{"id":7078,"date":"2023-05-19T04:29:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T11:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=7078"},"modified":"2025-05-06T00:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T07:04:30","slug":"freelance-ux-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/freelance-ux-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Become a Highly Paid Freelance UX Designer in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Of all the changes that 2020 brought to our lives, the most omnipresent one is the digitization of everything. From keeping in touch with family and friends to ordering groceries, more and more people have gotten used to living their lives online. Just last year, people downloaded 218 billion apps, spent $143 billion and four hours a day on their mobile devices. So it\u2019s safe to say that much of our lives are being\u2014and will be\u2014mediated by digital products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key differentiator for digital products is user experience (UX). Organizations are investing significantly in creating seamless and engaging experiences for customers to stay longer on their platforms. For this, they\u2019re hiring UX designers in large numbers. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/business\/talent\/blog\/talent-strategy\/linkedin-most-in-demand-hard-and-soft-skills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a> ranks UX design among the top five most in-demand skills in 2020. Over 15,000 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/user-experience-designer-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">user experience designer positions<\/a> are listed on LinkedIn alone across multinationals like Google, Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a growing demand for UX designers and a lack of skilled experts to fill that demand, organizations are becoming more and more open to hiring freelancers. Unlike ever before, freelancing is gaining traction throughout the technology industry. 36% of the country\u2019s workforce\u201459 million Americans\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/documents\/freelance-forward-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freelanced<\/a> last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog post, we discuss how you can kickstart your career and become a highly paid freelance UX designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Related Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-ux-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-ux-design\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What is UX Design?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is It Easy To Become a Freelance UX Designer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, especially since the pandemic, which changed how work is done. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-does-a-ux-designer-do\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5182\">UX designers<\/a> traditionally spent significant time in-person with users and product teams. A few years ago, it would have been less common for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/becoming-a-ux-researcher\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX researcher<\/a> or UI designer to be a freelancer. However, today, nearly everything is done remotely. There are advanced tools and technologies to enable online collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So it\u2019s not surprising that by 2028, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/press\/releases\/third-annual-future-workforce-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">73%<\/a> of all departments will have remote workers, showing that both users and organizations would be more comfortable with this way of working.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.blog-cta-salsey-01 {\toverflow: hidden;\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-img {\tmax-width: 160px !important;\t}\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-content {\tmax-width: calc(100% - 281px);\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-img {\tposition: absolute;\tmax-width: 100% !important;\tright: -10px;\tbottom: -10px;\t}\t}<\/style><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01 bg-blue-50 p-3 my-5 position-relative\"><div class=\"d-block d-md-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ui-ux-design-student.png\" alt=\"UI\/UX design student\" class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01-img mb-3 mb-md-0\" \/><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01-content\"><div class=\"d-flex align-items-center mb-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pe-2\" width=\"86\" height=\"71\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/job-guarantee-heading-badge.png\" alt=\"Job Guarantee\" style=\"mix-blend-mode: multiply\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Become A UX Designer. Land a Job or Your Money Back.<\/h4><\/div><p>Master Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch. Work 1:1 with an industry mentor. Build a portfolio. Land a job \u2014 or your money back.<\/p><p class=\"mb-sm-0\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ui-ux-design-career-track\/#job-guarantee\">Start designing<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pros of Being a Freelance UX Designer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNew freelancers report positive financial results, and 96% are likely to freelance in the future,\u201d finds a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/documents\/freelance-forward-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">study<\/a>. There are various reasons why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Time Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freelance UX designers are paid for the work they deliver, not the number of hours they clock in. This means that they are not restricted by 9-5 and can work whenever they are at their creative best. Moreover, they have the freedom to schedule their projects so that they can take vacations or breaks through the course of the year without disrupting work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Income Flexibility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While employees are limited to the same salary every month until they get a raise, there is no income cap on freelancers\u2019 earnings. You can set your rates for your service. The earning potential doesn\u2019t end once your time is fully booked. You can put prospective clients on a waiting list, securing more earnings for the future. Or you could hire an assistant to perform specific tasks for you (for example, marketing, and billing), freeing up more time for newer clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Location Independence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Since most freelancers work remotely, they also enjoy location flexibility. Your office is no longer limited to any city or even country. This means you can work from your local coffee shop or the other side of the planet. With your laptop and a stable internet connection, you can get your work done anywhere you feel the most productive and comfortable. Location independence also lets you enjoy a lower cost of living and\/or a higher quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Continuous Career Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike salaried employees, as a freelancer, you are not limited by the projects that are assigned to you. You can pitch for a wide range of projects, take on challenging assignments and gain invaluable experience along the way. You will also get to learn and work in different industries, broadening your horizon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cons of Being a Freelance UX Designer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the upside is attractive, there are a few disadvantages of taking the freelance career path as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unstable Income<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Unstable-Income.jpg\" alt=\"Freelance UX Designer: Unstable Income\" class=\"wp-image-14000\" style=\"width:500px;height:500px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a freelancer is inherently unstable. While some months might be hectic, others may be pretty slow. The trick to being a successful freelance UX designer isn\u2019t just getting the first client. You will need to build a reliable system to generate clients over and over again. This can be challenging for some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complex Taxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest challenges freelancers face is the complexity of their tax returns. Tax laws vary depending on your country, state, and individual situation. The onus is on you to make the necessary provisions, pay and file taxes regularly. If you incur expenses for work as a freelance UX designer, it is also on you to maintain bills and claim deductions. These can be tedious if you\u2019re not tax-savvy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paying for Your Benefits and Expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most salaried employment comes with health insurance, retirement plan contributions, paid sick leave, paid vacation, maternity\/paternity\/parental leave, etc. As a freelancer, you need to make provisions for all these. For instance, if you\u2019re charging your customer by the number of hours you work on their project, vacation will mean loss of pay. To allow yourself paid vacation, you need to plan your rates\/projects accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Isolation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All said and done, freelancing is a lonely job. Firstly, it\u2019s often project-based, which means once the project is done, you\u2019re on your own. Even during that time, you might collaborate with client teams, but you will not get the opportunity of hanging out with them, participating in team events, celebrating achievements together, etc. So, if you enjoy working as part of a group, you may find the freelance lifestyle difficult. Moreover, freelancers are often expected to solve their problems on their own. You might not have a partner to bounce off ideas or brainstorm with, limiting your creativity in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking to build a freelance career, it\u2019s essential to carefully consider these cons and build support systems to overcome them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Become a Freelance UX Designer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/How-To-Become-a-Freelance-UX-Designer-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Freelance UX Designer: How To Become a Freelance UX Designer?\" class=\"wp-image-14001\" style=\"width:640px;height:640px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-howto\" class=\"rank-math-block\" >\n<div class=\"rank-math-howto-description\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n<ol class=\"rank-math-steps \">\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668142815094\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Complete a Course<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668142846852\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Pick a Niche<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668142859982\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Set Expectations<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1668142879823\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Refine Your Skills<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"howto-step-1690272615968\" class=\"rank-math-step\">\n<p class=\"rank-math-step-title \">Set Your Rates<\/p>\n<div class=\"rank-math-step-content \"><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Every freelance UX designer has a unique path to success. For instance, one might start their career as a freelancer, building their portfolio as they go along. Another might work in full-time salaried employment to gain experience and then launch their freelance practice as a mid-career professional. Whichever way you choose, here are some steps to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complete a Course<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>UX is constantly changing, so brushing up on your skills is key. The best way to do this is by completing an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ui-ux-design-career-track\/\">intensive design bootcamp<\/a> online. You&#8217;ll work with a real company to complete your first project and get valuable experience. New to UX design? Start with an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/introduction-to-design\/\">introductory course<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pick a Niche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While you start, it might be tempting to take on any UX project that comes your way. However, to command good pay and be referred, it helps to pick a niche. This could be the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Type of UX work you do, such as web design, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-mobile-first-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mobile app design<\/a>, game design, product design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Industry