How to Write a Freelance Designer Resume

Giovanni Matteo Angeli

October 26, 2022

Giovanni Matteo Angeli

When looking for a freelance designer, several factors should be considered. Your design software and your education should factor into your rates. Remember that clients aren’t paying for speed but the quality of your design. One famous example is the Citibank logo, which was designed by Paula Scher in just five minutes and became known as the “1.5 million dollar napkin story.”

Price based on the value

Pricing your design services should be based on their value and not just on what you charge. For example, you can justify a higher price point by communicating to your clients the direct business benefit they can get from your work, such as increased profitability or team efficiency. While sharing value-based prices is not always easy, it gives your clients a context for what you’re charging.

As a freelance designer, consider the type of client you’re working with. If you’re working with a new startup, you can charge more for the design if you’re confident it will help them reach their goals. For example, a new company may need branding and packaging to sell 150K units in its first year. To accomplish that, you need to offer a high-quality design that will attract customers and turn them into loyal ones.

Experience

Experience is the most crucial part of a freelance designer resume. The experience section should list all of your full-time and part-time jobs, as well as your freelance design projects. Each position or project should have its subsection, with details such as the company name, your role, dates of contact, and key touchpoints. Make sure to quantify the results you achieved for each project.

Education is also essential to consider when deciding to become a freelance designer. It can elevate your work and boost client confidence. It would help if you also created a portfolio showcasing your skills, bringing you more clients.

Rates

One of the most common types of rates is the hourly rate. It is easy to calculate and is familiar to beginners. To determine how much you should charge per hour, add up all your monthly expenses, and divide it by 52 or 40. Your hourly rate should be somewhere around $24 per hour.

Rates for freelance design can also vary depending on the type of project. An experienced designer may charge more than someone who is just starting. You should charge more if your portfolio is more considerable and your experience is more fantastic. You can also choose to charge by the hour or the project package.

Portfolio

When designing a portfolio of freelance design, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. One of the most important things is the consistency of your work. While many designers make the mistake of including a variety of projects, you should only include those that you are good at and comfortable handling. In addition, your portfolio will have a limited amount of time to grab the attention of your potential clients, so it is essential to be consistent with your presentation style and content.

This freelance designer’s portfolio’s website presentation is stunning. Each portfolio item is a 2D ball that grows and contracts when hovered over. A click on any of these portfolio items reveals the project’s details, and this interaction style draws the eye into the site’s content.

Getting paid

Pricing yourself accurately is one of the critical elements in getting paid for freelance design. You can price your work per project or hour. You may set your rates low, but placing them too soft is not a good idea. Instead, starting high and gradually increasing your rates over time is best. This will allow you to earn more while remaining competitive. In addition, setting your rates properly will help you improve your profit margin.

The most common method of pricing is the hourly rate. Most clients will ask you for a rate after learning how long a project will take. By establishing an hourly rate, clients can get a good idea of how much to pay.