It’s not just the internet we’re worried about, as a survey by digital agency W3Tech finds.
It found that a quarter of all designers and developers in the UK are now freelancers.
What’s more, a third of respondents are looking for a job where they’re expected to be paid £9.30 per hour or more, compared to just 4 per cent of designers and engineers.
But what’s the best way to become one of those people?
W3 Tech spoke to digital design experts to find out.
“It’s really important to understand what your skill set is and what you can achieve,” says Emma Wood, a designer and founder of the design agency W4C.
“You have to look for opportunities where you can bring your skills and experience to work.”
So, what is a web design job?
It’s an industry that’s still in its infancy, with new technology like HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript making it easier for designers to build online products.
But if you’re looking for work in the creative or design fields, it can be as simple as choosing a theme, and finding an industry where you’re more likely to get paid.
“If you’re going to do a lot of web design work in a particular industry, you need to know what that industry is and the skills that you need,” says Wood.
“The skills you need in the industry are generally higher-level, whereas what you need as a freelancer is just the ability to get your hands dirty and do something that you’re passionate about.”
Getting paid The majority of designers are looking to work in freelancing industries, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find work in them too.
W3 tech found that almost three quarters of freelancers were paid between £7.40 and £9 per hour.
If you’re a designer, it’s important to be looking for opportunities for yourself.
“One of the things that’s really valuable is having an agency to work with,” says John.
“A lot of the time that’s what people think about when they’re talking about getting into design, but the reality is that most designers have been freelancing for a long time.”
John has worked with clients such as Disney, Google and Adobe, as well as his own work.
“I think that’s where the majority of freelancing comes from,” he says.
“When you’re freelancing you’re doing it as an artist, not as a designer.”
They’ll be paid a lot more than a designer who’s doing their own thing.” “
Most designers who start freelancing work for a freelancing agency.
They’ll be paid a lot more than a designer who’s doing their own thing.”
Working with your skills In order to find work, you’re likely to need to look beyond your skillset.
“There’s no doubt that designers are always looking for new skills, but it’s also a bit of a challenge,” says Paul, a graphic designer and designer of digital arts and design.
“We’re also used to working with digital design. “
In a way, it helps you to see that you have the potential to do things you wouldn’t normally be able to,” he continues.
“We’re also used to working with digital design.
The whole point of creating something is to show that it’s a design, it works, and it’s beautiful.”
Paul says he works with a design agency, but works on his own, and doesn’t rely on an agency for his freelance work.
So, how can you get paid if you don’t work for an agency?
“When it comes to freelance work, it depends on how much you’re worth,” says W3.
“But you should always have an agent involved.
You can always ask for a higher commission if you have an idea that you really want to show.
But the bigger question is how much of your freelance work you can actually get paid.”
If you have a strong portfolio and have worked with some of the biggest names in the design industry, the agency might pay you more than you’d be able, but you’ll need to make a few compromises to make sure your work fits the profile of the clients you work with.
“Generally speaking, a design professional will want to work for clients where they have a creative sensibility, where their design is visually striking, and where their clients will have a need for high-end design work,” says Darryl.
“And in those cases, it’ll be more of a question of what they expect from their client and how much they’re willing to pay.”
If your clients don’t like the results of your work, they might ask for more than the design fees you’re offering.
“Design is a really competitive field,” says Peter.
“Anybody who’s working in the field will have to be willing to accept a premium rate for something they know is going to be in the best