Did you know that based on Forbes’ report, the demand for graphic design led to Adobe’s $5.85 billion revenue in 2016? That figure shows how many artists and hobbyists have been subscribing to the ultimate tools for making it in the graphic designing business (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).
Gone are the days when brands only used graphics as a marketing flavor. With the current 6.8-second attention span of web users, visuals are now the real deal.
Based on the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for graphic designers will increase in the next decade, so even your minor photo editing skills have the potential of generating good income. Read on to explore the possibility.
What Is Graphic Design?
Interaction Design Foundation defines graphic design as the craft of using visuals to express particular messages. This craft includes logo creation, typography, infographics, page layouts, and engaging pictures for users’ needs and interests.
Graphic design also aims to help users navigate platforms more efficiently rather than only impress them aesthetically. As John Maeda, President of Rhode Island School of Design, puts it, “Design is a solution to a problem. Art is a question to a problem.”
So graphic designers have to play with the following elements:
- Form
- Color
- Size
- Line
- Space
- Shape
It’s also not just about arranging them to look pleasing. Each component has psychology behind it, which makes the graphic designer’s job fundamental to businesses.
What Does a Graphic Designer Do? 
Graphic designers are not just artists who make things look nice. They are experts in using images to sell products or services. As mentioned above, here are the primary duties of a graphic designer:
- Boost the brand’s marketing through interactive visuals
- Ensure that the design of the brand’s website or platforms provide a smooth user experience
To reach those goals, a graphic designer follows the set of principles below in operating the previously enumerated elements:
- Balance
- Emphasis
- Rhythm
- Pattern
- Proportion
- Movement
- Variety
- Unity
To make it short, a graphic designer has to have a keen eye for details that make beauty effective in relaying the brand’s message.
What’s It Like Working as a Graphic Designer in the Philippines?
There are different employment situations for graphic designers in the Philippines. There’s remote, part-time, and freelance. There are also full-time jobs, but the other three employment types seem to be the most popular.
After all, these creatives need to work in a place where they feel inspired the most. According to PayScale, the average annual salary of graphic designers in the Philippines is about PHP 232,788. That’s pretty big for home-based designers who don’t have fare expenses.
So what’s the experience like?
Remote
Working as a remote graphic designer in the Philippines is the most popular option in this field. Many companies all over the world are starting to form virtual companies, especially for creatives.
Gone are the days when people only had the choice of getting stuck in a cubicle, waiting for 5 PM. Many of these companies are outsourcing full-time workers in the Philippines due to the exceptional performance of Filipinos in virtual work.
Also, the minimum wage in our country is lower than in most places. However, these companies offer a little more than local teams, and they require no physical meeting. That eliminates the hefty total of daily fare expenses.
Remote graphic designers get to enjoy the following perks, too:
- Flexible hours
- Longer vacations
- Less strict leave policies
- Fixed monthly income
Average monthly salary: PHP 17,931
Part-Time
Part-time graphic designers are hired only for a specified period. Many local companies look for part-timers, given that unlike foreign teams, the Philippines is still grounded mostly in traditional marketing strategies.
Local brands need graphic designers for logos, flyers, and banners more than on websites and social media campaigns. The Philippine digital marketing landscape is all about virality, and intricate graphic design certainly doesn’t do it.
Effortless visuals like memes and relatable pop culture references still dominate the scene. This job then becomes favorable for college students or artists who already have a primary source of income.
Part-timers can still enjoy the following benefits:
- Medical
- Monthly incentives
- Monthly product allowance
Average monthly salary: Most Filipino brands pay entry-level rates to part-timers, which range from PHP 12,000 to PHP 18,000.
Freelance
Freelance graphic designing in the Philippines seems to earn more than part-time work or remote jobs. Freelance graphic designers get to name their price, choose their projects, and work in their own preferred time.
They sell their skills instead of working for a team. Here are the ways freelance graphic designers in the Philippines find work or gigs:
Setting up a website
Owning a website is the best way to advertise your graphic designing skills, so clients get the idea of your style and talent for design. One best example is Clint Almacin’s website, where you can find his portfolio, contact information, testimonials from clients, and his profile.
Freelancing is the same as managing an enterprise. Setting up a virtual reception in the form of a website or even social media is an excellent way to express you’re open for business.
Posting your services or hunting sidelines on freelance marketplaces
There are many freelance marketplaces in the Philippines where graphic designers can advertise their skills. These platforms can be freelance work-dedicated websites or Facebook groups. 
One of the best places to sell skills is on Rakuboss where there are plenty of people looking for graphic designers. The site provides organized searches and categories for offered services. That way, they can create fruitful matches for clients and freelancers.
They also have a guide on how to master freelancing in the Philippines.
Average monthly salary: The least you can get in a monthly-paid project is PHP 10,000 to PHP 30,000
What are the Challenges for Graphic Designers in the Philippines?
Tom McCallum of Interactive Design Institute spoke to the best graphic designers in the Philippines in 2015. One of those designers was Marlon Mayugba, who identified the following challenges for new and upcoming graphic designers:
- Create responsible and functional designs that are simple enough to be understood
- Focus on the materials and processes used as the medium for the designs
- Do not contribute to the problems the environment is facing today
When I came across this article in 2016, I didn’t get the last challenge at all. Now that the internet is dealing with oversaturation and complex social issues, it started making sense.
Graphic designers have to be more aware of what they’re putting out there. The internet is a sensitive place these days, and any image can draw flak even with only one tiny, unnoticed detail.
