DESI GN WITH OUT BORDERS 2020

The
Freelance
Evolution
designed by Shwin
 2

This year’s report captures the insights and shared experiences of more than 11,000
freelance designers in 147 countries. We are thankful to both our own community and the
designers beyond it who have shared stories of creative connection, personal growth and
extraordinary resilience in a year that turned the whole world upside down.

As the predictable became volatile for communities everywhere in 2020, millions of people
encountered significant emotional and economic strain. But as our personal and professional
lives collided in new and unexpected ways, we also saw the freelance design industry adapt
and thrive.

Many designers have found better work-life balance, and an overwhelming majority have
mastered a new professional skill during the COVID-19 pandemic. Others have fostered
industry connections online, and having the kids at home has (somewhat surprisingly!)

Foreword
fuelled and improved the creative process for many parents around the world.

While freelancers themselves haven’t changed, the world around them has. The global shift
to remote work has radically altered the way we collaborate, and designers report significant
improvements in client communication and flexibility. Half of those surveyed expect to earn
more this year than in 2019, and there are promising signs that companies will embrace more
remote freelance talent as a result of lessons learned this year.

As international and domestic borders slammed shut thanks to the pandemic, opportunities
for freelancers opened up online. The way the world thinks about “work” has fundamentally
shifted; there is greater empathy stemming from shared experiences, and an openness to
new ways of doing things. The time for freelance creators is now–the world is waiting.

— Patrick Llewellyn, CEO 99designs

01 02 03

Contents
An industry snapshot: Now vs. then: Creativity through a crisis:
the face of freelance 4 how 2020 challenged everything 13 riding the COVID-19 curve 28
Introducing the revolution 5 The 2020 difference: an introduction 14 Creativity during COVID-19: an introduction 29
Who is freelancing 6 Challenges due to the pandemic 15 Chaos fuels creativity 30
How they’re freelancing 9 The Job reshuffle 17 Parenting in a pandemic 31
Motivation for freelancing 10 Satisfaction levels 20 Emotional impact and connection 34
Impact on income 22 Social good 36
Shifting hours 23 Education and upskilling 39
Finding balance 26 Learnings from lockdown 45
Changes in client behavior 46

04 05
Future focus: The next decade:
the rise of freelance design 49 the future is freelance 64
The legacy of the pandemic: an introduction 50 The epic start to 2020: an introduction 65
Remote work democratizing design 51 Challenges facing the industry 66
Design doesn’t do travel bans 54 Designer confidence 68
New to the industry 56 Conclusion 71
Freelancers and shape-shifting agencies 60 Designer bio and methodology 72
 D ESI GN WIT H OU T B OR D E R S 2020
An industry snapshot:
the face of freelance 4
We surveyed over 11,000 With 2020 officially shattering predictability in the workplace,
businesses across the world looked to the way of the

freelance designers across freelancer: adapting to uncertainty by embracing flexible and

remote working models.
147 countries, to gauge While many industries experience evolution, freelancers
their 2020 experience. could soon be seeing their own revolution.

And 1 thing became clear: This report not only reflects the challenges faced by creative
professionals, it highlights their shared stories of connection,
we are in a world where personal growth and remarkable resilience during one of the

freelancers thrive. biggest global crises the world has ever seen.

Amidst the chaos, freelance designers have come out

stronger and more optimistic about the future than we could
have ever predicted.

AN INDU STRY SNAPSH OT 5

AN INDU STRY SNAPSH OT
6

28%
Who is Identify as female

free- 2%
Identify as non-binary

lancing
70%
Around 1 in 3 freelance designers
identify as a minority based on
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation,
mental or physical impairment.
Identify as male
 While designers of all ages and
A N IND U ST RY SNA PSH OT

backgrounds are embracing

the freelance way of working,
Millennials are leading the way.

27%
12%
hav
e be
have been working wor en
king
in design for more des i n
ign
than a decade tha less
na
yea
r

7
 Age of freelancers Years of industry experience

50+ 4% 5% 20+

13%
40-49

30-39 21% 7% 15-20

-29 25%
25

25 36 15% 10-14
%
Under

30% 5-9

31% 1-4

12%
AN I NDU STRY SN AP SH OT

<1

8
AN INDU STRY SNAPSH OT

How are 12% 16%

designers employed in other
field, freelance in
spare time
employed in
design, moonlight as
freelancers

freelancing?
There are many ways to make freelancing
work around an individual’s schedule and
responsibilities.

