Designers are naturally creative and innovative individuals. They have a passion for bringing their ideas to life through visual representation.
But, what if you could turn your passion into a side hustle and earn some extra money?
That’s right, in 2023, designers can earn money through a variety of side hustles that cater to their skillset. In this article, we will explore 12 side hustles for designers in 2023 and the steps you need to take to get started.

1. Freelancing

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If you’re a designer, you can offer your services as a freelancer. Freelancing is a great way to make money from your skills, and you can work from anywhere in the world. All you need is a portfolio of your work and a website to showcase your services. You can use platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to get started.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create a portfolio of your work
• Set up a website to showcase your services
• Choose a freelancing platform that suits your needs
• Create a profile and start bidding on projects

2. Notion Templates

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Notion is a powerful organizational tool that’s becoming increasingly popular. If you’re a designer, you can create templates for Notion and sell them online. This is a great way to earn passive income and reach a wider audience.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create a Notion account
• Design and test your templates
• Sell your templates on a platform like Gumroad, Sellfy, or even Etsy

3. Content Creation on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

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Social media is a powerful tool that allows you to showcase your work and reach a wider audience. If you’re a designer, you can create content on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and earn money through sponsored posts or affiliate marketing.

Steps to Get Started:

• Choose a platform (Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter)
• Start creating content that showcases your work
• Build an audience by engaging with your followers
• Monetize your account through sponsored posts or affiliate marketing

4. Writing on Medium (Especially if you are outside India)

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Medium is a platform that allows you to write articles and reach a global audience. If you’re a designer, you can write about your experiences, and design tips, and share your portfolio. You can earn money through Medium’s Partner Program, which pays you for every view of your articles.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create a Medium account
• Start writing articles about your experiences, design tips, and portfolio
• Share your articles on social media to reach a wider audience
• Sign up for Medium’s Partner Program to earn money for your articles

5. Assets Creation on Freepik, Envato Elements

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Freepik and Envato Elements are platforms that allow you to sell your assets (designs, illustrations, etc.). If you’re a designer, you can create assets and sell them on these platforms. This is a great way to earn passive income and reach a wider audience.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create an account on Freepik or Envato Elements
• Design and test your assets
• Upload your assets to the platform
• Start earning money for every download

6. Selling Ebook

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If you’re a designer, you can create an ebook about your experiences, and design tips, or showcase your portfolio. You can sell your ebook on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Gumroad. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and earn passive income.

Steps to Get Started:

• Choose a topic for your ebook (design tips, experiences, or portfolio)
• Write your ebook and format it for publishing
• Publish your ebook on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Gumroad
• Market your ebook through social media and other channels

7. Creating Courses & Selling

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If you’re a designer, you can create a course about your skills and sell it online. You can use platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable to host your course. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and earn passive income.

Steps to Get Started:

• Choose a topic for your course (design skills, tips, or software)
• Create your course content (video lessons, worksheets, etc.)
• Publish your course on Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable
• Market your course through social media and other channels

8. Content Creation on YouTube

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YouTube is a powerful platform that allows you to reach a global audience. If you’re a designer, you can create content on YouTube and earn money through advertisements, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create a YouTube account
• Start creating content that showcases your work and design skills
• Build an audience by engaging with your followers
• Monetize your channel through advertisements, sponsorships, and merchandise sales

9. Public Speaking (Offline or Online)

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If you’re a designer, you can offer your services as a public speaker. You can speak about your experiences, and design tips, and showcase your portfolio. You can speak at conferences, events, or even online. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and earn money.

Steps to Get Started:

• Build a portfolio of your work and experiences
• Start reaching out to events and conferences as a speaker
• Offer your services as an online speaker through platforms like Zoom or Skype
• Build your reputation as a speaker and start earning money

10. Online Mentorship

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If you’re a designer, you can offer your services as an online mentor. You can mentor designers who are just starting out or those who are looking to improve their skills. You can use platforms like MentorCruise or Coach.me to offer your services.

Steps to Get Started:

• Build a portfolio of your work and experiences
• Choose a mentorship platform (MentorCruise or Coach.me)
• Create a profile and start offering your services as a mentor
• Build your reputation as a mentor and start earning money

11. Merchandise Creation

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If you’re a designer, you can create merchandise based on your designs. You can sell merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. You can sell your merchandise on platforms like Teespring or Redbubble. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and earn money.

Steps to Get Started:

• Create designs for your merchandise
• Choose a platform to sell your merchandise (Teespring or Redbubble)
• Create a store and start selling your merchandise
• Market your merchandise through social media and other channels

12. Starting a Newsletter

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If you’re a designer, you can start a newsletter to showcase your work and share your design tips. You can use platforms like Mailchimp or Substack to start your newsletter. This is a great way to reach a wider audience and earn money through sponsorships and advertisements.

Steps to Get Started:

• Choose a platform to start your newsletter (Mailchimp or Substack)
• Create a newsletter and start sharing your work and design tips
• Build an audience by engaging with your subscribers
• Monetize your newsletter through sponsorships and advertisements

In conclusion, there are numerous side-hustle opportunities for designers in 2023. Whether you want to sell merchandise, start a newsletter, or offer your services as a mentor, the opportunities are endless. All it takes is a bit of creativity and determination to turn your passion into a profitable side hustle. So, what are you waiting for? Get started today!