Yes—and people are doing it every day.
If you’re passionate about clean visuals, smart layouts, and how people feel when using websites or apps, then UX/UI design might be the high-paying, creative hustle you’ve been looking for.
And the best part? You don’t need a tech degree or 5 years of experience to start—just skills, systems, and a way to show your work.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The difference between UX and UI design
- What jobs you can actually get (and what they pay)
- Where to learn without going back to school
- How Wakewall helps you get organized, visible, and hired
What Is UX/UI Design?
Let’s break it down.
🧠 UX = User Experience
This focuses on how users interact with a product—smooth flow, intuitive navigation, helpful feedback, and overall satisfaction.
Tasks may include:
- User research
- Wireframing
- User testing
- Journey mapping
- Problem-solving
For more information, check out these pages below:
- Wakewall’s 50-State SEO Guide for Small Businesses
- The Niche Finder: Browse Ideas to Start Your Journey
- Smart Hustles & Side Income Strategies Guide to Earning More
- For more ideas, check out our Niche Ideas Category
🎨 UI = User Interface
This focuses on how the product looks—buttons, typography, color palettes, and overall aesthetic.
Tasks may include:
- Layout design
- Prototyping
- Design systems
- Visual consistency
- Branding application
💡 Think of UX as the blueprint and UI as the paint, furniture, and lighting.
Why UX/UI Is a Great Side Hustle (or Full Career)
- 💼 High demand across industries: Every business with a website or app needs it
- 🧑💻 Remote-friendly and scalable
- 🎨 Creative + strategic = fun problem-solving
- 📈 High-paying once you build your portfolio
Click to download WAKEWALL today
What Kinds of UX/UI Jobs Can You Get?
Whether you freelance or work part-time, there are many types of jobs (and specializations) to explore:
🖥️ 1. Web App and Mobile App Design
Design user interfaces and flows for SaaS products, social apps, or mobile tools.
💡 In demand with startups, solo founders, and app developers.
🛍️ 2. E-Commerce Experience Design
Design smooth product browsing, filters, checkouts, and post-purchase UX.
💡 Small Shopify or WooCommerce shops often hire part-time or project-based designers.
🧭 3. Landing Page Optimization
Help brands increase conversions through layout tweaks, button placement, and call-to-action clarity.
💡 These short projects pay a decent amount each.
🧪 4. UX Audits & Consulting
Review existing websites or apps and recommend improvements in flow, layout, or accessibility.
💡 Great entry point if you’re confident in your UX thinking but still building your visual skills.
🛠️ 5. Design System & UI Kit Creation
Build reusable design elements for brands or dev teams.
💡 Higher ticket but great for system-minded designers.
How Much Can You Make in UX/UI?
Earnings in UX/UI design vary widely depending on experience, project type, and whether you freelance, contract, or work in-house.
Freelance Work
Freelancers often charge per project or per deliverable. Example projects include:
- Landing page design
- Mobile app UI screens
- UX audits for websites
- Full website redesigns
💡 More complex projects (like app interfaces or multi-page redesigns) typically bring in higher payouts compared to smaller tasks (like single pages or audits).
In-House or Agency Roles
If you prefer the stability of a salary, UX/UI positions are available at startups, corporations, and design agencies. Roles are usually broken down by experience:
- Entry-Level / Junior Designers – Focus on learning, assisting senior designers, and handling smaller projects.
- Mid-Level Designers – Manage full projects, client communication, and more strategic design work.
- Senior Designers & Leads – Oversee design systems, user research, and guide entire product directions.
💡 Salaries are often higher in major tech hubs, while freelancing offers flexibility and the chance to scale income through multiple clients.
Where to Learn UX/UI Design (Free + Paid)
🎓 Free Options:
- Google UX Design Certificate (Coursera)
- UX Crash Course by The Hipper Element
- YouTube channels: Jesse Showalter, Flux Academy, or AJ&Smart
- Figma’s own tutorials and community resources
💻 Paid Courses & Bootcamps:
- Designlab UX Academy
- Springboard UX/UI Bootcamp
- SuperHi Courses
- Interaction Design Foundation (IDF)
- Skillshare / Udemy courses for specific tools
💡 You don’t need to do them all. Pick one path and start building real projects.
📱 Tools to Learn:
- Figma (industry favorite—start here)
- Adobe XD (still used by some teams)
- Webflow (for no-code development)
- FigJam, Miro, Notion (for research and mapping)
Monetization: How to Grow from Freelancer to UX/UI Business
💡 1. Offer Starter Packages
- Landing page design
- UX audit + wireframe redesign
- App UI screens (set of 5)
This builds trust and lets clients test your work before bigger contracts.
🔁 2. Sell UX/UI Templates
Design and sell:
- Webflow or Figma templates
- App wireframes for developers
- Onboarding or checkout flows
💡 Sell on Gumroad, Creative Market, or Wakewall.
📈 3. Offer Monthly Design Support
Pitch ongoing design help:
- New product features
- Seasonal page updates
- UX testing and revisions
💡 Monthly retainers = predictable income.
📊 4. Add Strategy to Boost Your Value
Don’t just design—explain why. Offer:
- Conversion audits
- A/B test planning
- Accessibility upgrades
- Mobile responsiveness analysis
How to Land UX/UI Clients Without a Big Portfolio
🚀 Start with Case Studies (Even If They’re Fake)
Redesign an app or site you love and walk through:
- What doesn’t work
- How you fixed it
- User goals + results (real or imagined)
💡 Share on Wakewall and LinkedIn. It builds credibility.
📣 Promote Your Skills Where Founders Hang Out
- Wakewall business listings
- Indie Hackers
- Twitter/X (Product Hunt crowd)
- Startup Facebook groups
- Web dev Discords
💡 They don’t need “perfect”—they need help fast.
🧪 Offer UX Audits as a Foot in the Door
Review a client’s current design, then pitch upgrades.
It’s low-risk for them and low-effort for you—great win-win.
How Wakewall Helps You Grow as a UX/UI Designer
You’re managing client requests, portfolios, deadlines, inspiration links, and promo—all while trying to stay creative. Wakewall simplifies it all.
📒 Use Notes for Project Planning
Store:
- Design briefs
- Client feedback
- Color codes and typefaces
- Wireframe sketches or inspiration links
🔔 Set Reminders for Client Milestones
- Wireframe reviews
- Feedback deadlines
- Test session scheduling
- File delivery follow-ups
💡 No more forgetting who needs what, when.
📣 Showcase Work on Your Wakewall
Post:
- Case studies
- Visual mockups
- Redesign breakdowns
- Feedback wins and testimonials
💡 Turn your wall into a live portfolio—no website needed.
💬 Let Clients Find and Message You
With searchable Wakewall tags like:
#UXUIDesigner#MobileAppDesign#WebflowHelp#DesignAudit
You get leads while you sleep.
Final Tips for UX/UI Hustlers
- 👀 Always look for ways to improve digital experiences
- 💬 Ask for feedback constantly—it helps you grow
- ✍️ Document your process—it adds value to your work
- 🖼️ Show your thinking, not just the final image
- 📚 Keep learning—tools change, but users stay human
Conclusion
UX/UI design is more than pretty layouts—it’s about helping people move through digital spaces with ease and intention.
If you love design, logic, and making life easier for users, this hustle could be your new path.
And with Wakewall, you can stay organized, present your portfolio, schedule your milestones, and get found by your next best client—whether you’re just starting out or scaling your freelance business.
