How Graphic Designers Can Earn Passive Income

Introduction 

As graphic designers, we often focus on creativity, on how we can make our art, illustrations, or designs more beautiful and refined. 

But have you ever thought about using your design skills to build passive income? Passive income isn’t just limited to real estate, stocks, mutual funds, or YouTube videos, etc. You can also earn passive income by creating the art you love and sharing what you know. 

Of course, earning passive income through your artwork takes time, patience, and consistent effort in the beginning. But once you put in the work, your creations can continue to earn for you. Start small, stay consistent, and you will get there. 

Now, you might be wondering where to start and how to move forward. To begin earning passive income from your artwork, you’ll need design tools or software to create your art. These can be either free or paid, depending on your needs and preferences. If you’re a beginner graphic designer, you might feel unsure about which tools to choose. Don’t worry—you can explore both free and paid options based on your comfort level. (If you’re looking for free tools, you can check out our blog where we share some great recommendations.) 

In this blog, I’m going to guide you through where to start, how to get started, and how you can begin earning passive income through your design skills. 

Understand What Passive Income Means from Your Artwork 

Passive income refers to earnings that are generated with minimal ongoing effort after the initial work is completed. Here, you create an artwork once and continue earning from it without needing to constantly give time to it. It’s not instant; it usually takes effort upfront, but it can pay off over time. 

1. Sell Digital Products 

You can create and sell digital products such as templates, fonts, clip art, icons, Procreate brushes, Lightroom presets, or printable designs. Platforms like Etsy, Creative Market, Gumroad, Shutterstock, and many more — along with your own website — allow you to reach buyers who are looking for creative resources. Once you upload your products, you can keep earning from every purchase without extra work. 

Examples: 

• Templates for social media posts, flyers, posters, and brochures 
• Business card, presentation slide, and resume templates 
• Printable wall art or greeting cards 

2. Use Print-on-Demand Services 

You can sell your artworks on print-on-demand (POD) platforms like Redbubble, Society6, TeePublic, TeeSpring, and Zazzle. These platforms let you sell your designs on physical products. You simply upload your artworks onto selected products (like t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone cases, etc.), and the platform handles printing, shipping, and customer service. Each time someone purchases an item, you earn a royalty. This is a low-risk way to turn your designs into passive income because you don’t need to manage inventory or handle shipping yourself. 

3. License Your Artwork 

Licensing your artwork means giving businesses, brands, or individuals permission to use your designs for a fee. You can license illustrations, patterns, textures, or even full designs. Platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Freepik, VectorStock, and Vecteezy — which are non-exclusive platforms — allow you to upload your designs and get paid when someone purchases or uses your work. You simply apply to these platforms as a contributor and get paid every time your artwork is purchased. 

Each platform has specific file requirements and upload guidelines. You can find detailed information on our blog. You earn royalties over time, and a single popular piece can generate income for years without additional work. 

Let’s take a look at the different kinds of artworks you can create and upload to these platforms: 

Examples: 

Mockups 

• Product packaging (boxes, bottles, etc.) 
• T-shirt, hoodie, or other apparel
• Book cover
• Mobile and laptop screen
• Stationery and branding

Stock Photos 

• Men & Women stock photos
• Family stock photos 
• Stock photos of people 
• Doctor stock photos 
• Girls stock photos 
• Business stock photos 
• Baby stock photos 
• Wedding stock photos, and many more 

Template Packs 

• Instagram templates (posts, reels, covers, carousels) 
• Facebook ad templates 
• Business card templates 
• Resume/CV templates 
• Brochure and flyer templates 
• YouTube thumbnail and banner templates 

Branding Assets 

• Logo bundles (editable logos for small businesses) 
• Brand style guide templates 
• Mood board templates 
• Social media branding kits 

Seasonal and Event-Based Illustrations 

• Holiday-themed designs (Christmas, Halloween, New Year) 
• Event-specific templates (weddings, parties, corporate events) 
• Special occasion graphics (birthdays, anniversaries) 

Backgrounds 

• Abstract backgrounds (geometric, gradient, or watercolor) 
• Seamless patterns (floral, geometric, textures) 
• Minimalistic or futuristic designs 

Typography and Fonts 

• Custom typography and word art 
• Decorative, script, or modern fonts (ensure you own the rights to distribute them) 
• Lettering sets or editable text effects 

Printables 

• Customizable greeting cards or invitation designs 
• Motivational quotes (printable wall art) 
• Calendars and planners 
• Stickers or labels 

4. Create an Online Course or Tutorial 

If you are an advanced graphic designer with strong skills in design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Procreate, you can create a design course and sell it online. You can offer your course on platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, and others, as well as on your own website. These platforms allow you to teach others while earning passive income from each student enrollment. Courses take time to create, but once published, they can continue to generate income for months or even years with minimal maintenance. 

5. Build a Design Asset Subscription 

You can bundle your design resources — like icon sets, brush packs, or mockups — and offer them as a subscription. Instead of selling one item at a time, you offer customers a membership where they get access to a library of your assets. This model helps you earn recurring monthly or yearly income. 

You can host your subscription service on platforms like Gumroad, Podia, or through your own website. 

6. Start a Creative Blog or YouTube Channel 

If you enjoy sharing your knowledge, you can start a blog or YouTube channel. Doing this can be a great way to reach more people. You can create content related to design, tutorials, personal experiences, and share your journey. 

Over time, as your blog or channel grows, it can open different opportunities. Some creators share their own digital products, write about their journey as designers, or collaborate with others in the industry. Consistent posting and helpful content can help attract an audience that’s genuinely interested in your work. 

Building a blog or channel does take time and patience, but once you have a good collection of blog posts or videos, your content can continue reaching new people without needing constant updates. While blogging and video creation require upfront effort, once your content is out there, it can keep attracting traffic without needing frequent changes. 

Final Thoughts 

Earning passive income as a graphic designer takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. It requires creativity, consistent effort, and patience. But once you successfully build it, your designs can continue earning for you long into the future. 

You should start small by focusing on one or two methods that match your skills and interests. As you grow, you can explore multiple paths and build a more stable and rewarding creative journey. 

I wish you the best if you are aiming to earn passive income from your artwork. Stay consistent, put in small efforts every day, and over time, you can create a steady stream of passive income.