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How Do You Specifically Use Your Graphic Design Skills In Freelancing?



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How Do You Specifically Use Your Graphic Design Skills In Freelancing?

I was wondering how those of you who are skilled in graphic design used your skill sin your freelancing activities? How many different ways do you use these skills to garner a profit, and have you had a lot of success freelancing with these skills?

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Tronia
I don't really use them as much anymore since my main focus is now writing, producing articles and taking care of my blog but I have done a lot of graphic designing in the past. I had knowledge from some of the university classes and I expanded it because I found it interesting. Then once I started doing freelancing I saw many people offering their services as graphic designers and producing different banners, and so on. So, I thought, "Hey, why not get paid for my skills" and began offering services as well.

I did everything you can imagine... from banners, web designing, templates, ad designing, logos, making animated videos and more. I was always open to first hear what the client wants and to see if I can offer that to him/her. If I felt like I don't have enough knowledge in the certain area I usually just declined.



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JoeMilford
Tronia,
When I wrote this prompt for the forum, I remember you came up in my mind as someone who had mentioned, somewhere in the forums we frequent, that they had done freelance graphic work. It's funny how we "get to know each other" a bit in these forums. Anyway, I appreciate the list of skills and services that you provided n your design work. I do not have the graphics skills that you do, so I hope my two blogs, once I have them set up as they should be, are as successful as yours sounds like it is.



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vinaya
There was a time when I wanted to become a photoshop artist and graphic designer. However, I could not devote enough time to acquiring skills. Even though I can do graphic designs, my skills are rudimentary. Interestingly, sometimes I convince my clients that they should also ask me to do the cover for the books that I am writing for them. So far I have done three covers for my clients who actually hired me to write books.



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Martinsx1
As a result of my poor knowledge on any kind of graphic designing, I always outsource any graphic job that comes to my desk to some of my good friends that are well skilled in the world of graphics. I actually envy them sometimes because looking at their job output makes me feel like I need to master the work.



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DenisP
Yeah I'm somewhat in the same position as well. I myself went to college for Advertising and Graphic Design, and after college I decided to pursue work as a freelancer as opposed to looking to work for an agency. I did that for a bit before I decided I wasn't so sure if I wanted to be doing graphic design as a career, as what was once a fun hobby stopped being so enjoyable (though I suppose that usually happens with most jobs). I decided to go in the direction of writing, but my design skills come in handy none the less, as if I want to establish new sites or put together videos to promote my content, I don't have to hire someone else.



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vinaya
If you have graphic designing skills, you can start working as a freelance graphic designer. Freelancing is not limited to writing, anything you do without actually being bound to a company is freelancing. If you check Fiverr, you can see a lot of freelance graphic designers.



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treecko142
I am in the same boat as you and in every freelancing work, in the beginning you really have to just accept and accept every job available to increase your experience and your portfolio to take on higher paying jobs. You have to start at something and work your way to the top.



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wiseagent
I'm sorry but I can't help you with that because if there is one thing that I hate in this world, this thing is called graphics. I don't have the least patience for them and I have no desire to learn how to use them.

I usually play around saying it was hate at first sight, haha!



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JoeMilford
I had to laugh at your post, not laugh at it, actually, but laugh with it, because I am exactly the same as you. I am lost when it comes to creating graphics--no skills there whatsoever. Some part of me wishes I was adept at them, or even average at them, but I will just stick to honing the one or two things I am already good at.



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wiseagent
JoeMilford,

Hahahaha... So, you can understand me. How Do You Specifically Use Your Graphic Design Skills In Freelancing? Graphics aren't really my kind of thing. I even tried to try to learn some things, but it's something I really don't like and I don't have the slightest interest anymore.



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JoeMilford
I actually would love to be good at graphics, but my laziness or general lack of interest has kept me from researching and studying how to become adept at such things, I am more focused on my writing, I guess, and I just want to keep putting my energy towards that, if that makes sense.



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wiseagent
So, I think you're one step ahead of me on this issue because in my case, I really don't feel the slightest urge to learn about graphics.

Everything always seems to be so annoying to me. I can't deal with that, haha.



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JoeMilford
Moreover, I would rather spend my time honing my writing skills anyway. I realize that my strengths lie mainly in the content I am creating, and time being the ultimate factor, I can forego ny graphic design training or online tutorials for now...



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wiseagent
I'd rather spend my strength on my skills that give me more pleasure, so
writing is at the top of my list.

Obviously I like to learn new things, but when they don't please me I don't usually force the bar to change my mind.



