Who is an Offshore Graphic Designer?
Hello Designers,
I’m Jagirdar JD, also known as Jitendra Rajpurohit – the founder of God of Graphics and Vecteno. I’m a graphic designer by profession – I’ve worked as a freelancer and in agencies too. I’ve worked for companies both in India and abroad.
These days, one word is becoming quite popular – Offshore Graphic Designer.
So today, I’ll explain what this really means. Is an offshore graphic designer someone different from us? Or is it someone just like you and me – a normal graphic designer?
In this article, I’ll share:
Who is an offshore graphic designer?
How does this work?
And what’s the scope in this field?
What is an Offshore Graphic Designer?
Let’s keep it simple — “Offshore” simply means working for another country.
For example, if you’re in the USA and working for a client based in India, you’re an offshore graphic designer.
This is just another form of freelancing – it’s like freelancing, but for clients in foreign countries.
How Did I Become an Offshore Designer?
As I said earlier, I’m a graphic designer myself. So, you might be wondering — Have I worked as an offshore designer?
Yes, I have! In my early days, I did freelancing locally – worked for studios and business brands around me.
But I also had several international clients outside India, and that experience is exactly what I’m sharing with you in this blog.
How Does Offshore Design Work?
Now let’s talk about how offshore design work actually happens.
The first thing is – you have to find clients from other countries. But remember – time zones differ from country to country.
For example, there’s a 9 to 12 hour time difference between the USA and India.
So, if you’re in India and your client is in the USA, you may need to work late at night in India – because while it’s night here, it’s daytime there.
Then comes language – which is important for communication.
You must know how to speak and understand English to work as an offshore graphic designer.
And let’s talk about money – since there’s a currency difference, working from India for a U.S. client can help you earn more than usual.
What Do Offshore Clients Want?
They want the work delivered on time
The design should be professional and polished
Communication should be clear and regular
Most clients offer branding work, so you need to be confident in branding
(And yes – if you want to learn graphic design professionally, you can join our institute God of Graphics.)
Benefits of Becoming an Offshore Graphic Designer
There are many benefits to becoming an offshore designer:
High income – thanks to currency conversion rates
You build a global portfolio, which becomes a plus point for future projects
You can work on your own terms, with comfort
You get to learn new tools and global trends due to the international competition
But There Are Challenges Too...
Here are some challenges I personally faced as an offshore designer:
Time zone issues – often you have to work late nights
Sometimes you have to design based on a culture you don’t fully understand, which can be tough
Payment issues – you need to use the right platform for receiving payments, or it might get stuck
How to Become an Offshore Graphic Designer?
Here’s my honest suggestion:
Build a strong portfolio and upload it to platforms like Behance, Dribbble, etc.
Create a profile on freelancing platforms
Communicate clearly and patiently with clients
Set your pricing based on your skill and work quality