Graphic Design & Brand Identity (UI/UX, Branding)
Why it’s hot: Visual content is more important than ever. Brands compete on aesthetic and user experience. Skilled designers are needed to create logos, brand identities, marketing materials, and intuitive user interfaces for apps and websites. Importantly, design is a field where human creativity shines – even with AI image generators, companies seek human designers for original, brand-aligned visuals (AI often serves as a tool, not a replacement).
Specific in-demand sub-skills: - Brand Identity Design: Crafting logos, color schemes, typography, and overall visual brand strategy. As entrepreneurship continues, every new startup or small business needs a brand presence. The NY Weekly Journal ranked “Brand Identity Design” #6, noting demand across SaaS, e-commerce, personal brands. Freelancers who can develop a cohesive brand kit (logo plus guidelines) are valued. - UI/UX Design: User Interface and User Experience designers create the look and flow of apps and websites. With the tech boom, UI/UX is consistently in demand. Upwork’s fastest-growing Design skills include things like “Pattern Design” and “Product & Industrial Design”, but in freelance job postings, UI/UX is often top. People who can use Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD to design intuitive interfaces are sought by companies that may then hand off to developers to implement. - Video Editing & Motion Graphics: Video content is king on social media and for marketing. Knowing how to edit videos or create motion graphics/animations (After Effects, Premiere Pro skills) is increasingly important. Upwork listed Video Production as top 3 in Design category. Short-form video editors (for TikTok, Reels) also find tons of gigs as every brand tries to produce video content. - 3D Design and AR/VR Assets: Not mainstream for all, but trending up. With AR and VR growth (gaming, marketing experiences), there’s demand for 3D designers (Three.js, Blender). NY Journal’s list has “3D Designers for Web (Three.js, Blender)” #10, highlighting interactive 3D experiences on websites are becoming popular and those skills are rare and valuable. - Presentation Design / Illustration: Corporates often outsource PowerPoint presentations to freelancers who can make them slick. Also custom illustration (for blog graphics, infographics) is a niche in demand as it can give a unique brand flavor beyond stock images.
Example: A company undergoing a rebrand might hire a freelance brand designer to come up with a new logo and style guide. Meanwhile, they might also hire a freelance UI designer to overhaul their mobile app’s interface to match the new branding and improve usability. Additionally, they produce a promo video – so they bring on a video editor/motion graphics freelancer to create a polished 60-second product teaser for their website and social media.
Skill level & pay: Design can be competitive, but top designers command high rates. Brand identity projects can be in the thousands of dollars flat fee for a full package. UI/UX designers often charge $50-$100/hr (more for highly experienced). Motion graphic artists similarly often above $50/hr. And specialized 3D/webGL designers? They’re rarer, so they might ask $100+/hr given the unique skill. Also note, design is often judged by portfolio – so a strong portfolio can quickly land you work. Another factor: soft skills like communication and reliability can set designers apart, since the field is saturated. Freelancers who deliver on time and incorporate feedback well become go-to contractors for many businesses.