Being a product designer is pretty awesome, right? You get to solve problems creatively, build meaningful user experiences, and play with the latest design tools. But let’s be honest—depending on a single source of income can be risky, especially in the current economy. If you’re looking to increase your financial stability or simply boost your product designer salary, and diversifying your income streams is the way to go.

In this blog, we’re going to explore five fun and actionable ways you can diversify your income as a freelance product designer. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned designer, these ideas will help you tap into new opportunities, expand your skill set, and build a more sustainable career.

Ready to explore? Let’s dive in!

1. Freelance Product Design

Freelancing is one of the most popular ways for product designers to make extra cash. As a freelance product designer, you can pick and choose projects that excite you, work on your own terms, and potentially earn more than you would in a full-time role.

Why Freelancing Works:

Flexibility: You can work on projects that fit your schedule and interests. Whether you’re into mobile apps, web design, or even packaging design, there’s always demand for your skills.

Diverse Portfolio: By taking on various freelance gigs, you get to work with different clients across industries. This builds a rich, diverse portfolio that can land you bigger opportunities.

Charge Your Rate: Unlike full-time jobs, where you might have a fixed salary, freelancing gives you the freedom to set your rates and increase them as you gain more experience.

Pro Tip: Start by building a solid online presence. Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Behance are great for showcasing your work and finding potential clients. You can also leverage LinkedIn to network with businesses looking for freelance product designers.

2. Teach Design Skills Online

If you’ve got a knack for explaining things and enjoy teaching others, why not turn that into a profitable side hustle? With the growing demand for online learning, sharing your knowledge through courses, webinars, or one-on-one coaching can become a lucrative income stream.

How to Get Started:

Create an Online Course: Platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or Teachable allow you to upload courses on everything from beginner design tools to advanced UX strategies. Once your course is up, it can generate passive income as students enroll.

Offer One-on-One Coaching: Some aspiring designers may prefer personalized guidance. You can offer coaching services where you mentor newbies or even experienced designers looking to level up their skills.

Host Webinars: Conducting live webinars or workshops can attract paying participants who are eager to learn. Plus, you can offer recorded versions later to create a passive income stream.

Pro Tip: Before you jump into teaching, identify a specific niche within product design. This could be anything from teaching beginners about Figma to advanced wireframing techniques.

3. Create and Sell Design Templates

If you’ve got some killer design skills, creating and selling design assets like templates, icons, or UI kits can provide an additional revenue stream. Many businesses, startups, and even fellow designers are constantly looking for high-quality, pre-made assets they can integrate into their own projects.

Ways to Make Money with Design Assets:

UI Kits: Sell collections of user interface elements that other designers can use to fast-track their own projects. Think buttons, forms, and navigation bars.

Icons and Illustrations: Create sets of icons or illustrations that appeal to a broad audience, like tech startups, e-commerce businesses, or even educational platforms.

Web and App Templates: Develop ready-made templates for websites or apps that buyers can customize for their own needs. Platforms like ThemeForest or Creative Market are great places to sell these.

Pro Tip: Once you create a design template, it can become a source of passive income. The more templates you offer, the more sales you’ll generate over time. Focus on trends and what businesses are currently using in their designs to stay relevant.

4. Start a Product Design Blog or YouTube Channel

As a product designer, you’ve probably got a lot of valuable insights and experiences. Why not share them with the world? Blogging or vlogging about your design journey, tools, tips, and industry trends can help you build a community while also bringing in extra revenue.

Ways to Monetize Content:

Ad Revenue: If you build a blog or YouTube channel with a solid following, you can earn money through ads or sponsored content.

Affiliate Marketing: Partner with companies to promote design tools or products you already use and love. Each time someone makes a purchase through your affiliate link, you get a commission.

Paid Subscriptions: Once you’ve got a loyal audience, consider offering exclusive content through a paid subscription model (think Patreon or YouTube memberships).

Pro Tip: Be authentic in your content. Whether you’re giving a tutorial on prototyping tools or sharing your journey from junior to senior designer, people will resonate with your unique voice and perspective.

5. License Your Work or Join a Marketplace

Licensing your designs is another passive income strategy that’s perfect for product designers. Whether it’s UI components, fonts, illustrations, or even animations, you can sell the rights to use your designs to individuals or companies, earning royalties in return.

Here’s How Licensing Works:

Stock Design Platforms: Upload your work to platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Envato Elements. Every time someone downloads or uses your design, you earn a royalty.

Exclusive Licensing Deals: Some companies may want exclusive rights to your designs. These deals often pay a one-time fee or recurring royalties depending on the usage terms.

Design Marketplaces: Platforms like DesignCuts or Society6 allow you to sell your designs directly to consumers, especially if you venture into creating physical products like posters, prints, or apparel.

Pro Tip: Keep your designs evergreen—think about assets that will continue to be useful to businesses and other designers in the long run, such as simple, clean UI kits or customizable icons.

Summing up everything:

Diversifying your income as a product designer isn’t just a smart financial move; it’s also a fun way to expand your skills, try new things, and even discover new passions within the field. From freelancing and teaching to creating digital products and content, the possibilities are endless.