The Everyday Designer #17 — 10 ways a designer can diversify their income in 2023

With the rise of the average cost of living, it can get pretty tricky to stay afloat, especially as a freelancer. But whether you’re a freelancer, or working for a company, in a studio, it's important to have multiple streams of income to ensure financial stability and growth. Here are 10 ways designers can diversify their income in 2023:

1. Sell digital products: Designers can create and sell digital products like icons, patterns, and templates on platforms like Gumroad, Creative Market and Etsy.
   
   Check out Oliur's channel on YouTube. He's made an enormous income by building up an array of digital products. Have a look at his website if you want to learn more too!
   

1. Easlo is another fascinating example. (Check out the website here)
   

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2. Offer design consultations: Designers can offer consultations to clients who need help with their design projects. They can charge hourly rates or offer packages for ongoing consultations.

1. Check out her website here
2. Create and sell courses: Designers can create and sell online courses on platforms like Udemy and Skillshare. They can teach design skills or even non-design skills like marketing or entrepreneurship.

1. Check out the website here
2. Design and sell merchandise: Designers can design and sell merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, and stickers on platforms like Redbubble and Society6.
   

1. Check out their website here!
   
2. Offer design coaching: Designers can offer coaching to aspiring designers who want to improve their skills. They can offer one-on-one sessions or group coaching.

1. Check out her website here
   Another example is Arnau Ros:

1. Check out his website here
   
2. Create and sell design assets: Designers can create and sell design assets like fonts, textures, and stock photos on platforms like Envato Elements and Shutterstock.

1. Check out his website here
   
2. Partner with brands: Designers can partner with brands to create sponsored content or design collaborations. They can showcase the partnership on their website and social media platforms.

1. Check out his YT channel here
   
2. Offer design services on freelance platforms: Designers can offer their design services on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. They can work on projects for clients all over the world.

1. Check out Fiverr here
   
2. Create and sell print-on-demand products: Designers can create and sell print-on-demand products like art prints, phone cases, and tote bags on platforms like Printful and Printify. Elliot Ulm is a great example of this:
   

1. Check out his offerings here.
   
2. Write and sell design ebooks: Designers can write and sell ebooks on design topics like typography, color theory, and branding on platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
   
   

These are just some of the ways designers can diversify their income in 2023. You get the point though. You don’t have to stay stuck in just doing one thing. Maybe its time to pick up that side hustle you’ve been itching to do for a while but you just haven’t got around to it. Maybe its that icon pack that you know will do well but just need the little push to get on it. Whatever it is, get to it. It might just be the next “#1 on Producthunt” that gets you some income to help you out!

🌊 Currents

I love sharing what I’ve been up to lately and this is one way for me to let you in on what’s been happening in my life.

📕 Currently reading: An essay on typography — Eric Gill: A good friend of mine recently gifted me this book (shout out Jeff!) and knowing how excited I am about type immediately dug into it! Type geeks, this one is a gem!

🎧 Currently watching: Sunny Sixteen studio: Been watching these guys, originally known as the “Moment” peeps, now running their own studio. The photos they take, the podcast episodes they make. If you’re a photographer at any stage this is the channel to be subscribed to!

🥲 Currently bittersweet: The Last of Us season finale — HBO: Anyone else STILL RECOVERING from the finale of The Last of Us?! 😭 There’s so much I could say but I do not want to spoil it for anyone else so come talk to me about it in the DM’s.