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Graphic design
Graphic design lets you create visual work such as logos, layouts and social media graphics for clients. You can build skills and a portfolio through practice before looking for paid projects.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Graphic designers make pictures and layouts for clients.
- You can practise with made-up projects before seeking paid work.
- Show your best work in a small portfolio.
- Agree the work, price, deadline and changes before starting.
- Keep records of your work, messages and payments.
Who it suits
It may suit people who enjoy visual problem-solving, typography and making ideas clear. It helps to be patient with feedback and comfortable discussing what a client needs.
Businesses and community groups use visual designs to explain ideas and help people recognise their services. They may pay for designs such as logos, posters, menus and social media graphics that suit a clear brief.
Step by step
- Choose one kind of design and the clients you want to help. Pick one starting area, such as posters, menus, logos or social media graphics. Write down a few kinds of clients whose needs interest you, such as a local café or community group. About 30 minutes.
- Learn colour, typography and layout basics. Use a beginner course or free learning materials, then make sample designs of your own. Adobe describes graphic design basics and learning options here: Adobe. About A few short sessions.
- Choose design tools and practise using them. Try tools for editing images and making vector artwork, which is useful for logos and icons. Adobe describes Photoshop for image editing and Illustrator for vector artwork: Adobe. Check current software options and costs before choosing. About 1-2 days to explore.
- Study designs you admire, then make an original design. Notice how a design uses type, colour and layout, and write down what makes it clear. Make a new design using those ideas; do not copy another designer's work. About 1-2 hours.
- Make sample projects for an imaginary client or community group. Create a few pieces that show the kind of work you hope to do. Label self-initiated work clearly so nobody mistakes it for commissioned work. About 1-3 days.
- Build a simple portfolio with your strongest work. Choose a small number of pieces that show your range and strengths. For each piece, explain the brief, your design choices and one thing you would improve next time. About Half a day.
- Ask someone you trust to review your portfolio. Ask for specific feedback: what is clear, what is confusing and which work best shows your skills. Use the feedback to improve the portfolio and remove pieces that do not represent your strengths. About 30-60 minutes, plus edits.
- Write a short introduction and make contact easy. Say what you design and who you hope to help. Add a contact method you can manage, such as email or a contact form, and check it regularly. About 30 minutes.
- Agree the project details before beginning work. Write down what you will deliver, the deadline, the fee, how many changes are included and when payment is due. Keep copies of the brief, approvals and final files so you can refer back to what was agreed. About 30-60 minutes per project.
Your first 15 minutes
This week, make one original sample design for the kind of client you would like to work with, then ask someone you trust for specific feedback on its layout and readability.
The money
Typical junior freelance rates are £200–£350 per day and mid-level rates are £350–£550 per day as of early 2026; Twine estimates about €270–€365 per day for mid-level designers in Ireland, based on a 2–4 week project. These are reference rates, not guaranteed earnings. <a href="https://movingtotheuk.co.uk/education/online-learning/freelance-graphic-design-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Moving, Working & Living in the UK</a> <a href="https://www.twine.net/find/graphic-designers/ie/dublin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Twine</a>
Example only: Suppose you complete one small project in a week for £120 or €140. If you set aside £15 or €20 for costs, the amount left before tax is £120 − £15 = £105, or €140 − €20 = €120. These are made-up figures, not typical prices or income promises.
The rules
Graphic design work is generally lawful in the UK and Ireland. Follow the tax rules that apply to you. Agree your project terms clearly. Check whether your work means you need to pay a data-protection fee or meet any other requirements.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and Self Assessment. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is your gross income before expenses. If your income is above that, tell HMRC. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the tax year ends. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK
- Data protection. The ICO's wholesale and retail guidance recommends using its self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a fee. It doesn't set a general rule for every sole trader. The ICO lists advertising or marketing another person's business, goods or services as an example of work that requires a fee. If your graphic-design work includes this, use the tool to check whether you need to pay. ICO
- VAT. Check whether you need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. Business.gov.uk
- Project terms and insurance. Before you start, agree in writing what work you will do, the deadline, fee, revision limits and payment date. Consider suitable insurance. Ask an insurer or business adviser what suits your work.
- Advertising. If you publish paid or affiliate promotional posts, make the commercial relationship clear. For example, label the post “Ad”. ASA
- Age and Northern Ireland. If you're under 18, check the rules for your age and area before taking paid work. In Northern Ireland, 16- and 17-year-olds usually have limits of 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. They cannot work from 10pm to 6am. nidirect
Ireland
- Tax and Revenue. If you're self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC through self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October. If you work in a PAYE job, register for self-assessment (Form 11) if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those amounts, declare the income on Form 12 through myAccount. Check your position with Revenue or a tax adviser. Citizens Information Revenue
- Business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20. Companies Registration Office
- VAT. The VAT thresholds are €42,500 for services and €85,000 for goods. Check with Revenue whether your activity and turnover mean you must register. Revenue
- Age. If you're under 16, check the young-worker rules before taking paid work. 14- and 15-year-olds can do light work during school holidays, up to 7 hours a day and 35 hours a week. 15-year-olds can work up to 8 hours a week during term time. Check your circumstances with Citizens Information. Citizens Information
- Project terms and insurance. Before you start, agree in writing what work you will do, the deadline, fee, revision limits and payment date. Consider suitable insurance. Ask an insurer or business adviser what suits your work.
- Advertising. If you publish paid or affiliate promotional posts, clearly label the commercial content. For example, use “#Ad”. CCPC
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Taking on work before agreeing the brief, fee, deadline and revision limits.
- Presenting practice pieces as commissioned work instead of labelling them clearly.
- Offering more work than your skills, schedule or energy can support.
- Forgetting that platform fees and project costs reduce the amount left over.
- Keeping no copies of briefs, approvals or final files.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.