Advertising Design Work and How to Take It On as a Side Job

Are you wondering, "What exactly does advertising design work involve?" or "I'd like to take on advertising design projects as a side job"? Advertising design is the work of making products and services appealing in a way that reaches the target audience, and it covers a wide range of formats such as banners, posters, and SNS ads. This article organizes what advertising design work involves, and clearly explains how to take it on as a side job, how to proceed, and points to watch. It is put together for those who want to get involved in advertising design from here on.

What is advertising design? Its role

Advertising design is the work of visualizing the appeal and message of a product or service in a form that reaches the target audience. It is not just about making things look good; the key is to design while keeping in mind "who you are reaching, what you are conveying, and how you want them to act." Being directly linked to results such as sales and customer acquisition is what sets it apart from other kinds of design.

Main types of advertising design work

Even though we say advertising design, the deliverables vary by medium. Let's cover the main types of work.

Banner production for web and SNS ads

This is producing banner ads displayed on websites, apps, and SNS. Because there are many size variations and they can be made quickly, it is a field with many side-job projects.

Print media such as posters and flyers

This is advertising design for printed materials such as in-store posters, flyers, and leaflets. It requires the ability to organize the priority of information and make an appeal within a limited space.

Landing page (LP) design

This is designing long, vertical pages that encourage purchases or sign-ups for a product or service. It requires thinking through the structure and flow, and tends to command higher pay.

SNS posts and ad creatives

This is producing post images for a company's SNS account and thumbnails for video ads. They are sometimes commissioned as a series to match ongoing posting.

How advertising design work proceeds

Advertising design is not made on instinct alone; it generally proceeds in the following flow. Keeping the same steps in mind when you take it on as a side job makes it easier to meet the client's expectations.

1. Hearing: confirm the purpose, target, and message with the client
2. Structure and rough draft: decide the priority of the appeal and make a rough layout
3. Design production: arrange color and typography and finish it into a visual that conveys the message
4. Check and revise: reflect the client's feedback and raise the level of completion
5. Delivery and submission: export in the specified format and deliver to match the medium

Skills needed for advertising design

In advertising design, in addition to the ability to create the look, skills focused on results are required.

• Design basics: knowledge of conveying expression such as color, layout, and typography
• Design tool operation: production skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and the like
• The ability to think about appeal: designing copy and presentation that resonates with the target
• Hearing and proposal skills: communication that grasps the client's purpose and gives it shape

How to grow your skills and build a portfolio is also explained in detail in our article on changing careers to become a designer.

How to take on advertising design as a side job

Advertising design has many projects that can be completed as one-offs, making it a field that is easy to take on as a side job. Let's cover the options for taking it on.

Crowdsourcing and skill marketplaces

You can find many one-off advertising design projects such as banners and flyers. They suit those who want to build a track record from scratch, or who want to start a side job first.

Inquiries from SNS and your portfolio

Posting your work on X and similar can lead to direct requests from companies and individuals. Because they can see your advertising design samples, it is a method that easily connects you with well-matched work.

Referrals from acquaintances and clients

As your track record grows, you may receive referrals from acquaintances or past clients. Trust-based requests tend to become ongoing projects, making your income more stable.

Note that how to find jobs across design roles, including advertising design, is also explained by place in our related article. Please use it as a reference as well.

A rough pay guide for advertising design side projects

Pay varies by medium and difficulty. Use it as a rough guide when choosing projects.

• One banner: from a few thousand yen. Varies with size variations and quantity
• Flyer or poster: roughly a few thousand to tens of thousands of yen per piece
• LP design: when you are entrusted from the structure, it is often tens of thousands of yen or more per project
• Ongoing contract: when commissioned monthly in bulk, income tends to be more stable

Points to watch when taking on advertising design as a side job

• Always check pay, number of revisions, deadlines, and copyright handling before signing
• Do not apply to projects that demand registration or material fees upfront
• If you are a company employee, check your workplace rules and whether you need to file taxes
• Watch the license of any materials or fonts you use, and confirm whether commercial use is allowed

FAQ about advertising design work

Q. Can I do advertising design as a side job without experience?

Yes. You can start with small projects such as banners. By learning design basics and tool operation, preparing a portfolio of your own work, and building a track record, you can widen the range of projects you can take on.

Q. What is the difference between advertising design and graphic design?

Advertising design is a field within graphic design that specializes in "producing results through advertising." What sets it apart is that, beyond the beauty of the look, the appeal that prompts action such as customer acquisition or purchase is emphasized.

Q. How much can I earn from advertising design as a side job?

It varies by the project content and quantity. From projects of a few thousand yen per banner, you can aim for tens of thousands of yen or more per month through LP work or ongoing contracts. Start with projects you can keep up with, within a manageable range.

Summary: understand advertising design work and apply it to your side job

Advertising design is work that, through a wide range of production such as banners, posters, and LPs, connects to results for products and services. When taking it on as a side job, it is reassuring to accumulate small projects from crowdsourcing and SNS, proceeding while checking pay and contract terms. First, understand the work and how it proceeds, and take a step from the projects that suit you.