So it’s not surprising that freelancers report

having extensive professional expertise beyond
the field of design; architects, musicians,
19% 53%
photographers, translators, developers, and even freelance while
freelance
nurses and doctors are all finding unique ways to studying or
full-time
bring freelance design into their world. interning

9
 With freelancers choosing their hours, yet X - H OURS WORKED PER WEEK

again, flexibility and freedom are the key

motivators in 2020.

With only 6% of designers saying they 22%

freelance because they can’t find work 21% 21%
elsewhere, a number that is unchanged from
last year’s data, one thing remains clear:
Freelancing is aspirational.

AN IN DU STRY SNAPSH OT
15%

12%

9%
Y - PERCE NTAGE

UNDER 11 11 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50 50+
HOURS HOURS HOURS HOURS HOURS HOURS 10
 The top 3 reasons designers
choose to freelance are:

Additional income on top More personal flexibility Creative freedom that

AN I NDU STRY SN AP SH OT

of their primary job (19%) and freedom (39%) wasn’t available in their
previous job (14%)
11
 A N IND U ST RY SNA PSH OT
DESI GNER #40795, TURKEY

12
 D ESI GN WIT H OU T B OR D E R S 2020
Now vs. then:
how 2020 changed everything 13
What a difference
Marked by a global pandemic that upended lives and
transformed societies, 2020 was the year that nobody
saw coming.

a year can make. So what impact has it had on designers compared to

last year?

From significant hardships as a result of the pandemic, to

better pay and improved work-life balance, the challenges
of 2020 also brought about some unexpected rewards.

N OW VS. THEN 14
Changes to
15

freelance work
As the world shifted to remote work almost
overnight, 1 in 5 designers picked up more freelance
projects than normal during the pandemic. However,
COVID-19 posed some significant challenges that
impacted designers in a negative way.

N OW VS. THEN
N OW VS. T H E N

Challenges
27%
Clients have
designers faced
cut budgets
during the pandemic

26%
At least one project
22%
Ghosted by at
cancelled or put on hold least one client

36%
Difficulty finding steady work
16
 N OW VS. THEN

Around half (48%) of freelance

designers experienced a change
of employment status during

Job changes the pandemic. And even though

around a quarter (26%) of
freelancers lost a salaried job in
2020, just 16% received financial
support from their government.

17
42% 18

have been actively

looking for employment

14%
lost a full-time job

10%
lost a part-time job

2%
were furloughed
6%
graduated from
a design program

4%
were hired for a
part-time position

3%
were hired for a
full-time position

2%
were awarded
an internship
In addition...

Aro u n d a t h i r d

(32%)
have cons id e r e d t a k in g o n
a l w o r k o u t s id e o f
addition
s a re s u lt o f h a rd s h ips
design a

14% re late d to C O V ID -1 9

of designers have
been
asked to take on a

8%
dditional
responsibilities at
work
have had to relocate
during the pandemic

N OW VS. THEN 19
When designers were asked how 20

happy they were with their current

situation, we saw a shift towards
dissatisfaction in 2020 compared to
last year—which is understandable
given how challenging the year has
been for the world at large.

Even so, there was a 3% increase in

the number of freelancers who were
very satisfied with their professional
circumstances, which is a promising
sign of the times.

N OW VS. THEN
 21
65%
N OW VS. THEN

Professional
SATISFIED
Happy but room
for improvement

satisfaction levels: 51%

2019 vs. 2020

UNSATISFIED VERY SATISFIED
2019 Not really satisfied Very happy with current
with current situation professional situation
2020
28%

VERY UNSATISFIED
17% 16%
Ready to leave the
design industry 13%

2% 3%
Impact 49% 15%

on income
expect to earn more in expect their income
2020 than they did in 2019 to stay the same

While over a third of freelancers expect

to earn less than they did in 2019,
despite this year’s challenges, 2020
still gave us something to celebrate…

24%
of this group expect their
annual income to increase
significantly

N OW VS. THEN 22
N OW VS. THEN

Freelancing provides the flexibility

to work incredibly varied schedules
(after all, this is the number one
motivation for designers wanting to
freelance in the first place). So it’s no
wonder that less than 5% constrain
themselves to a typical 9 - 5 day.