you work in such as healthcare, personal branding<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Technology you build like Squarespace websites, iOS apps<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specific processes like user research, accessibility design<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set Expectations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest reasons freelancers fail is by not setting the right expectations. Make it abundantly clear to the customer what they will get, when they will receive it, how many iterations you will do, how much it will cost etc. Successful freelance projects are those in which no one gets nasty surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, also set expectations with yourself. Have a plan for a year, broken down into quarterly and monthly versions. Set goals across various parameters, including financials. Budget for expenses. These could be expected ones like a new laptop when the current one\u2019s life runs out or unexpected like accidental damage. Create enough of a financial safety net for the tougher days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Refine Your Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Refine-Your-Skills-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Freelance UX Designer: Refine Your Skills\" class=\"wp-image-14003\" style=\"width:640px;height:640px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>UX is a rapidly evolving field. While your foundational skills will serve you well, staying updated can be an extraordinary competitive advantage. Therefore, make efforts to keep refining your skills. You can do this formally by joining online courses or boot camps from time to time. You can also integrate this into your freelance practice by regularly taking on new projects to challenge yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set Your Rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freelance UX designers typically charge in one of three ways: By the hour, by the week, or by the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of them are helpful pricing methods, but you need to decide which is the right fit for the kind of job you are taking up. For instance, if you are taking on a project for designing small aspects of a larger application, which you cannot yet estimate how long it will take, you can charge by the hour. Most freelancers start this way. Here are indicative freelance UX designer hourly rates of intermediate-level professionals in the U.S:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"801\" height=\"355\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/freelance-ux-designer-set-your-rates.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/freelance-ux-designer-set-your-rates.png 801w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/freelance-ux-designer-set-your-rates-380x168.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/freelance-ux-designer-set-your-rates-380x168.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/hire\/ux-designers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Upwork<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, while estimating the number of hours a project might take, remember that each project will also include administrative tasks like emails, invoicing, follow-ups, collecting feedback, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, for instance, if you\u2019re signing up to build a website and understand the expectations clearly, you can charge by the project. This means that you charge a lump sum for the entire project and get paid for delivering it. So, with experience, when you learn to do things much faster, you continue to get paid well, unlike in the per-hour model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you get a good understanding of your work and the market, you can also offer value-based pricing instead of effort-based pricing. So, instead of saying this will take me 10 hours, and at 50$ per hour, I charge 500$, you can say, \u201cthis website has the potential to generate $250,000 in the next five years. So, I would charge 1% of that at $2,500.\u201d Experienced product designers often charge this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Related Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-no-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How To Become a UX Designer with No Experience<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Find Freelance UX Jobs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/How-To-Find-Freelance-UX-Jobs-2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Freelance UX Designer: How To Find Freelance UX Jobs\" class=\"wp-image-14010\" style=\"width:640px;height:428px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified your niche, set expectations, refine your skills, and decided on your rates, it\u2019s time to go to the market and seek freelance UX design jobs. Here are some ways in which you can do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Self-Marketing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a freelancer is like running a small business. This means that you are entirely responsible for sales and marketing for your freelance practice. So, the first and fundamental step in finding freelance jobs is to market yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Build a website<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Build a personal website with information about your experience, background, kind of work you\u2019re open to, etc. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a visual portfolio of your past work either on your website or on platforms like Dribbble, Behance, etc. If you\u2019re just starting, feel free to include unpaid\/pet projects as well<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have a roster of recognizable clients, include their logo (with permission)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer a consultation\/audit for free to entice potential clients to connect with you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use your network<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re ready to take on work, reach out to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/how-to-become-ui-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/how-to-become-ui-ux-designer\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personal, professional, and social networks<\/a> and let them know. This could be a simple email to your past colleagues with a link to your website. It could also be personally reaching out to seniors\/mentors seeking referrals. While this is easy to do, make all the efforts never to let someone who referred you down. And have