web development and graphic design

Given the rise in new enterprises over the last few years, many business owners are looking for assistance with their online presence.

In 2020, Alyssa Nguyen established her business after learning how to create websites and graphics on her own. According to records that Insider independently confirmed, her company, which assists businesses owned by women and people of colour with branding, made close to $170,000 in income in 2021.

According to Nguyen, it's essential to start producing content to build a digital portfolio so that potential clients can find you if you're wanting to get into the design or freelance sectors.

Even if you don't currently have any clients, she advised, "Make stuff you enjoy doing in the aesthetic you enjoy."

The field of graphic design is always evolving. I've witnessed enormous changes even in the last five years. I initially worked in the corporate world as a designer before transitioning to freelance employment.

You must stay current on current trends to be competitive and relevant, regardless of whether you're just starting out in a corporate job or wish to launch your own design firm. Here are five trends that will impact our future.

1. Remote work rises.

When you initially enter the field, you are eager to succeed. The fact that rules and norms are frequently already in place when working for a corporation is one of its disadvantages. You run the danger of getting into trouble if you don't adhere to them to the letter. They want your work to be current, but they also don't want you to stray too far from what they know would appeal to the majority of their clients or their business strategy.

Fortunately, businesses all across the world are starting to welcome remote work more. Workers are no longer confined to a desk; instead, they are bringing their computers home or developing on the spot from a workstation in a coffee shop or library. Even if you must still adhere to the company's rules, working from home is more convenient and saves money on transportation.

2. Millennials are interested in freelancing.

The typical annual wage for a graphic designer is around $48,700, but when I first started out, my pay was far less. I had to work some side jobs to supplement my entry-level salary. The more you work for yourself, the more appealing freelancing seems, yet working for yourself also entails some degree of uncertainty. Will my income continue to grow? What about a 401K and insurance?

Nearly 25% of the more than 250,000 graphic designers working in the United States are independent contractors. The desire of millennials to leave the corporate culture in favour of a freelance lifestyle will likely cause this figure to increase over the next few years.

3. The stage is set by experience.

vFlat design had a reappearance in recent years, but it now appears to be going out of style, being replaced by three-dimensional designs and interactive graphics. Consumers can now enjoy a more immersive experience thanks to improvements in visuals. Consider covering every feature of a mall with visuals, even the water fountains, or putting signs on the walls, ceiling, and floors.

4. Mobile becomes more vital.

The term "mobile responsiveness" has been in use for some time. More individuals use mobile devices to access the Internet every year. Additionally, research reveal that the percentage of people who own smartphones increased from 35% in 2011 to 77% in 2018.

As a graphic designer, I have greater access to my work when I'm on the go than ever before, whether I'm using my phone to answer a client's query or logging onto team boards to check what we've accomplished thus far on a certain project.

I expect mobile access to become even more crucial, both in the tools I use as a designer and for the design itself to be mobile responsive, when I compare how frequently I used my phone five years ago to how frequently I use it today.

5. The future of design is influenced by artificial intelligence.

We now have more tools at our disposal than ever before because to advancements in technology. I can determine how well-liked any certain design element is by spending the time to evaluate the data. It's simpler to modify a design to make it have the most impact for the business when you have cold, hard information to work with.

Designers will likely spend less time on artistic pursuits and more time determining which features promote traffic and turn website visitors into buyers. For the past ten years, the nature of design work has been gradually altering, and this trend is likely to continue into the 2020s.