23
When we asked designers about 24

the impact of COVID-19 on their

working hours, the responses
were vast and their reasons were
varied––from fluctuations in work
volume to family responsibilities.

N OW VS. THEN
25

N OW VS. T H E N
How the pandemic affected
designers’ working hours

44% 23% 33%

said they’re working shorter hours said their hours were unchanged said they’re working longer hours
than they were before the pandemic than they were before the pandemic
While some designers found it difficult to create

N OW VS. T H E N
boundaries between their personal and professional

E
lives during the pandemic, 42% actually found that their

C
work-life balance improved in 2020 compared to 2019.

L A N
B A
I N G
I N D
F 26

I’d rather earn less and spend less
than earn more and spend two
hours commuting or be subject to the
corporate ladder. Been there, done
that, and I am in a moment in my
life where I want to love my work and
be proud of it.
DESI GNER #8675, MEXI CO
27
N OW VS. THEN
Most jobs don’t consider that
employees spend more time at work
than they ever will with their families.
I would rather work for myself to
maintain a healthy balance.
DESI GNER #9893, BRAZIL DESI GNER #3881, UNITED STATES
 D ES I GN WITH OU T B ORD E RS 2020
Creativity through a crisis:
riding the COVID-19 curve 28
Even though the majority of freelance Yet despite the air of anxiety sweeping across the globe,
many designers shared stories of strength, connection
designers were already working from and personal growth—proof that even through a crisis,
home, as lockdown orders came into creativity thrives.

effect around the world, life became

very different—and fast.

CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS 29

 CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

When we asked designers how having other people in their

work space had impacted their creative process, most said it
actually had a positive effect. It just goes to show how valuable
the presence of others can be for creative workers—whether for
inspiration, as a sounding board, or a welcome distraction, grab
hold of your people and keep ‘em close!

Company
21%
fuels creativity NEGATIVE
IMPACT

As a result of the pandemic, many designers found

themselves competing for peace and quiet (and a
bit of space) as whole households suddenly had to
43%
work and study from home together. POSITIVE
IMPACT
Yet surprisingly, being on top of each other
brought creatives out on top! 36%
NO SIGNIFICANT
DIFFERENCE

30
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS
31

Parenting in
a pandemic
This year has been particularly challenging for parents
around the world, with 48% of freelance designers
needing to balance extra childcare, distance learning
and homeschooling responsibilities on top of their
normal work. As a result, 24% reported working less
hours because they were taking care of family members.
However, when we asked designers how Professional impact of additional 32

having their children at home affected their

work lives, the responses were surprisingly
childcare and homeschooling
positive. responsibilities on primary carers 48%
reported a positive impact

While many primary carers found juggling

responsibilities exceptionally challenging
during this time, around half felt the experience
had impacted them in a positive way
professionally. (Who'da thought those little
rascals could also be a source of inspiration!)

27%
reported a negative impact

25%
said there was no difference

CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS
33

At first glance, the 48% of primary carers who report

a positive impact may seem unusually high, but many
freelancers are already pros at flexible working,
Time with family is life’s
fitting it in around families, different schedules and
careers. (Considering that doctors and nurses found fin e s t lu x u ry . N o t h a v in g to
time to design, clearly it’s a craft worth fighting for!) c o m m u te h a s g iv e n m e a n
extra hour or two with my
children every day.
Equally, many freelancers had other adults at home
to share the load for the first time.

Combine this with the fact that 52% of parents said DESI GNER #4361, UNITED KIN GDOM
having family around helped their creative process,
we start to see a more complete picture.
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS
34

Emotional 2020 has been an incredibly stressful period, both

collectively and personally, for millions of people around

impact and
the world. When we asked freelance designers how the
emotional strain of the pandemic affected their work,
many shared experiences of depression, anxiety and

connections trouble focusing. Online connections however, proved

to be a light in the darkness.
While 23% of freelancers reported
feeling isolated from their peers,
around a quarter said that they made
new industry contacts during the
pandemic (thanks to online forums,
social media and freelance platforms).

CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS 35

 CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

Designers i g n l o g o s
I often d e s
working for for indust r i e s e n g a g e d
social good in charity, a n d I a l w a y s
make th e m f o r f r e e .
It’s been a turbulent year both personally
and professionally, but that hasn’t stopped
designers from being generous with their time DESI GNER #1868, INDONESIA

and dedicating it towards a good cause.

36
 37

38% of designers reported

doing creative work for a social
justice organisation or charity in
2020

—and 70% of that work

was done pro bono.

Designers in their twenties were the most generous

with their time, with 44% of under thirties working on a
philanthropic project of some kind in the past 6 months
(compared to 30% of designers in their forties).

CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

 C R E AT IV IT Y T H R OU GH A C R ISIS
y jo b a t a to xi c a g e n c y tw o w e e ks b e f o re C O V ID h it .
I qu it m
e m ic f o rc e d m e to ta ke th e ti m e I n e e d e d to re c o ve r,
The pa n d
in p e rs p e c ti ve a b o u t th e ro le o f d e s ig n . It s h o u ld b e
a n d g a
a b o u t h e lp in g s p re a d th e ri g h t
less about money and more
a ls , a n d th e e n vi ro n m e n t) .
messages (helping people, anim

DESI GNER #3159, CAN ADA

38
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

Education & upskilling:

With more than 10 years experience,
living, working & I am still trying to improve my design
skills. Because no one is 100% perfect
learning online in this creative industry.

Another positive thread in the story of

2020 was found in designers’ personal and DESI GNER #2361, INDIA
professional growth during the pandemic.

39
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS
40

An incredible 81% of designers learned a

50%
also managed to work on
new professional skill during the pandemic.

The most popular skills being developed

52%
personal creative projects
are in 3D animation, UI design and motion
of freelancers spent time graphics, with online learning leading
on personal development
the charge as the most common way for
during lockdown
designers looking to upskill.
How designers
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

learned new skills 72%

learned new skills
primarily using
Given the levels of continuous self-development in YouTube tutorials
the industry, it’s not surprising that the majority of
designers (68%) consider themselves self-taught
in some capacity—even amongst those with
formal qualifications.

Never underestimate the power of video tutorials!

60% 36%
learned new upskilled using online
skills through courses (e.g. Skillshare
experimentation and Coursera)

41 / 72
 CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

With easy acc es s to tu to ri a ls , th er e a re m a ny

emerging designers. S o w h a t co un ts is th e d iv er s it y,
flexibility a nd th e en ga ge m en t of m y w or k.

DESI GNER #8410, BRAZIL

42
 In spite of all this training, it’s worth noting that only 1 in 5
freelance designers believe that a formal education is
crucial to succeed in the industry; 25% don’t think it’s
necessary at all, and over half don’t feel strongly either way.

29%
Undergraduate
degree in design

23%
Technical or
certification program

19%
Currently completing an
undergraduate degree

17%
Postgraduate degree in a
design-related discipline
CRE ATI VIT Y THROUGH A CRI SIS

12%
Apprenticeship

43
 C R E AT IV IT Y T H R OU GH A C R ISIS
There is so m uc h to le a rn b ey on d d es ig n in
I’ve felt the pressure to go out of order to b e a su cc es sf ul fr ee la nc er : so ft sk ill s
my design field of expertise. I’m such as how to w ri te a qu ot e, ho w to w ri te th e
trying to add to my skill list each first respon se w he n a po te nt ia l cl ie nt co nt a ct s
and every single day. pr ic e yo ur se rv ic es , ho w to co nd uc t a
you, how to
cons ul ta ti on – a nd ho w to cl os e th e d ea l.

DESI GNER #5392, INDIA DESI GNER #4469, UNITED STATES

44
 C R E AT IV IT Y T H R OU GH A C R ISIS
Learnings
from lockdown
As businesses around the world embraced remote work out
of necessity, silver linings emerged for those already attuned
to this way of working. Designers across the globe reported
improvements in client collaboration and communication
compared to before the pandemic. They also expect to see
a significant increase in opportunities as a result. Now that’s
progress!

