Companies need logos and websites to appear legitimate to customers and make sales, which means they need graphic designers too. There’s no shortage of work for graphic designers in today’s world, but that doesn’t make starting any less scary.
If you’re wondering how to get your first graphic design job, we’ve got advice from expert designers on how they started out and from major companies on what makes them feel comfortable hiring someone new to the field. It’s possible to get started and land your first clients quickly, just the way you are.
In other words: you can have no professional experience and still get work. Here’s what to do.
1. Fill your graphic designer profile with work, education, and more
Your portfolio website or profile on job boards or websites such as Upwork should reflect who you are as a designer and the larger person behind those skills. Share your experiences, education, and other relevant details. One of the best ways, according to multiple experts, is to add your resume and schooling.
“Industry experience is not everything. The most important thing that potential clients want to know is: Can you do the job?” said Matt Bertram, CEO and SEO strategist at EWR Digital. “Having a portfolio is the best way to show clients precisely what you’re capable of doing. You’re not restricted to only showing client work in your portfolio. You can base your portfolio purely on personal projects. Pick a specific industry to focus on for your portfolio to prove to clients in that industry that you’re the perfect fit.”
2. Specialize where possible
Despite being a new graphic designer, you can specialize your profile and portfolios for individual client categories. This can be done in multiple ways, sometimes as simple as creating a tab on your website that sorts work by category. You want to balance being detailed with keeping out any irrelevant information so that a client doesn’t think “that’s not what I want.”
“When searching for a graphic design job, don’t pad out your profile with irrelevant skills,” says Mark Hayes, head of marketing at Kindell. “Upwork is great because it lets you create separate profiles for this exact purpose. So, for your graphic design profile, keep it specific to the role. Show that this is a talent you want others to pay special attention to.”
3. Work on your soft skills
Camille Chulick, the co-founder of Avery Aglow, told us that the candidates who stand out best are those that can hold a polite and intelligent conversation. Business communications are different from how you’ll talk with friends and family, so new freelancers will want to practice and read up on the right and wrong things to do.
“You need to be able to communicate with people,” said Chulick. “Work on your soft skills like business communications and email etiquette to be a more well-rounded option in the eyes of the job poster.”
4. Learn to explain the design to non-designers
Design can come with a wide range of terminology and requirements that a small business owner might not know. They likely won’t know the best DPI for a logo and how that changes from their website to business cards to social media profiles. Focusing on pixel count instead of how to make a logo “look good” can get in the way of your relationship with a client or make a proposal less attractive to a non-designer.
“One big thing I look for in a new designer is that I can communicate with them,” said Bill Angelos, owner of C&R Family Pets. “I’m not an artistic person, and I don’t know all of the industry terminology. So, I’m looking for someone that can understand my outsider vocabulary and conceptualize it into a design that I’m looking for. I honestly think that this is by far the harder thing to find in an artist. If we don’t have effective communication, then the project drags on and revisions are always needed. It’s a pain for both parties.”
5. Market yourself
“Learn to market yourself, and start by taking a professional profile photo,” said web and graphic designer Ryan Maluchnik. “Review profiles from popular designers in your industry, see what works for them and attempt to emulate it with your own spin. Start connecting with people on LinkedIn in your industry and build out your profile.”
Our experts also suggest that designers treat business development like a grassroots campaign where you focus on educating people about you. Introduce yourself professionally and project openness so people feel comfortable approaching you. Adding keywords relevant to your customers to your profile also helps them know you work in the area of support they need.
6. Leverage networking & partnerships for your pitch
Getting that first job is a little easier if you have an experienced freelancer to help. One way many graphic designers get started is by reaching out to friends, colleagues, and professionals they know to find opportunities to work together. You may be able to join an existing project or pitch your services together.
“It’s who you know, not what you know,” said Connor Foltyn-Smith COO and creative director of Kreativ Alchemy. “If you know any freelancers who occupy different spaces in the marketing industry, see how your graphic design skills can support them and vice versa. You can pitch yourself alongside their skills to create a more desirable potential hire. For instance, if you find someone looking for a few Facebook ads, you offer to design them and say that you can bring on a professional copywriter to write the copy.”
7. Personalize that pitch
“I hate generic job applications,” said Three Ships’ SEO Director of Shane Dutka. “They require me to do a lot of work to look through portfolios, research applicants, etc. Freelancers looking for a first gig can get a serious edge by creating a few pitch templates – one for each target industry, for example – and populating them with individual details before submitting.”
Start with templates and then fill in pertinent details to customize them specific to the project before you. If you’re not sure where to start with that personalization, try reviewing the company website and noting what elements could benefit from improved design or what elements you like already. A short but thoughtful response can make a significant difference.
8. Proofread everything
Small mistakes can kill your work. This is especially true for proposals and portfolios you rely on to land that first client. A mistake on these items can signal that you aren’t paying attention or that you rush your work—both are death knells for graphic designers.
“For me it’s fundamental that the freelancer in question has a strong portfolio and showcases competency when communicating,” said Oliver Bruce, Managing Director of PinPoint Media. “Spelling mistakes and rushed work prior to working with a graphic designer often deter me and my team from engaging.”
