How (and where) motion and graphic designers can earn in 2024

In 2024, designers feel unsure like never before. Growing competition and evolving AI services make us doubt our future and ability to make a living.

Want to quit your office routine but don't know where to start? Don’t be scared! There are plenty of ways to earn and thrive as a designer, even in these challenging times. We’ve picked several rock-solid options that will open up diverse revenue streams for independent motion and graphic designers who are looking for ways to earn online and build a passive income.

Stock Assets and Templates

A proven and stable way to earn on your designs monthly is the creation and sale of stock assets and templates. Unlike freelance and client work, you can make your designs reusable and receive royalties for assets you made years ago, in case they are still actual. Studios that work on stock platforms, have a library of over 50 templates, and make regular uploads can expect to earn thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars monthly. As a solo creator, you can also grow your earnings to such numbers, it will just take a bit more time.

The best advice here - don’t limit yourself to a single stock platform(unless they require exclusivity, like Envato), join several to grow your royalties and get better exposure.

Here are some stock websites with great terms and broad audiences for you to share your templates:

EasyEdit Stock

What makes EasyEdit Stock stand out among other platforms, you can earn 75% royalties fresh from the start - there’s no need to reach 20K sales before your royalty rate will grow and you’ll get the maximum from your work. Thousands of subscribers are joining monthly and the competition is not so high yet - consider uploading your templates to get massive exposure. Additionally, you’ll get monthly rewards for the best-performing content and $150 for every 50 templates added to the platform!

Motion Array

Join the designer-friendly platform that includes 2M assets and receives over 4M visits monthly. Motion Array is a great place to share your assets - the best works are rewarded financially every month and added to the staff picks. Here you can be sure to get enough downloads to feel financially stable, but pay attention to your royalty rate - it may change from month to month, and so do your earnings. Make sure your uploads are regular, so you can deal with the immense competition.

Artlist.io

The fastest-growing stock website on the market - Artlist is a leader in royalty-free music and assets. Though it may be harder to join due to the great competition, you can be sure to reach an audience of millions and boost your earnings like nowhere else. Who else can boast 4M subscribers worldwide?

Envato Market

Once a legendary platform we spent 14 years on, Envato Market seems to be slowly losing its previous glory and amount of clients. Still, the platform can boast billions of community earnings, such regular clients as huge broadcasters and enterprises, and over 75M of items sold. Nevertheless, their main disadvantage is exclusivity - if you want to share your designs on several stock platforms, you’ll be able to receive just up to 30% of royalties from your work.

Adobe Stock

While this platform is better for stock photographers and videographers, you can also upload your vector files. The minimum asset royalty you can earn is 0.33 cents but with as large exposure as on Adobe Stock, you can expect to get solid revenue monthly.

You can join any of these stock platforms right away, just prepare your portfolio with some template examples. Spoiler - it’s not complicated at all!

Educational Content and Courses

Many designers also monetize their expertise by creating educational content and online courses. You can use platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, or Patreon to share your knowledge with creatives worldwide. Pick any topic you have bits of knowledge in - motion graphics, digital illustration, or advanced Photoshop techniques, catering to both beginners and experienced professionals seeking to enhance their skills.

Don’t forget about YouTube - if you are going to create tutorials regularly, you have all the chances to grow your views to hundreds of thousands per month. With the YouTube Partner program your earnings may differ, but you can expect an average of $400 per 100,000 views in the Education and Film categories.

Apart from a wider list of audiences you can access, you’ll have new opportunities unlocked, such as:

Collaborations and Social Media

Building a brand out of your social media and personal work will be a good investment in your future. Expect collaboration offers from Adobe and other media giants!

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become powerful tools for designers to showcase their work and monetize creativity. Designers can build a following by filming tutorials, WIP processes, and sharing links to their goods. Brands and businesses often collaborate with popular designers for sponsored content, further diversifying their revenue streams. The revenue you can expect depends on many indicators, but can range from $100 to $2000 and up!

Additionally, posting your work to social media will help you reach new clients and new freelance opportunities if you’re into some.

Share your work on platforms like Behance and Dribbble - they serve as virtual portfolios where you can showcase some work and connect with potential clients or employers. It gives you a great chance to build up your reputation and secure long-term partnerships!

Freelance Opportunities

Freelancing remains a first choice for most of the independent designers. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr continue to connect designers with clients globally.

Whether you’re into logo creation or complex motion graphics and animation, you’ll always find the right work options. The flexibility of such career choice allows you to set your own rates, choose projects that align with your skills and interests, and work from anywhere in the world. A perfect balance between creative freedom and financial stability!

On the other hand, you’ll need years to build your reputation and grow your rates extensively. At the same time, competition will only extend further, with new designers seeking work-life balance and joining freelance platforms.

Worth noticing that designers specializing in areas such as AR, VR, and traditionally, UX/UI find themselves receiving higher salaries. Having the right skill set to fill the market demand will secure you with job offers, whether you’re working from the office or home. Stay updated with emerging technologies and carve out a niche!

Important Conclusion

Motion and graphic designers can feel confident about working on themselves - all you need is consistency, attention to trends, and a bit of your own unique style!

If you want to earn as an independent designer in 2024, we’d advise mixing potential revenue sources, for example - creating graphic or video templates for stock websites and filming YouTube tutorials on how to make an easier version of your work. And of course, add CTA - lead the viewers from tutorials to the templates you’ve created to grow the revenue. Don’t forget about Instagram and TikTok - you can film short WIP videos about how your work is going, tell personal stories of your ups and downs, share new projects, and build a brand around you, to become known and secure your independent design path!

Remember, that you got a wealth of opportunities to earn through freelance work, stock assets, social media, remote collaborations, specialized niches, and educational content. Embrace and connect through digital platforms, stay adaptable to industry trends, and consistently deliver high-quality work - these are the keys to thriving in this dynamic and rewarding field. We believe in you!