What is a digital designer? It’s when you’re a budding designer, itching to make money doing something you love – expensive art degree not required.

So, you’ve stumbled upon this post, either by divine digital intervention or that 2 A.M. “I-need-a-career-change” epiphany. Now you’re wondering: “What is a digital designer?” and more importantly, “Can I be one and can it pay my bills and then some?” You’ve heard of them, and perhaps you’re even secretly daydreaming about becoming one.

I’ll just tell you up front: Yes and Yes.

For any of you who have read this blog a little bit, you know I used to be a graphic designer in a not so snazzy corporate job. Yep, slowly losing any aspect of myself, making things look pretty for bigwigs and clients and hating every second of it.

But then I stumbled upon the slightly different world of doing digital design for myself, and it was just enough of the upgrade I needed. Not just in terms of creativity and work-life balance, but in the money department too.

Being able to start my own design side hustle business has been liberating.

So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of it all so we can get you up and running.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I could earn a commission if you purchase through my links, however, there is no cost to you. Rest assured, I only promote products that I use or think are great. Thanks for reading!!

What Is a Digital Designer?

The Basics

Let’s cut through the jargon, shall we?

When you find yourself asking, “What is a digital designer?”, imagine someone who’s taken the aesthetics baton to craft the online universe. They’re the architects behind those visuals that make you pause while scrolling, whether on websites, apps, or those ads that, somehow, always know what you’ve been thinking about buying. There also the ones creating all those digital products you love to hate to buy and download.

The Many Hats They Wear – Technical Categories

Now, if my stint in the corporate world taught me one thing, it’s that design is no one-size-fits-all. Just like our beloved Netflix categories (no, I don’t want to admit how much time I spend on ‘Documentaries’), digital designers have their niches.

Graphic Designers: Ever seen a logo and thought, “I wish I’d come up with that!”? Tip your hat to the graphic designers. See a useful brochure, download some artwork, or page through a magazine? Yep, a graphic designer probably had their hands in there. Graphic desigers digitally design all of the printed things you see, and can now download.

Web Designers: They’re behind your go-to websites – the ones you claim you visit “occasionally” but are secretly obsessed with.

UX/UI Designers: Ah, the unsung heroes. They ensure your digital journey is as seamless and delightful as that first sip of your day’s latte. Maybe even better.

Types of Products a Digital Designer Creates

Depending on your initial skill set, which one of the categories above you fit into, or what you are willing to learn, you’ll want to start out picking some of these products to create and then ultimately sell.

A. Printable Magic

Printables – they’re the unsung heroes of the digital world. We’re living in an era where, surprisingly, the physical touch of a printed product brings a certain kind of joy. Printables are designed and then printed out by the customer or by a print on demand company.

• Planners, Calendars, Organizers: Thanks to digital designers, our desks are graced with planners, organizers and calendars that are both functional and aesthetic. From monthly overviews to daily trackers, these designs make adulting look good.
• Artwork: You can create artwork digitally and have it available to be printed out so people can then hang it on their wall.
• Odds and Ends: I lump all of these things together because there is literally an endless list to the things you can digitally design that can be considered a printable. Think: stickers, coloring books, menus, cards, craft supplies…
• eBooks: Beyond just words, the layout of an eBook can either make reading a delight or a chore. With crisp typography, coherent color themes, and layouts that flow seamlessly, digital designers ensure you’re not just reading, but experiencing a story.

Read more about selling printables: Couch Cash: How to Sell Printables Online Without Leaving Your Netflix Zone, or try out Julie and Cody’s printables course for a step-by-step tutorial that will going faster.

B. Mesmerizing Online Graphics

The digital world is a visual playground, and no one knows the swings and slides better than digital designers.

• Social Media Templates: In the competitive landscape of social media, branding is king. Customized templates that resonate with a brand’s ethos? That’s a digital designer weaving their magic.
• GIFs: These looping wonders are the new language of the internet. Whether it’s expressing emotions or showcasing a product feature, digital designers make sure they loop right into our hearts.
• Banners: A banner isn’t just an ad. Done right, it’s an invitation, a teaser, a promise. It’s the digital equivalent of a red carpet, rolled out to grab attention.

C. Web Wonders

Our online experiences are molded by the spaces we visit. Enter web wonders, crafted meticulously by digital designers.

• Websites: The modern business card, a website reflects a brand’s identity. From the choice of fonts to the responsive design that adapts to your device, digital designers ensure that every scroll tells a story.
• Landing Pages: These are the digital elevator pitches and sales pages. Whether it’s launching a new product or signing up for a newsletter, a well-designed landing page can be the difference between a click and a bounce.
• E-commerce Sites: Ever wondered why you end up buying things you didn’t intend to? Thank the intuitive design of e-commerce sites, where product showcases, smooth navigation, and easy checkouts make shopping a breeze (maybe too much of a breeze!).

