Design Business Ideas
Creating and designing something never seen before continues to remain popular in numerous industries. Whether you’re designing jewellery or digital prints, there’s a market for your creations.
Here are 10 design business ideas that you can put your creative mind to:
61. Clothing Designer
There is always a demand for new types of clothing, new styles and never seen before designs. If you love making clothes for yourself, why not make them for someone else and turn your passion into a full-time gig?
How to start this business idea
You’ll need to approach retailers who sell clothing that are similar to your designs. Alternatively, you could launch a website and start an online clothing store yourself.
How to keep this business idea successful
Once your business has taken off you can hire seamstresses to physically make the clothes, so you can focus on designing your next range.
62. Fiverr: Graphic Design
Fiverr offers opportunities for graphic designers to use their skills and talent on freelance work. You can make a living being a freelancer on Fiverr.
How to start this business idea
Post what your skills and experiences are so that clients can see what you can do. Then you’ll need to consistently complete projects to a high level of quality and develop a reputation for reliability.
How to keep this business idea successful
You can keep upskilling yourself, so you can offer more and more. Once you’ve developed a reputation for reliable, consistent work you can charge more per project.
63. Website Designer
Designing websites continues to be a growing field internationally. Considering how many potential clients check websites before they purchase, businesses want to have engaging and user-friendly websites.
How to start this business idea
Approach businesses and explain to them why they need to improve their website. Once you’ve done enough website designs you can use them as examples for potential clients.
How to keep this business idea successful
To remain relevant and keep their customers attention you should advise all your clients to redo their website at least once a year. This will give you repeat business, if your client experiences the benefits of your hard work.
64. Envato Market
Envato is a marketplace where designers, developers, photographers, illustrators and producers sell their products. You can offer your skills on Envato and clients will pay you to take on their project.
How to start this business idea
You can just sign-up and start looking for projects you can complete. Once you’ve completed a few projects you can start developing a voice and a brand for yourself and earn more per project.
How to keep this business idea successful
Persistence. Unless you create digital products that can earn you an income passively, you’ll need to actively work at increasing your skills and the amount of projects you complete.
65. Video Editing
Video is fast becoming the new medium to reach customers no matter which industry you’re in. As a video editor you can help businesses reach new customers with a high-quality video message.
How to start this business idea
You can start this business from home with the right computer and software. Reach out to businesses looking to expand into video products or adverts.
How to keep this business idea successful
You’ll need to maintain relationships with clients and ensure your work is always high quality and impactful. When you have enough clients, you can partner with another designer to assist with the volume of video editing work.
66. Etsy: Digital Prints
Etsy is a global marketplace for homemade and vintage goods. Although South Africans find the delivery fees take a large cut of their profits, you can sell digital prints, which don’t need delivery.
How to start this business idea
You can design some prints for people around the world and if they like your print they’ll buy it and print it out themselves.
How to keep this business idea successful
The better you get at designing and the more comfortable you are with programmes like Adobe illustrator, the faster you’ll be able to create new products and the faster you can sell them.
67. Etsy: Printables
Printables, unlike Digital Prints, are for organisational purposes. Your customer can still print them out their side, but they’re typically templates, planners and life-management tools, as opposed to art.
How to start this business idea
Once you’ve come up with your beautifully designed well thought-out product you can post it online and you’ll earn money almost passively through Etsy. The more items you create the more money you’ll make.
How to keep this business idea successful
To boost your sales and help others find your products you can use Pinterest, which is known to be a good source of printables. Another key piece of advice, customers are happy to pay more for a package of printables instead of less for one.
68. Offer A Graphic Design Training Programme
If you’re really good at graphic design and you want to share your skills with others, you can offer a graphic design training programme.
How to start this business idea
Approach schools and universities to offer a programme or just to advertise for those looking to learn graphic design.
How to keep this business idea successful
To keep customers coming back you’ll need to continue to offer new programmes. This might mean you’ll need to upskill yourself, or you can just cleverly package what you know and don’t teach everything in the first programme.
69. Designing and selling t-shirts on Teespring
Teespring is a platform where you can sell T-shirt designs. Every campaign has a minimum order requirement and once this is reached the shirts get printed and shipped.
How to start this business idea
First, you’ll need to work out how many t-shirts will cover the cost of printing. The higher your campaign goal the lower the printing cost.
How to keep this business idea successful
You can also advertise your t-shirts on social media to ensure people find your designs. But if the campaign isn’t selling, don’t waste all your money on advertising.
70. Jewellery Designer
Handcrafted jewellery continues to be popular and if you can design and make pieces that are high quality and unique, people will buy them.
How to start this business idea
Once you’ve designed the jewellery, you’ll need to make it yourself for now and sell it. You can try flea markets and events, or even sell it online using a website.
How to keep this business idea successful
When you’re making a bit more money, you can partner with a manufacturer to make some of your more popular pieces. This can decrease the time it takes for you to get the products to market and improve your profits.