an open conversation with the referrer in case something goes south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Community building<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By regularly writing a blog or a newsletter (on free platforms like Substack, for instance), you can build a community of followers who may turn into customers. While this can deliver exceptional results in the long term, it will take up a lot of your energy until then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Job Boards<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_166177616-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Job Boards\" class=\"wp-image-14227\" style=\"width:640px;height:427px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Since job postings in user experience or user interface design can be fragmented, this needs some investment of your time. Here are some resources you might find helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Upwork<\/a> is one of the largest freelance job boards, where UX jobs are among the most hired. You can keep an eye out for new posting or subscribe to regular email updates from the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/angel.co\/company\/springboard\/jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AngelList<\/a> is a startup-focused site that includes full-time, part-time, and freelance opportunities within the startup world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flexjobs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FlexJobs<\/a>. Freelancers must pay to use FlexJobs, but there are a variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/career-advice\/jobs-done-remotely\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/career-advice\/jobs-done-remotely\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">remote and flexible jobs<\/a> on offer. Keep in mind that many FlexJobs postings have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flexjobs.com\/blog\/post\/faq-finding-international-flexible-jobs-on-flexjobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">location requirements<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toptal.com\/designers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TopTal<\/a>. It is a marketplace for freelancers in UI, UX, visual, and interaction design. It boasts of only accepting \u201cthe top 3% of freelance designers.\u201d This means that the work you get here might be super-specialized, offering competitive pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more on the top 10 UX design job boards, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/10-best-ux-job-boards-for-your-next-ux-design-job\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read this blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social Media<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a solid social media presence can boost your chances of landing freelance assignments for two reasons: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Being active on social platforms keeps you on the top of mind of potential referrers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having your information\/portfolio handy makes you easier to refer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, keep your Twitter and LinkedIn profile updated. Connect with clients, past clients, collaborators, etc., to show on their feeds regularly. Post engaging articles\/videos and share your thoughts on them. It also helps to have opinions on the latest in UX design. Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn Jobs<\/a> to search for freelance UX jobs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/springboard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> might seem like a personal social network, it is also an excellent place to search for freelance UX jobs. You might find these Facebook groups useful for freelance UX design jobs: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/461999237551673\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI &amp; UX Designers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/205756059526207\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI\/UX Designers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/153692614977217\/?ref=br_rs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI &amp; UX Design<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/226816094176688\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI\/UX Designer Group<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collect Testimonials and Referrals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most freelancers consider a project complete the moment they receive payments. This is a rookie mistake. Your best endorsement is a happy client. So, after completing a project, seek feedback and testimonial from the customer. Ask them if they would be willing to refer you to other assignments within their company or elsewhere. Stay in touch with them on social media or personally, so they think of you when something comes along.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"bg-leaf-50 p-4 my-3\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold text-center\">Get To Know Other\tDesign Students<\/h4><div class=\"row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\"><div class=\"col\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/florence-chan\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1648571377\/Student%20Success\/Florence_Chan.jpg\" alt=\"Florence Chan\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Florence Chan<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Product Designer at Zola<\/p><\/div><div class=\"w-100 d-block d-md-none mt-3\"><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/florence-chan\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/valena-del-valle\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1635255723\/Student%20Success\/Valena_Del_Valle_125x125.png\" alt=\"Valena Del Valle\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Valena Del Valle<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Junior Product Designer at The Hartford<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/valena-del-valle\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/asel-yasacan\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1656427999\/Student%20Success\/Asel_Yasacan.jpg\" alt=\"Asel Ya\u015facan\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Asel Ya\u015facan<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Product Designer at Capital One<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/asel-yasacan\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Become a Successful Freelance UX