45
77% of freelance designers expect
CRE ATIVIT Y THROUGH A CRISIS

clients to be more willing to hire remote

freelancers as a result of working remotely
themselves during the pandemic.

46
Changes in

C R E AT IV IT Y T H R OU GH A C R ISIS
client behavior
since the 30% 14%
improved
pandemic collaboration and
communication
are more
disorganized

31% 17% 12%

increased improved are more
flexibility their briefs impatient

47
 CRE ATI V IT Y THROU GH A CRISIS
The pandemic has been the first real blow to the traditional
9 to 5 “be at the office” mentality, which has been outdated
for at least a decade. I believe clients will see that freelancers
working remotely often offer much quicker and better results.
DESI GNER #9272, ROMANIA

Doing things re m ot el y wi ll pr ov e to be th e ne w in d us tr y
standard. It m ak es ge tt in g cl ie nt s, si gn in g co nt ra ct s,
and payment faster.
DESI GNER #80992, UNITED STATES

48
 D ES I GN WITH OU T B ORD E RS 2020
Future focus:
the rise of freelance design 49
The legacy of the pandemic As remote work promises to improve accessibility and
allow for a more diverse global creative workforce, the

will continue to shape the opportunities for freelancers are, in many ways, better
than they have ever been before.
design industry for many
years to come.

FUTURE FO CU S
50
Remote work

FU T U R E FOC U S
democratizing
design
Online platforms have been levelling the
playing field for years, but a global shift
towards remote work has the capacity
to radically change the landscape of the
industry forever.

51
 FU T U R E FOC U S
78%
of freelance designers
live outside of their
countries’ major cities

36%
live in places where
the population
is <100,000

With 41% of designers saying they would consider moving

to a smaller town or regional area if companies embrace
remote work permanently, the idea of a more geographically
distributed workforce is within reach. Given that creative
industries traditionally cluster around capital cities, the
potential for greater accessibility and diversity of talent is
hugely exciting – both for the design industry and regional
communities themselves.

52
 FU T U R E FOC U S
Overall, as a d es ig ne r in a po st S ov ie t co u nt ry , I
never thought I co u ld w or k w it h pe op le fr om a ll ov er
the globe a nd fe el so ha pp y a nd sa ti sf ie d .

DESI GNER # 30217, LAT VIA

Freelancing has given my life new meaning. I can do

what I love and work with clients all over the world
from the comfort of my own home.
DESI GNER #9472, AU STRALIA

53
Design

FU T U R E FOC U S
doesn’t do
travel bans
i
13 n 3
1 in s i g n e rs
n c e d e d
2020 has seen international and freela e
85%
d w
s o r k
d
vesi ganne r
domestic borders slam shut. But this acve
e l
die
hn akded
85%
f r e e l a a b roor
hasn’t stopped designers collaborating e d an dw of freelanc
l i v e designers
across time zones, countries and have r o a d . currently w
ab of fcre ork with
continents. lieenlatsnc
oeutdse
idseigonf e
curreonwtnlytw thre
sir
imoerkzownieths
clients outsi
47% own time zo
de of their
nes.
47%
of designers plan to hit the
road once COVID-19 travel
of designre an
s riplct
erst to hi
ions lifeted
arteth
road once COVID-19 travel
restrictions are lifted.

54
 FU T U R E FOC U S
Working from re m o te lo c a ti o n s m a y h e lp
I think I need to travel and visit clients find bett e r o p ti o n s to m a tc h th e ir
other countries to develop both budget. It also giv e s th e m m o re c h o ic e s to
as a creative individual and as a explore how widely c re a ti v e m in d s a re s p re a d
human being. across the globe, a n d h o w it ’s n o t d if f ic u lt
to build tr u s t a n d g e t re li a b le w o rk .

