6 answers
Abigail
Student
Acworth, Georgia
1
Question
Updated
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Are graphic designers freelance or are there businesses that hire them?
Do they work for a specific company? Are they more successful freelance? What does a day in the life of a graphic designer look like exactly and how do they manage to get assignments done efficently?
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6 answers
Lilliana Rivera
Graphic Designer
8
Answers
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Updated
Lilliana’s Answer
Hi Abigail!
Graphic designers can choose to freelance, work for a company, or even do both. Freelancing offers creative freedom and flexibility, while working for a company provides more stability and a steady income. To answer your question: yes, companies often hire freelancers. They bring freelance designers on board for specific projects like branding, social media, or product launches. It’s a great way for companies to get fresh ideas without hiring someone full-time. For freelancers, it means working with different brands while keeping that flexibility.
A designer’s day usually involves finding visual inspiration, keeping up with the latest trends, and balancing creative work, client feedback, and time management. The best designers are good at managing their time and keeping projects organized. Using systems, having clear briefs, and taking regular breaks helps them stay efficient without burning out.
Hope this helps,
Lilliana
Graphic designers can choose to freelance, work for a company, or even do both. Freelancing offers creative freedom and flexibility, while working for a company provides more stability and a steady income. To answer your question: yes, companies often hire freelancers. They bring freelance designers on board for specific projects like branding, social media, or product launches. It’s a great way for companies to get fresh ideas without hiring someone full-time. For freelancers, it means working with different brands while keeping that flexibility.
A designer’s day usually involves finding visual inspiration, keeping up with the latest trends, and balancing creative work, client feedback, and time management. The best designers are good at managing their time and keeping projects organized. Using systems, having clear briefs, and taking regular breaks helps them stay efficient without burning out.
Hope this helps,
Lilliana
Gishan Ali
24
Answers
Clifton, New Jersey
Updated
Gishan’s Answer
Hello Abigail,
Great question, and to answer this, Graphic Designers may work both freelance or for a company, but freelance is the most popular choice of working today. Freelance you have total control of what you design, and you may set your own rates. The day of a graphic designer is usually by deadlines, because lets say if you have a client and they want a specific design by a specific time frame, you must get it done, by utilizing your time management. Otherwise its pretty chill, just make sure your doing good and meeting client expectations. Hope this helps.
Best,
Gishan
Great question, and to answer this, Graphic Designers may work both freelance or for a company, but freelance is the most popular choice of working today. Freelance you have total control of what you design, and you may set your own rates. The day of a graphic designer is usually by deadlines, because lets say if you have a client and they want a specific design by a specific time frame, you must get it done, by utilizing your time management. Otherwise its pretty chill, just make sure your doing good and meeting client expectations. Hope this helps.
Best,
Gishan
Marianna Katorgina
15
Answers
Timonino, МО
Updated
Marianna’s Answer
I haven’t worked as a graphic designer(i am studying as one and have smaaaaaaal experience). As far as I know - both options are possible and equally good. Some graphic designers work freelance, while others are hired by companies. It really depends on the person and what suits them best. Freelancers have more freedom with their schedule and can choose their own projects, while working in a company usually provides more stability and a steady income.
Kim Matthews
Graphic Production Designer and Sculptor
77
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Abigail,
We do it all: freelance, contract, and staff, though people certainly have preferences for various reasons. My longest staff role as a graphic designer lasted about 12 years; I worked at a retail mail-order company designing consumer products and the catalogs we used to promote them. I needed more money and growth opportunities, so I left and started contracting. Contracts can be short projects of just a few weeks or can go to a year or more; usually agencies advertise for the jobs and manage client relationships, payroll, tax deductions, insurance and benefits (if you're lucky), and the other HR stuff--but they take a significant bite out of your paycheck for that.
Freelancers are totally on their own, so they can charge a little more, but they also have to because they have bookkeeping expenses, have to cover insurance on their own, don't have any benefits like 401k or retirement--you get the gist. The best part about freelancing is having some flexibility in scheduling; most contract roles require set hours like a regular job.
I offer a variety of services; right now I'm freelancing as a publications designer and developmental editor on three books. I prefer broad roles like this because I get to do different things. Sometimes I take specialized roles like production artist or copyeditor/proofreader too.
As for day to day: I'm going to have another cup of coffee, get dressed, then try to finish up a draft of a workbook for my client, then go to the Yfor a swim this afternoon. While I eat lunch I'll look on LinkedIn and Indeed for other jobs and maybe apply for one or two, but pickings are slim right now.
Hope this helps!
