Kickstarting Your Design Career: Tips for Students to Grow Skills & Start Earning

So, you want to be a designer? Great choice! Welcome to the world of creativity, deadlines, and figuring out whether the client really wants their logo in Comic Sans or if they’re just testing your patience.

On a serious note, the design industry is booming—especially in areas like Web Design, Graphic Design, UX/UI, and 3D Art. And the best part? You can start earning money with your design skills even before you graduate. Balancing your classes with actual paid work is not only doable—it’s the way to get a head start on your career.

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What Students Should Know About Design Majors

The world needs designers like yesterday. Whether you’re into Web Design, Graphic Design, UX/UI, or 3D Art, there’s a spot for you. And guess what? The need for creative minds is especially great in South America, with Brazil being a hotbed of opportunities. But here’s the catch: it’s not all paintbrushes and pixels. To survive in this field, you’ll need both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

According to Tiago, a designer himself, when talking about design, it’s essential to discuss theory as well: “quando o objetivo é realizar uma pesquisa no campo do design, saber como fazer revisão bibliográfica com base nas normas da ABNT é fundamental. A revisão da literatura ajuda a discutir lacunas no conhecimento existente, e ao segui-las, você garante que seu trabalho esteja dentro dos padrões exigidos. Além disso, tecnologias modernas podem facilitar esse processo. Confira neste artigo como melhorar sua revisão bibliográfica com ferramentas tecnológicas, utilizando-as em seu auxílio.”

Tiago highlights that for design research, understanding how to conduct a literature review following ABNT standards is crucial to identify gaps in existing knowledge and ensure adherence to guidelines, with modern technologies enhancing the process.

The beauty of this industry lies in the fact that there is a niche for everyone. Whether you’re into coding websites, creating killer branding, or obsessing over user experiences, you’ll find your sweet spot. And since the design world is flexible, you can freelance, work remotely, or even juggle multiple gigs—perfect for someone who’s still figuring out how to be an adult.

Key Skills and Tools for Design Students

Sure, you’ve got talent! There’s no question about that! But talent only gets you so far. To really stand out, you need to pick up some crucial skills. Let’s break them down:

Web Design: Learn HTML and CSS like they’re the alphabet. Understanding how to make pages look good on any screen size is also key because no one should have to squint at a website on their phone.
Graphic Design: Get intimate with typography, color theory, and branding. It’s like learning to tell a story with fonts and colors—except no one dies of boredom or heartbreak at the end.
UX/UI Design: If you’re the type to judge a website for not being user-friendly, you’re in the right field. Skills like user research, wireframing, and prototyping are your new best friends.
3D Art & Modeling: Ever wanted to create your own Pixar-style animation? Start with 3D software like Blender and Maya. You’ll also need texturing and animation skills—because those cute, gut-wrenching movies aren’t going to make themselves.

Oh, and while you’re at it, stay on top of design trends. Minimalism, sustainable materials, and interactive designs are all the rage right now. Clients love saying “we want something fresh,” so be ready to whip out the latest trends like you just invented them.

Building a Portfolio While Studying

Your portfolio is your best friend. It’s basically a visual brag book of everything you can do. Start filling it with work from classes, personal projects, internships, and freelance gigs (even if your mom is your first “client”).

Here are a few portfolio survival tips:

Show variety: Sure, you’re the best at logos, but can you also design a killer website? Show off your range so your clients can gauge the extent of your true talents.
Keep it tidy and pretty: No one likes a messy website. Organize your projects in a way that makes it easy for potential employers or clients to fall in love with your work. If possible, weave them a story of your journey.
Write descriptions: Visual storytelling is an art, but your potential clients need to know what technical skills you have and what tools you can use. Describe how your project was done, how long it took, and how quickly you can replicate it if necessary.
Update regularly: Don’t let your portfolio become a graveyard for old work. Keep adding new stuff and getting rid of the duds.

Pro tip: Try sharing your portfolio on Behance or even build your own website. Share it amongst your circle and let the web of networking do its job. Oh, and yes, you can totally make it look like you’ve been a professional designer since birth.

Gaining Experience and Starting to Earn

Now let’s talk money. It’s time to make those late nights in Photoshop (and that ridiculous coffee addiction) pay off. Freelancing is your way in. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are gold mines for new designers. You can even check out local gigs specific to Brazil or South America. And don’t underestimate good old networking—attend design events, talk to people, and sprinkle a bit of “I’m available for hire” into every conversation.

But what about balancing freelancing with school? It’s not as tricky as it sounds:

Manage your time: Freelance deadlines won’t care about your term paper, so plan ahead.
Be clear with clients: Let them know you’re a student, so they don’t expect miracles during exam week.
Choose wisely: Don’t just take any job. Pick projects that actually help you grow and upskill.
Use technology: While you’re at it, take some time to learn AI and how it can help you automate your work.

Technology is your best friend when it comes to getting work done efficiently. You can use it to make schedules, add response bots to your messaging app, and even help you finish your assignments quicker to get started on work. It all depends on how well you can use it.

Budgeting and Saving

Being a broke student is practically a rite of passage. But when it comes to design, you’ll need to make some smart investments in tools and software.

Prioritize the essentials: Figure out which tools are a must-have versus what can wait.
Use student discounts: Many companies (we see you, Adobe) give discounts for students, so take advantage of them.
Go open source: Free alternatives like GIMP and Inkscape exist and are surprisingly powerful.

Finally, know that quality takes you a long way. Sure, that cheap tablet looks tempting, but in the long run, quality tools save you money and frustration.

Conclusion

Kicking off your design career while you’re still in university might sound like a juggling act, but it’s the best way to build real-world skills and earn some cash. Learn what matters, create a killer portfolio, start freelancing, and, for the love of good design, stay on top of trends. You’ve got this!

References

Coursera – 2023 – How to Learn Graphic Design: 7 Steps to Build Your Skills
Medium – 2023 – Why Getting Hired Soon After UX Training Is so Hard
Upwork – 2023 – 12 Graphic Design Side Hustle Ideas for Extra Income
Medium – 2021 – Balancing practice and theory in design