Nigeria’s year-on-year inflation is now at 33.95% (May 2025) and the naira trades at over ₦1,500 to $1 creating serious pressure on the pockets of Nigerians
And if you’re a designer, you’re right in the eye of the storm paying for subscriptions in dollars, investing in gear, and trying to stay current with software and trends.
Add the rise of AI tools slowly eating up quick design jobs, and you’ve got a tough market to navigate.
How do you know if you have an income challenge? If you:
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Struggle to afford your dream tools from freelance gigs
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Cut down your lifestyle to the barest minimum
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Are considering quitting design for a more “lucrative” field
…then yes, you have an income problem. But the good news? You can fix it without learning to code or switching careers.
Here are 4 proven ways to increase your income as a designer, using the skills you already have:
Proven Ways for Designers To Increase Income
1. Turn Your Facebook Profile into a Lead Machine
Facebook remains Nigeria’s most used social platform, with over 33 million users as of 2024 (DataReportal). That’s more reach than Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
With as little as ₦2,000–₦3,000, you can run a targeted Facebook ad and get 1,500–3,000 impressions, depending on audience and ad quality.
Rather than passively posting utilize your profile as a client magnet. Learn the basics of Meta Ads, test small budgets, and start reaching actual business owners not just other creatives.
Bonus: With the right targeting, ads can help you secure repeat clients and monthly retainers, not just one-off projects.
Here are three beginner-friendly crash courses you can take today:
Meta Blueprint – Free Training by Facebook
Learn directly from Meta how to run effective ads.
https://www.facebook.com/business/learn
Hubspot – Facebook Ads and Marketing Course
Perfect for creatives. Teaches how to set up, target, and scale your ads.
https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/facebook-marketing-
Facebook Marketing and Advertising
A short dive for learners who want it fast and dirty
https://www.simplilearn.com/free-facebook-marketing-and-advertising-training-course-
2. Monetize What You Already Know (Teaching)
The global online learning market was valued at $399 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit $645 billion by 2030 (Research and Markets).
You don’t need to be a guru just know more than the next person. If you possess a solid understanding of color theory for crafting powerful designs or Canva, there’s an audience ready to learn from you.
Start here:
- Virtual Classes: Teach basic tools like Adobe XD, Canva, or logo design on Zoom or Telegram.
- Masterclasses: Go deep on topics like visual branding, portfolio building, or UI principles.
- Digital Products: Convert your knowledge into tutorials, ebooks, or templates that earn passively.
Promote your classes using the same affordable ads we mentioned in Point 1.
3. Join Freelance Platforms That Bring Clients to You
The global freelance economy is expected to grow to $9.2 trillion by 2027 (Statista), and platforms are expanding into African markets more aggressively than ever.
Don’t just wait for Instagram DMs go where clients are already hiring.
Platforms like YouDesign (Africa-focused) give you consistent work without requiring personal promotion. Set up your profile, showcase strong samples, and start bidding.
Other options:
- Upwork (used by over 18 million freelancers globally)
- Fiverr (over 4 million buyers active quarterly)
4. Use Cold Emailing + AI to Attract Clients
A cold emailing system for designers involves reaching out to clients with needs for your design skills. A brand with a weak logo, for instance, is a perfect cold email target.
Previously, identifying cold email targert involved checking tons of profiles on platforms like Instagram to identify weak visuals but ChatGPT can automate this for you.
Here’s a simple system:
- Upload a series of weak visuals (e.g., logos) on ChatGPT and request for businesses with similar weak visuals.
- To streamline the search, consider requesting businesses in a specific location and industry.
- Request for the contact emails of each business and ask ChatGPT to generate a cold email script.
Using GMass
- Upload email contacts to send personalized mass emails in 1 click.
- Automate follow-ups so you stay top-of-mind without constant checking.
Follow our cold email hack and in just 20 minutes a day, you could reach out to 50+ businesses and land one or more high-paying gigs weekly.
Real Talk: Designers Are Skipping Life
Designers are skipping dinner dates and birthday treats not because they want to, but because the economy’s forcing a cut on lifestyles.
But that doesn’t have to be your story.
Implement just one of these strategies and you can start turning your skills into reliable income, even in a harsh economy.
Which one will you try first?
Drop your answer below. Let’s build smarter, not harder.