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JoeMilford
Ultimately, and this is just me, I think that good writing is better and more effective than "good" graphics or visuals. I know the visual aspect needs to catch the audience's eyes, but no matter how awesome something looks, if the content is not good, no one will keep coming back.



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kammy143
True. I think that this is the literal meaning of the quote "Don't judge the book by it's cover". But, it will also help if the cover is appealing. It wouldn't hurt if an individual do what he knows best and let another do what he or she knows best to get the best result ever for the product.



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DarthHazard
That's me. I would love to be able to design some advanced graphics and some nice looking graphics for my site but I just do not have the motivation or interest to spend time on learning how to. Plus, I just don't want to spend a lot of money getting some proper software like Adobe so I guess I will just have to focus on my site and it's content whilst others help me with the graphics side.



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DarthHazard
That's a bit like me I guess. I'm pretty good at making some basic graphics with software like a simple advertisement banner or a simple logo with some text and an icon. But other than that, I am awful at graphic design. I could never design something unique and cool because I just don't know how to and I cannot be bothered to learn how to design proper graphics. That's why I tend to get others to design graphics for me. It's just easier and much less annoying



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JoeMilford
This seems to be the consensus here overall. I could go and do 100 Youtube tutorials on graphic design, but I am not sure that even then I would have a knack for it, just because of the way I am wired in general. Like you, and others here, I would prefer to have someone else do this type of web design for me, even if I have to pay for it, etc.



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Baburra
The problem for most people who get into graphic design is they are able to learn the tools like the software but ultimately they still lack something because they weren't able to learn the basics such as fundamental aesthetics and design. I have a lot of friends who are also designers and they are good with the software but their designs don't come out as good as the current standard because they don't have the natural eye for design and didn't learn the skill of finding the proper placements and colors.



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Barida
This is the truth. I have made up my mind that when I start learning graphics designing, that I'm going to register for the full course and learn at least all the basic so that I can learn by working online as a graphic designer.



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fishbate
I agree, its more of a creative side that differ designers. Also competition is one factor, there is a great market for graphic design but there's also lots of competitors in the industry. Some designers fuse other platforms on their designs which creates uniqueness and authenticity.



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Krisleen
Just like you, I am good with the basics of graphic designing. I do layouts mostly for calling cards, flyers, and gift tags but I only do them offline as part of my printing job. It's my source of additional income on top of my business and online freelancing. I never learned the advanced skill for it since freelancing is only my part time. I focus more on my business. I love art so this is one way of monetizing my talent. I only know the basics of photoshop though. I just modify pictures and put them together to create a new design that looks classy and very attractive. The least I do is to maximize the basics I know to create beautiful designs. I use MS Word to put images together then I copy and paste the layout in paint. I save the new image then that's the time I use photoshop for my finishing touch. The tools I use in photoshop are smudge, clone stamp, and lasso. I use only two effects to adjust the color of my layout. I use brightness and contrast and the color balance effects. I just use my imagination then I implement my concept using those basic features to come up with attractive designs.



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Kakashi2020
Graphic Designing Skills are very useful in freelancing. Could create and market different kinds of services such as Logo Making and Infographics services.



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vinaya
If you are trying to make money on the internet world, graphic designing skill is a must. You can, of course, make money as an online writer, however, writing is the least paid job in the internet world. You will earn more money if you have graphic designing skills. On Fiverr, the most successful freelancers are the ones who sell graphic designing services. Three years ago, I did not think that I will ever do graphic designing, now, I am doing my own graphics. One day I will like to earn money from my designs. Until then I am happy with doing graphics for myself.



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Kakashi2020
Right, graphic skills are really needed if your a freelancer. You need it to maintain an effective website. You also need it in freelance writing where a good ebook cover can be a game changer.



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vinaya
If you have graphic designing skills, you can benefit in two ways, one by working as a designer and making money by selling you skills and designs, two you do your own graphic designs and save a lot of money on logo, banner and other graphics required for your website or business.



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Kakashi2020
Graphic Designing Skills can be used in s lot of ways for both offline and online purposes. I use it offline to create business cards, banners, flyers and other physical advertising and marketing products. Online I would use it to create online banners and website graphics and other things.



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Martinsx1
How sad, I actually wanted to learn graphic designing when I completed my university program when I was waiting for my call up letter to go for our one year youth service corp but unfortunately I couldn't meet up because of the cost it required of me to pay, so I had to give up.



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Martinsx1
I actually tried learning graphics design after my university days but it never came to pass because I was hooked up with several other jobs that divided my focus on learning the skills in graphic designing, today I'm regretting not knowing anything about graphic design because so many people are making a good amount of money off the job.



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