DESI GNER #7098, INDONESIA DESI GNER #4956, INDIA

55
 FUTURE FOCU S

New to
the industry I be ca m e a d es ig ne r a ft er 5 0 a nd
rea liz ed th a t th is is ex a ct ly w h a t I
Of all the years to embark on a design
want to d o a ll m y lif e. L if e ex p er ie nc e
career, 2020 has been... well, a doozy.
gave me the courage to radically
rough nd gi ve m e th e ca rt e
change m y lif e a
But that’s exactly what more than 1,000
blanche in a new profession.
designers who responded to our survey have
done. So what can we learn from this group
of tenacious creatives embarking on their DESI GNER #2000, R U SSIA

professional journey in the midst of a pandemic?

56
FUTURE FOCU S X - AGE BR ACKET

Lesson #1 56% Age of designers

in the first year
Age is just a of their career

number after all

While the majority (56%) of new designers are
under 25, there’s a diverse mix of age groups
due to a variety of career changes and pivots.

21%
19%

Y - P ERCE NTAGE
5%
57
Under 25 25 - 29 30 - 39 Over 40
FUTURE FOCU S

Lesson #2
It’s a tough
job market Since graduating in December
I have sent out approximately
Getting a strong start in a new career is difficult at the
best of times. So it’s not surprising to learn that during the
50 resumes during the
pandemic, 26% of new designers lost a job and 3% were pandemic and only got one
furloughed.
interview from there.
42% of this group were actively searching for employment
over the past 6 months, but only 9% were hired for a salaried DESI GNER #5348, CANADA

position and 4% were awarded internships.

58
There were also signs of how changes 49%
in the industry landscape will shape want to freelance full-time,
and 24% want to freelance part-time

designers’ careers for years to come.

65% of new designers said that their

5 year plan has changed as a result of
COVID-19, while future career goals
30%
varied for new designers. want to run their own
agency or studio

19%
17% want to be a salaried
want to be a salaried employee employee at an agency
for an in-house brand

FUTURE FO CU S
59
 Freelancers and
FUTURE FOCU S

shape-shifting 15%
Working a part-time

agencies
salaried role

With 1 in 3 designers currently

working with agencies, how will the
Working a full-time
rapid changes we are experiencing 30% salaried role
impact this segment of the industry?

Freelancing for one

Y - PE RCENTAG E

55% or more agencies

60 X - H OW AGEN CY FREEL AN CERS ARE WORKIN G

Even though there are significant challenges FUTURE FOCU S

facing agencies, 44% of freelance designers

rank them as their favorite type of client.

When looking at designers who are currently

working with agencies, it’s a pretty even split
between freelance and salaried contracts, with
many employees moonlighting as freelancers 69%
after hours. of freelancers say
that their agency
However, like many other industries, agencies lost clients
have also been hit with hardships created by
the pandemic.

59%
report staff cuts
as a direct result
of COVID-19
61
Freelancers
join forces 57%
for the future work with other
freelancers in their
With 75% of designers expecting agencies to
be more open to working with remote talent as
network 44%
want to establish their
a result of the pandemic, there are opportunities own agency or studio in
for significant increases in diversity. Combine this the next 5 years
with the fact that 2/3 of freelancers are already
working in a team some of the time, a world of
remote creative agencies formed by freelancers
might not be far out of reach.

21%
are part of a family
business, collaborating
regularly with a domestic

FUTURE FOCU S
partner or relative
62
 FU T U R E FOC U S
r fu tu re th er e w il l b e a n ew
I’m optimistic that in the nea
a fl ex ib le w o rk cy cl e. T h er e
era of entrepreneurship with
will be an ’open-chain net w o rk in g ’ w o rk s y s te m — w h er e
a ch ie ve o n e g o a l (w h il e ea ch
freelancers join hands to
m , fl ex ib il it y , a n d re li a b il it y ).
still maintains their freedo

DESI GNER #3168, INDONESIA

63
 D ES I GN WITH OU T B ORD E RS 2020
The next decade:
the future of freelance 64
2020 marked the start of But while there are still significant challenges facing both
designers and the industry at large, there is a sense of

a new decade, and what a optimism in the air thanks to the huge, global opportunities
that will emerge on the other side of the pandemic.
start it was!

