4 Things Every New UX/UI Freelancer Must Know

4 Things Every New UX/UI Freelancer Must Know from UIGarage
Nikka Estefani

Updated on September 9, 2021

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Freelancing can be a very lucrative source of income. However, if you are just starting out on freelancing, you may find it intimidating at first. After all, freelancing is very different from a regular job – whereas a regular job offers a well-defined path, you are on your own with freelancing.

Although we have written a good amount of articles regarding careers in UX/UI design, I think it’s still important to address the uncertainties that come when you strike on your own and decided to freelance.

Freelancing can be intimidating and scary when you’re just starting out, but trust us, the more you delve into this world, the more you’ll realize that it’s not as intimidating as it seemed.

That being said, if you’re a new UX/UI freelancer (or you’re already are but you still feel lost), then this article is for you. Read on, and hopefully, the tips we are about to share to you will help you jumpstart with your freelancing career.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started!

4 Things Every New UX/UI Freelancer Must Know

1) Get started right away (and make mistakes!)

4 Things Every New UX/UI Freelancer Must Know from UIGarage

We had written an article on how to get a job or project on Upwork (which you can also use to other freelancing platforms). We even have written a guide on how to get your career started in UX/UI design. But knowledge is just one thing, getting started is another – and getting started is intimidating!

But to that, we say: just get started! Throw yourself there. Pitch to clients. Try to win projects that interests you. Talk to your potential and discuss your terms with them. And then, do the work.

If fear of making mistakes stop you from sending a pitch to your would-be client, to that we say: make mistakes! Now, we don’t mean that you should deliberately make mistakes. But the point is, we will make mistake whether you like or not – and that’s okay.

At the end of the day, you will turn out okay. The most successful freelancers in the field made mistakes, too – and here they are, on the top of their careers!

So, get started. If you made mistakes, then be it. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Trust us, a few months after plunging to freelancing, you’ll realize that your fears are not as bad as you think!

2) Promise less, do more

One of the reasons why new freelancers get intimidated is because of high expectations. After all, you’re supposed to do a good work, right? But what if you’re just new and you have little idea on what you’re doing?

Here’s a little secret to lessen that intimidation: promise less. Assess your current skill level and just stick to that. The point of promising less is to get the pressure off of your back. If you know to yourself that you’re not the on-the-top UX/UI designer, then don’t promise that you’ll deliver such results. Just stick to your skill level.

But while you promise less, here’s a trick you can pull off: do more of what you promised. Not only will your client be amazed at your work ethic, but you’ll also increase your own confidence!

Now, if you’re worried about losing a potential client, fret not: most clients just want to get the job done. Not to mention, not all can afford on-the-top freelancers. So, they’re not necessarily looking for the “best of the best”; they’re simply looking to get the job done for them – and if you can do that, you’ll be fine!

3) Don’t say “yes” to everything

It is very tempting to get as many projects or jobs as we can get. When you’re first starting out, you may think that it’s great – more projects, more money! But as you settle in the freelancing world, you’ll realize that not all projects are worth it. Taking every project or demand is exhausting. If you’re not careful, you may even find yourself burning out!

So, don’t say “yes” to everything. Learn to choose – based on your interests, values, your client (trust us, money is never worth it if you work with a bad client!) and payment.

Of course, there are times where you just need to take whatever offer has on the table. But as you grow in your career, be more discerning on which projects to take and which projects to let go.

4) Keep learning

4 Things Every New UX/UI Freelancer Must Know from UIGarage

Finally, continue learning and growing your skill. The more you grow your skills, the more you’ll be confident in the freelance market. Before you know it, you may even find yourself selling yourself as an on-the-top freelancer. And hey, you can charge more with that!

But never fail to learn, not just in your skills, but also in other things such as learning the new trends in UX/UI design, knowing the current best practices, and so on.

If you want to learn more about careers in UX/UI design, we recommend you read the following: