Are you thinking about changing to a career in user experience (UX) design, but you want to be your own boss? You will have plenty of company. Almost 20% of UX Designers work as freelancers. Working for yourself as a designer requires flexibility but it also provides more control over your work-life balance. There are usually no set hours, so it requires self-motivation to get projects done. You also need to pitch to clients to get work but you can find a greater variety of projects. As a freelancer, you also need to take care of business and administrative tasks like invoicing, taxes, and debt collections. You are also responsible for your own benefits like health insurance and retirement.
Flexible Schedule
People who work as freelance UX Designers love the freedom and flexibility it gives them. When people talk about freelancing, the first thing they usually mention is being able to structure their own time, choose their own projects, and set their own prices. Are you a morning person? Great! Get up before dawn and get to work. A night owl? You can set your own schedule when you are a freelance UX Designer. When you are a freelancer, completing the work for the client is more important than punching a time clock.
Focus on Reliability and Dependability
While freelancing can be flexible, you still need to do the work and meet your deadlines. You have to rely on yourself for motivation and time management. It is important for freelancers to build a good reputation in order to find work, so being known for reliability and dependability is important.
Taking Care of Business
Freelance UX Designers also need to spend time marketing and looking for clients. You will need to visit job websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn to find work. Being able to pitch your talents to prospective clients is a crucial skill for freelancers.
You will also need to take care of the business aspects of your career. In addition to looking for clients, you will need to spend time creating and sending invoices and collecting information for your taxes. Many freelancers file state and federal taxes quarterly, so it is worth doing some research into the rules in your area before you go in this direction.
Some aspects of working for yourself are less attractive. As a freelancer, you will sometimes need to contact clients who haven’t paid their bills. You will also need to spend time creating contracts and setting your prices.
Getting Started as a Freelance UX Designer
So, what is the best way to get started as a freelance UX Designer? In one word, slowly. The best way to build a freelance career is by starting part-time while you have another source of income. Advertise your skills or answer some job ads and find a client. Finish that job on time and do it well, then find another client. You will eventually work up to a group of repeat clients, and that is when you can start to think about going out on your own.
Before you leave the security of your “day job,” it is a good idea to create a financial cushion for yourself. Save up enough money that you could get by for 3-6 months in case business is slow. Freelancing can be a case of feast or famine, so work on your pitching skills and be prepared to weather some slow times.
Time and Space Management
When you go to an office, you have a set schedule and a place to work. When you work as a freelance UX Designer, not only do you need to manage your own time but you will need to figure out where to work. Some people thrive in a crowded coffee shop as a work environment, while others like a quiet corner of the library. Most freelancers, however, work from home. Decide if you will work from the kitchen table or a corner of a spare bedroom. If you plan to take a home office deduction on your taxes, keep in mind that you will need to set aside a dedicated workspace.
Keep Your Portfolio Updated
A strong portfolio is the best way to showcase your abilities as a UX Designer, and this is especially important for freelancers. This hands-on collection of work demonstrates your design philosophy and past work. This is how you will attract future clients.
When it comes to your portfolio, feel free to express yourself when creating or updating it; that is part of what being a designer is all about. That said, most UX design portfolios include three basic sections: a personal introduction, a collection of case studies, and contact information.
You can organize the portfolio however you like. Some people choose to have a landing page with links to different sections, while others prefer everything on one page with clickable ‘read more’ buttons. However you choose to set up your portfolio, be sure to maintain consistency in layout and visual elements. It is also a good idea to use a photo or logo at the top of the page. This will be the first thing visitors to your page see, so it should be attractive and eye-catching.
The next section shows your work. Some people use logos from companies they have worked for and others use high-quality images from past work as entry points for case studies. Include a summary of the project and what you did next to the image. It is becoming more common to include gifs and videos in portfolios to catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. A short video introduction can be a good attention getter, as is a video montage of different work.
Above all, be sure that your portfolio reflects your best. Use examples of the best work you have done with the highest quality images. Make sure that there are no spelling or punctuation errors because this is a sign of sloppy work.
Improve Your Design Skills
If you would like to improve your UX design skills in preparation for setting out on your own as a freelance UX Designer, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn XD, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a field like UX design is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run from a few weeks to a few months and will cover the design process and software in much more depth than tutorials can. Another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.
Conclusion
It’s easy to take UX design classes and start a new career. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX design courses and attend from anywhere. Find UX bootcamps in your area and get started in a new direction today.