THE N EXT DECADE

65
 We asked freelance designers from around the world to identify

T H E NE XT D ECA D E
some of the most important challenges facing the industry today

TH
and in the years to come, and the responses were remarkably
consistent regardless of geography, gender and age:

G
E
• The ethical role of design (38%)

N
• Accessible design, usability and inclusion (34%)

DE
• The environmental impacts of design (33%)

CI
FA

SI
G
ES

N
IN
G
N

DU
LE

ST
AL

RY
CH

66
Diversity within design is also a
considerable challenge facing the
industry in many different forms.
While freelancing does create significant opportunities for many
creatives, 31% of designers who identify as part of a minority
group still said they have experienced discrimation during their
freelance career.

THE N EXT DECADE

67
T H E NE XT D ECA D E
Even in light of all the
challenges facing the industry
today, freelancers feel the
future is bright on both an
industry and personal level.

u g h I ' m f a c in g c h a ll e n g e s r e la t e d
Alth o a s w e ll a s
to COVID, work a n d li f e ,
f u t u r e o f t h e d e s ig n in d u s t r y , I ' m
th e y c a p a b il it ie s
o u
very optimistic ab . I see a brightt m
that de v e lo p d a y b y d a y
future for m y s e lf in d e s ig n .

Designer DESI GNER #200187, M OROCCO

confidence 68
THE NEXT DECADE
A whopping 98% said they were optimistic about
where the industry is headed in the next ten years
while only 2% of freelancers said they weren’t at all.
Freelancers are also confident of how they fit into
this picture. 63% said they are extremely confident
about their own future success, while less than 2%
said they weren’t.
Even if there are difficulties after the
pandemic, I haven’t thought about
changing my profession. The freelance
industry may be quite challenging and
sometimes even a bit disappointing,
but I have an optimistic mindset of its
current and future state.
DESI GNER #4376, BULGARIA
69
 THE N E XT D ECAD E
Designers are creativ e p r o b le m s o lv e r s ,
so as individua ls , w e w il l s u r v iv e .

DESI GNER #9231, MEXI CO

70
Staying true to the theme
of 2020, this year’s survey
revealed a multitude of
unexpected insights about
the lives of freelance
creatives.
Conclusion
At a time when the entire world faced social and economic lockdown,
freelancers found ways to upskill, earn more, and improve their work-
life balance.
Even though freelancers reported feelings of isolation and high levels
of emotional strain during the pandemic, they were able to channel
that energy into helping both themselves and others through pro
bono projects, philanthropic work, and making new professional
connections online.
When they (like most) were forced to juggle family schedules and
responsibilities on top of their work, freelance designers leaned into
the chaos and found that the more company they kept, the more
creative they felt. They also found a new kind of synergy with clients
as the widespread adoption of remote work meant communication
and collaboration improved—making the concept of a more
distributed creative workforce a real possibility in the near future.
Yet the biggest insight revealed by our 2020 designer survey is this:
when the unexpected turns the world upside down, freelancers don’t
succumb to feeling trapped and powerless—they adapt and thrive.
In a year of fewer freedoms, the world opened up for freelancers.
71
Designer bio
72

Shwin is a British-born graphic designer based in

Vietnam. A self-taught talent, he joined 99designs early
on in his career to learn new techniques and build on his
skills. While he admits to never winning contests initially,
Shwin has seen significant growth on the 99designs
platform. Now with nine years under his belt as a
professional designer, his career has seen him break into
London working for some of the city’s biggest agencies
and clients. Specialising in branding and illustration,
Shwin believes diversity is key, so he never shies away
from a new challenge.

In taking on this project, Shwin felt it had great potential

for creativity. By combining his flair for beautifully crafted
illustrations with new, experimental brush styles, he
breathed new life into the information. And the end
result? A colorful and edgy expression of technical data
that you can’t take your eyes off.
Methodology
The research for this report was conducted by
99designs between July 20th and August 3rd 2020.
The online survey was distributed via email, social
media and industry-targeted ads on LinkedIn and
had 11,362 qualified respondents from the following
regions: Asia (6,058), Europe (2,663), North America
(712), South America (728), Africa (618), Australia
(74), Unknown (809). Quotes have been pulled from
open responses.