Whether you’re a full-time designer or a creative looking for a side gig, your skills are in demand more than ever. From digital downloads to website design, there are dozens of ways to turn your creativity into cash. Below are 13 proven graphic design side hustles—complete with income examples—to help you start earning on the side.
💡 1. Sell Printables on Etsy
Design planners, checklists, kids’ activities, or wall art. Once uploaded, you can earn passive income while Etsy handles the rest.
💵 Potential Earnings: $500–$1,000/month or more
👉 Real Example
💡 2. Freelance on Upwork or Fiverr
Offer design services like logos, flyers, or brand kits. Build a portfolio, get reviews, and watch the gigs roll in.
💵 Potential Earnings: $35–$100+/hour for mid-to-senior-level designers
👉 Browse Jobs
💡 3. Sell Canva or Photoshop Templates
Create resume layouts, Instagram posts, or media kits and sell them on platforms like Creative Market or Gumroad.
💵 Potential Earnings: $100–$5,000+/month depending on niche and volume
👉 Sell on Creative Market
💡 4. Start a Print-on-Demand Shop
Design t-shirts, mugs, or stickers. Use platforms like Printify or Redbubble—they handle fulfillment, so you focus on design.
💵 Potential Earnings: $200–$2,000/month depending on product and audience
👉 Explore Printify
💡 5. Teach Design on Skillshare or YouTube
Create a course or start a tutorial Youtube channel (like @CryeStudio). Teach tools like Canva or Illustrator to beginners.
💵 Potential Earnings: $500–$10,000+ depending on viewership
👉 Start Teaching on Skillshare
💡 6. Design and Sell Fonts
Love lettering? Create your own fonts and sell them on marketplaces like MyFonts or Creative Fabrica.
💵 Potential Earnings: $100–$1,000+ per font over time
👉 Sell Fonts
💡 7. Design Book Covers
Partner with self-published authors or indie publishers to design eye-catching covers.
💵 Potential Earnings: $200–$1,500 per cover
👉 Search Opportunities
💡 8. Sell Stock Illustrations or Photos
Create icons, abstract graphics, or themed illustrations and upload to stock sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.
💵 Potential Earnings: Royalty-based; top contributors earn $500–$3,000+/month
👉 Contribute to Adobe Stock
💡 9. Design and Build Websites
Use Webflow, Squarespace, or WordPress to design full websites for clients—especially small businesses.
💵 Potential Earnings: $1,000–$10,000 per site
👉 Learn Webflow
💡 10. Logo and Branding Packages
Offer logo design plus color palettes, typography, and social templates.
💵 Potential Earnings: $300–$5,000+ per client
👉 See How Designers Package Branding
💡 11. Social Media Content Design
Create ready-to-post templates and branded graphics for businesses and influencers.
💵 Potential Earnings: $250–$1,000/month per client for retainer work
💡 12. Design Consulting
Provide visual strategy services to brands—offering feedback on UX, aesthetics, and more.
💵 Potential Earnings: $75–$200/hour for experienced consultants
💡 13. Build and Sell Website Themes
Design Shopify or WordPress themes and sell them on marketplaces like ThemeForest.
💵 Potential Earnings: $1,000–$50,000+ over time
👉 ThemeForest Marketplace
🔥 Bottom Line:
Graphic design isn’t just a job—it’s a launchpad for multiple income streams. Whether you’re looking for passive income or want to grow a freelance business, these side hustles give you the flexibility to earn on your own terms.