When it comes to growing revenue, the first thought that comes to mind for most designers is increasing the number of clients.
It seems like a straightforward equation—more clients, more money.
But is that truly the best route?
As the creative field takes on new thoughts, another approach is gaining traction: knowledge stacking—a concept where designers learn multiple skills to increase their value, revenue, and career longevity.
Traditionally, designers have honed one primary skill—be it graphic design, illustration, or web design—and focused on perfecting that craft.
However, the industry has changed; clients now expect more from freelancers and in-house designers. It’s no longer enough to just be a great designer; there’s increasing demand for professionals who can write compelling copy, manage SEO, code websites, or even run social media campaigns.
This trend toward knowledge stacking—acquiring and combining skills across different domains—has empowered many designers to raise their rates, work with higher-profile clients, and position themselves as indispensable assets.
But like all things, this path also comes with trade-offs.
We interviewed three designers with varying experiences to get their quick take on this growing trend and its impact on the design world.
What Type of Clients Do You Prefer?
Shane: “I’m not picky. I know how to handle everyone.”
Peter: “Clients that don’t give me stress are the ones I want. I prefer working with people who appreciate good freelancers.”
Olamide: “I like clients who are calm and solution-oriented. Design work involves a lot of back-and-forth, so clients who don’t take things personally are my favorite.”
Is One Skill Sufficient to get you juicy pay in the design industry?
Peter: For me, I don’t think so
Shane: “In Nigeria, it’s not sufficient. Outside the country, you could get by with just one skill, but in Nigeria, you need to learn multiple. If I had my way, I would only do motion design, but I do other things besides it.”
Olamide: I believe so. I also believe people choose how they want to get paid. If you desire to get paid for multiple skills then that’s how things work for you.
So Client base vs. Knowledge Stacking: Which is More Important?
Shane: “I would rather charge a single client for 10 skills than the other way around. It’s easier to work with one person than multiple people.”
Peter: “More skills are better. If I can do many things, I can make more money. I got fired once and replaced with someone who could do both graphics and video editing. Offering more skills makes you hard to replace.”
Olamide: “I don’t like the idea of multiple skills. I’d rather build expertise in one”
But expertise gets thrown out of the window right, That’s the tradeoff right?
Shane: “It’s tougher to build expertise with multiple skills, but different people know how things work for them.”
Peter: “Consistency makes the trick work. I know a graphic designer who started with fliers and later went into logo design. He charges well for both. Just be consistent, and it falls into place.”
Olamide: “I’ve never been a fan of multiple skills in the first place. I feel it takes time to build expertise, and diverse skill sets can be a distraction. Like I said, I’m all about expertise.”
One last thing, what’s your worst client story?
Shane: “Recently, a client wanted a luxurious design and sent a sample, but the sample was poor. I did something better, but according to her, my work was worse, and she wanted something that looked like her bad sample. It was painful because I had to create a bad design.”
Peter: “I had a job that took two months because of feedback. The pay was good, but my eyes hurt from staring at the screen for so long. The client was overseas, and we had different time zones, so I was usually up at night.”
Olamide: “I once had a client who came with enticing offers that ended up turning into multiple designs for a single pay. I like being paid fairly, but that experience was horrible. I felt used.”
Choose Your Hustle Wisely
At the end of the day, growing your revenue doesn’t always mean taking on more clients. Sometimes, the smarter route is to invest in yourself by learning new skills like this designer did.
Another way could be to bulletproof your work with a design contract to get the most out of it and prevent exploitation.
Whatever route you choose be intentional about it…Be mindful of the advantages and shoot for them.
By strategically expanding your expertise through knowledge stacking, you can command higher fees, offer more to your clients, and stay competitive in an ever-evolving creative landscape.
By honing a single skill you become reputed as a master of a genre and command significant figures for touching any project.
Your ultimate goal should however be to work smarter, not harder regardless of the route you take!
Need a guaranteed route to master your current skill without wasting time? Then the NGD masterclass will make you smile.