Designer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step to becoming a successful freelance UX designer is to define what success means to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set Goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/shutterstock_390872854-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Set Goals\" class=\"wp-image-14225\" style=\"width:640px;height:427px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Set yearly, quarterly and monthly goals. While setting financial goals is the most common, think about what else is important to you. For instance, if one of the reasons you became a freelancer is to spend more time with your children, set goals to shut off your work at a pre-determined time. Every week, evaluate yourself against these goals and recalibrate as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Play to Your Strengths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a freelancer, it can be tempting to take up any work that comes your way. This can be a difficult ride. By taking on work that you don\u2019t have skills for, you are setting yourself up for failure. So, only pursue projects that are a match for your skills, experience, and ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build a Routine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Freelancing tends to wash over every aspect of your life. To stay in control of your career and achieve a good work-life balance, build routines. Set specific start and end times for your workday. Schedule time every week\/month to track time, raise invoices, follow up for payments, etc. Also, schedule monthly reviews with yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Invest in an Office<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Invest-in-an-Office-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Invest in an Office\" class=\"wp-image-14007\" style=\"width:640px;height:427px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It might seem perfectly plausible to work from your couch when you start, but soon, it\u2019ll break your back, literally. Instead, invest in a table and ergonomic chair. If you need wide-screen monitors, a keyboard, mouse, etc., invest in them. If you don\u2019t have space in your home, you can also consider co-working spaces in your neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take Breaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is easy to get lost in the work you do, losing track of time. This can be detrimental to your mental, emotional and creative health in the long term. Take regular breaks. Whenever possible, go for a short walk or do a quick stretch to re-energize your body. Avoid working nights and weekends. Schedule vacation and yearly breaks well in advance\u2014and follow them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freelance UX Designer Success Stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Freelance-UX-Designer-Success-Stories-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Freelance UX Designer Success Stories\" class=\"wp-image-14008\" style=\"width:640px;height:384px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re still not convinced about taking the plunge into a freelance UX design career, here is some inspiration from those who\u2019ve gone before you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fERlt5pTxu8&amp;t=341s\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kyle Torres<\/a> started his journey at a UX design boot camp which he believes helped him lay a good foundation. In this video, he discusses his journey and offers tips to become a successful UX designer. His first tip: \u201cfind a mentor in the design world.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=v-XDF57OOQQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jared Erondu<\/a> believes freelancing is interesting because you\u2019re a \u201cone-person business,\u201d doing marketing, sales, operations, taxes, etc., in addition to being a good designer. In this video, he discusses mistakes freelancers make why setting prices\u2014\u201d I was actually losing money by charging hourly,\u201d he says. And offers an alternative framework as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kickstart Your UX Design Career With Springboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Springboard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ui-ux-design-career-track\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI\/UX Design Bootcamp<\/a> is a mentor-led, project-driven program that offers everything you need to kickstart your career. The curriculum is comprehensive, gives you a wide range of skills to get started. The course includes multiple small projects and two capstone projects that would strengthen your portfolio. Our mentors are industry experts who will eliminate roadblocks and answer questions to accelerate your career. Our coaches will help you transition to a freelance career when you complete the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rm has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efeff6\"><strong>Since you&#8217;re here&#8230;<br><\/strong>Are you a future UX designer? Enroll in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ui-ux-design-career-track\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UI\/UX Bootcamp<\/a> and join over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10,000 students<\/a> who have successfully changed careers with us. Want to get wireframing right this second? Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/resources\/learning-paths\/user-experience-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free UX design course<\/a> today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Of all the changes that 2020 brought to our lives, the most omnipresent one is the digitization of everything. From keeping in touch with family and friends to ordering groceries, more and more people have gotten used to living their lives online. Just last year, people downloaded 218 billion apps, spent $143 billion and four [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":14009,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[1464],"class_list":{"0":"post-7078","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-design"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7078"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7078"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7078\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56582,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7078\/revisions\/56582"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7078"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=7078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}