9. Be open to skills tests
Platforms like Upwork offer skills tests for graphic designers and other professionals to demonstrate competency. Companies do look at these when they’re on your designer profile or included in your proposals. As you start to build your portfolio, browse available tests where you can shine. If a potential customer asks you to take a skills test on a platform, give it strong consideration.
“Our agency requires skills tests to see firsthand how the graphic artist problem solves, communicates and responds under pressure,” said Mandy Arnold, President, and CEO of the Gavin agency. “In our experience, many portfolios are reflective of passion projects with less defined performance outcomes or big brand experience where larger teams are collaborating, which may not be completely representative of an individual’s ability, but rather a team. The skills test is as much of a team culture fit test as it is a test of skill.”
10. Check and follow up
Most graphic design projects have multiple rounds of discussion before a freelancer is selected. That means you’ve got to do more than just send over your portfolio and pitch. Keep an eye out for follow-up requirements, emails, messages, and questions. Answering fully and quickly will set you apart.
“We’ll always ask a few questions about the person and why they should get the job in an interview,” said Adam Burrage, managing partner at the Trident agency. “It’s surprising how many people just don’t come back to you—which is great for us as it means they deselect themselves from the process. Use this as your chance to shine and share relevant work from your portfolio—even if it’s college work—because it can get you a foot in the door.”
11. Take a breath before you respond
Experts told us over and over again that communication is essential to winning a bid. One good reminder for new graphic designers is that the process is a two-way street, and sometimes you’ll need to pause and think about something before responding or pushing your idea forward.
“Many graphic designers fall into the trap of assuming that they know best,” warned Mark Webster, co-founder of Authority Hacker. “The problem is, oftentimes, the client will have a very specific vision or idea in mind and when graphic designers don’t fully understand what that vision is, problems can arise. Work effectively and quickly with the client to get a full comprehension of the task and deliver the perfect design. Do this, and you’ll quickly find yourself on the fast track to success working with multiple clients!”
12. Look at local businesses for entry-level jobs
The Internet has revolutionized graphic design, especially when it comes to finding clients. However, you also face stiff competition because anyone from anywhere can bid on the same projects. If you’re having trouble getting started and not winning proposals for online gigs, multiple experts told us it could be a promising idea to approach companies in your local area.
“One thing I always recommend to designers who are just starting out, is to look around your local community and see who might need design help,” said T.J. Harley, graphic designer and head of Harley Creative. “Pay close attention to businesses and industries where you may have a particular. For example, if you really want to work with restaurants, find a restaurant in your community that you think could use a new menu design. Want to work in sports? Find a local high school or middle school that may need a new logo for their athletic teams. You’d be surprised at how many business owners may give you a shot.”
Harley says new designers may need to start these relationships by doing small design projects for free and then, if the client likes what they get, turning the relationship into paid projects.
13. It’s okay to start small
For many freelancers, it takes time to work up to the high rates the industry can provide. Even if you have the capabilities to make amazing designs, most companies will view you as a risk and a high price tag can make them avoid choosing you. When you’re new to the game, be open to starting small and building up to larger work.
“As a junior or student designer, you’re going to have to charge less,” said web designer and illustrator Rachel Foley. “There are so many clients out there who will be thrilled with what you can do, but they won’t shell out much for it. That’s okay. Start small and work quickly. Pretty soon, your portfolio will grow, and you can take those bigger opportunities.”
14. Add a video to your portfolio
“Here is a secret tip that dramatically increases a freelance artists’ chance of getting a job: record a video to showcase yourself,” said Jerry Han, chief of marketing at PrizeRebel. “A video is an excellent method of showcasing not only your talent but also your personality. People want to work with others they feel comfortable with. Showing a video of yourself to potential clients helps establish your character.”
Han said designers only need to write out a few sentences for a script and can use a smartphone camera for recording. Focus on introducing yourself and review it afterward to ensure the background looks professional and that it’s easy to see your face.
15. Don’t shy away from a challenge
“When you’re just starting out, everything will be a challenge, regardless of your talent. Embrace it,” said Marijana Obradovic, web designer at Qode Interactive. “Even if you were the best logo designer in your class, the first logo you create for a client will come with a whole new set of obstacles you’ve never even thought about. So, don’t be afraid to accept jobs you think you’re not fully qualified for. If an opportunity presents itself, go for it. You’ll learn something and develop new skills from every job you accept. And in the beginning, that’s the only thing that matters.”
Start building a graphic design career you’ll love
The first steps to getting a graphic design job can often be the hardest. So, new designers should look for solutions that make it easy to build their portfolio and find potential clients, minimizing the amount of outreach or money you need to spend. Start with services that help you and the companies you want to serve.
One of the best initial moves for any graphic designer is to sign up with Upwork and use its simplified tools to build a world-class portfolio. You won’t have to worry about coding or paying for hosting to get your portfolio out there and companies around the globe post design jobs on Upwork daily. Removing barriers and worry can help you master how to get a graphic design job and turn this passion into a career.