D. Interactive Artistry

In the age of touchscreens and virtual reality, static visuals don’t always cut it. This is where interactivity meets design.

• Apps: From productivity tools to social networks, apps have become extensions of ourselves. And behind every swipe, tap, or notification, there’s a digital designer ensuring usability meets beauty.
• Video Games: Immersive worlds, compelling characters, intuitive controls – video games are a testament to what digital design can achieve when it goes beyond the two-dimensional.
• E-learning Modules: Learning isn’t limited to brick-and-mortar classrooms. Digital designers have revolutionized education with interactive modules, making learning engaging, adaptive, and fun.

How and Where to Monetize Your Digital Designs

A. Freelancing Platforms

Alright, emerging digital stars, let’s talk platforms. When I was thinkin’ about, “what is a digital designer’s starting point?”, freelancing platforms were the easiest choice to make money the fastest.

Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are your training grounds.

Not only can you pitch your unique design flair to global clientele, but these spaces also offer a rich learning experience – from client interaction to project management.

(If you’d rather not go freelance and would rather just start out with a part-time or remote digital designer situation, I always recommend FlexJobs.)

B. Selling Digital Products

Journey with me for a moment. Picture the first time your digital creation – birthed from an idea, nurtured with skills – gets its first buyer. It’s downright exhilarating.

And platforms like Etsy have made it easier than ever. Whether you’ve designed a quirky planner or an in-depth guide on digital design (see what I did there?), there’s a market for it.

And then there’s Gumroad, the unsung hero for digital products. If you’ve got knowledge to share, there’s someone willing to pay for it and Gumroad makes it easy to monetize.

You can always, and this should be the long-term goal, set up your own online store and sell direct to your customers without relying on a platform. The advantage to this is that you are in control. No one can change and algorithm on you or take away your sales. The disadvantage is that you will have to take on the marketing and find ways to get the eyeballs on your digital products.

I highly recommend eventually starting your own online store. Maybe not right away if you want to get monetized quickly, but eventually.

Read more at Make the Dream Real: How to Start Your Own Online Store, or head over to Shopify and get a store set up in a couple of hours.

C. Passive Income Streams

Once upon a time, I believed money couldn’t grow on trees. Well, I stand corrected – digital trees do indeed exist.

Imagine creating a design once but earning from it repeatedly. Sounds dreamy, right? That’s what stock graphic platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock offer.

And trust me, there’s no morning coffee better than the one you sip knowing your art sold as you snoozed. As you populate these platforms with your work, you’re building a potential revenue stream that requires minimal maintenance.

Not Just Designs, Monetize Services Too

A. Consultation Magic

Alright, here’s a little secret I’ve learned on my journey: sometimes people want your brain, not just your designs.

Ever been at a gathering where someone pulls you aside and whispers, “So, what is a digital designer’s take on this?” That, my friends, is a cue. Offering consultation sessions can be an invaluable service. Your insights, perspectives, and advice? That’s the golden ticket. After all, they aren’t wrong when they say wisdom has its price tag.

B. Workshops & Tutorials

Remember those childhood days of playing ‘teacher-teacher’? Time to bring it back, but digitally.

The skills you’ve honed, the techniques you’ve mastered – there’s a crowd eager to learn. And in this digital age, knowledge-sharing couldn’t be easier. Host a webinar breaking down the nuances of UX design, craft an online course on color theories, or hold interactive workshops diving deep into digital tools.

Check out my post How to Create Online Course Income: 5 Side Hustles That’ll Make You Say, “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” to learn more about setting up your own course, or head on over to Teachable and start designing away on a course of your own.

C. Maintenance & Updates

I once likened a website to a houseplant in a client meeting (don’t ask, it was a whimsical day). But hear me out: like plants, websites need regular care and attention.

In the ever-evolving digital realm, updates are inevitable. Graphics might need a refresh, websites might need tweaks for the latest devices, and there’s always a plugin waiting to be updated.

This upkeep? It’s a service in demand. Turning maintenance into moolah? Now, that’s the digital designer way.

Well, fellow adventurers on the quest for side-hustle supremacy, we’ve journeyed through the digital labyrinth and faced the echoing questions: “What is a digital designer and how do we make money as one?”

And, you can see that it is totally doable. You don’t need to have a formal education. Watch some tutorials on Adobe Photoshop or Canva and have a go at some designs.

You might just be pleasantly surprised when you get that first sale.