We do it all: freelance, contract, and staff, though people certainly have preferences for various reasons. My longest staff role as a graphic designer lasted about 12 years; I worked at a retail mail-order company designing consumer products and the catalogs we used to promote them. I needed more money and growth opportunities, so I left and started contracting. Contracts can be short projects of just a few weeks or can go to a year or more; usually agencies advertise for the jobs and manage client relationships, payroll, tax deductions, insurance and benefits (if you're lucky), and the other HR stuff--but they take a significant bite out of your paycheck for that.
Freelancers are totally on their own, so they can charge a little more, but they also have to because they have bookkeeping expenses, have to cover insurance on their own, don't have any benefits like 401k or retirement--you get the gist. The best part about freelancing is having some flexibility in scheduling; most contract roles require set hours like a regular job.
I offer a variety of services; right now I'm freelancing as a publications designer and developmental editor on three books. I prefer broad roles like this because I get to do different things. Sometimes I take specialized roles like production artist or copyeditor/proofreader too.
As for day to day: I'm going to have another cup of coffee, get dressed, then try to finish up a draft of a workbook for my client, then go to the Yfor a swim this afternoon. While I eat lunch I'll look on LinkedIn and Indeed for other jobs and maybe apply for one or two, but pickings are slim right now.
Hope this helps!
Tris Marquez
Digital artist
1
Answer
Hesperia, California
Updated
Tris’s Answer
graphic designers can be totally freelance! i’m currently enrolled in a graphic design class and my teacher works freelance himself. it is possible to work for a company doing graphic design, but in a lot of cases, it’s usually to help make about one or two designs and then the designer will move onto another client/company. now a day in the life is definitely a little odd to describe since every day can be so different for a graphic designer. however, the designer will usually be contacted by someone who is interested in getting a design made and so it’s up to the designer and the client to work out the general idea of the end price and, of course, the actual design being made! for me personally, when working on a pretty detailed design, it takes me about a week to finish it 100%, but that varies drastically for everybody. hope this helps!!
Crissy Bogusz
Graphic Designer and Motion Graphics Artist
5
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Crissy’s Answer
Hi Abigail
The answer is both! As a designer you can be freelance (find your own clients), or be hired by a company who hires their own graphic designers for projects. Or the 3rd option is you can be working with a recruitment company who hire companies who might need graphic designers, so it's possible to get work that way too.
I consider myself quite successful. I started working for a company (I applied to jobs or contacted companies directly offering my services, asking if they needed any graphic designers) after I left University. I first started working part time for a small company, then I got a job at a much bigger company and stayed with them for a few years. Over the years I've had other jobs but always looked for freelance work so that eventually I could work as a contractor (being contracted on short term projects). And I do that now - I work for many different companies who need projects every now and then, and they ask me if I'm free to do the work. You can find these types of jobs many ways, you can apply to them online on places like Linkedin, or there are other websites that specifically have just short term freelance work, and the more work you do the more those companies will re-hire you for other projects, or recommend you to others.
I calculate success through wages and earnings, as well as regularity of the work. You can make a lot of money as a freelancer because the hourly or day rate normally is quite good. But then of course you need to make sure you're working all the time to continue making good money. You can work on varied, fun and different projects that way too. Diversity in experience is always a good thing. You can make a lot through a good full time permenant job too and then work yourself up to more senior roles within that one company.
The answer is both! As a designer you can be freelance (find your own clients), or be hired by a company who hires their own graphic designers for projects. Or the 3rd option is you can be working with a recruitment company who hire companies who might need graphic designers, so it's possible to get work that way too.
I consider myself quite successful. I started working for a company (I applied to jobs or contacted companies directly offering my services, asking if they needed any graphic designers) after I left University. I first started working part time for a small company, then I got a job at a much bigger company and stayed with them for a few years. Over the years I've had other jobs but always looked for freelance work so that eventually I could work as a contractor (being contracted on short term projects). And I do that now - I work for many different companies who need projects every now and then, and they ask me if I'm free to do the work. You can find these types of jobs many ways, you can apply to them online on places like Linkedin, or there are other websites that specifically have just short term freelance work, and the more work you do the more those companies will re-hire you for other projects, or recommend you to others.
I calculate success through wages and earnings, as well as regularity of the work. You can make a lot of money as a freelancer because the hourly or day rate normally is quite good. But then of course you need to make sure you're working all the time to continue making good money. You can work on varied, fun and different projects that way too. Diversity in experience is always a good thing. You can make a lot through a good full time permenant job too and then work yourself up to more senior roles within that one company.