compensated for around $19.47 per hour. However, it takes time to be well-known, especially if you have not prepared a portfolio. If so, you can start taking jobs on Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.com.
6. Making Data Visualization and Infographics
All companies must compile information, and designers with the niche of infographics usually can simplify complex concepts into easy-to-understand visualization. ZipRecruiter researches that infographic designers can make around $40 per hour because of the demand in the market.
7. Making Your Own Social Media Channel
Social media grants you with an online presence, which captures people’s attention to follow what you say and do, including your digital products. Furthermore, if you gain high engagement and many followers. For example, generally, you can be paid $1,000 to $3,000 per video on TikTok if you have collected 50K–75K followers.
8. Logo Creation for Companies
Logos for Passive Income (Source: Freepik)
All logos should represent the company’s identity, but with simplicity. Not all designers are capable of executing the task. Some logo designers can even get around $1,075 per week, yet the income still depends on the experience and portfolio.
9. Becoming an Illustrator
If you are more into illustration, many companies actually choose customized drawings for their projects, like advertisements or product packaging. You can also make one for printables that reportedly can bless you with payment between $15 and $30 per hour.
10. Web Designing Service
Almost all companies advertise their products on their website, but website designers are needed to arrange the visualization to be user-friendly and attractive. With the good prospects, there is a high possibility that you get $35 for an hourly rate.
11. Blogging for Affiliate Marketing
Similar to social media channels, you can build a website and share insightful articles, like marketing companies’ products, to earn commissions. However, the earnings can be varied, under $1000, depending on your marketing skills.
Also Read: 8 Successful Strategies for Digital Product Marketing
12. Selling Digital Tools for Other Designers
Custom Brushes (Source: Freepik)
If you are looking for how to make passive income as a designer but prefer to create changes in the digital art world, it is possible to create customized tools for other artists, like signature brushes for drawing illustrations and comics. The range of profit depends on you, but the market price can be up to $55.
13. Art Commissions
Some people do seek artists who can draw their favorites for personal use. But the income is not precise because of the dependency on one’s skill.
14. E-Book Covers
Other than for marketing purposes, illustrations are often demanded for e-books and printed books cover. Some experts can be rewarded $56,698 annually.
15. Memberships
If you are confused about what niche you should choose, you can share content on platforms that offer a membership feature, like Patreon.
Also Read: How to Design a Website Layout That Engages Users
10 Things to Remember
Money is not the only focus. It is important to consider doing these things before starting your journey.
- Deciding your goals
- Organizing your plans to effectively reach your goal
- Learning about pricing and finance from experts
- Listening to other experts about the online market
- Joining courses to broaden your perspectives on digital products
- Joining communities of artists
- Learning from your failures to achieve your goal
- Establishing your online presence by creating social media
- Practising for the continual improvement of your skills
- Learning a new skill if you have art block
You are One Step Closer to Getting a Lot of Money
Have you chosen which way of how to make passive income as a designer interests you? If you have, do not forget to visit Graphicted and explore the digital product collections for your passive income to make your artworks look premium in your audience’s eyes.
