E. Graphics and design (ways 42–55): logos, social graphics, templates, stock photos and more
Every business needs visuals: a logo, social media posts, flyers, a website, product photos, presentations. Design is one of the most popular online skills in Kenya because tools like Canva made starting easy, while professional tools (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma) let skilled designers charge much more. This unit explains 14 design-based ways to earn, step by step, with honest notes on where beginners get stuck.
Your design portfolio (do this first)
- Create a Behance (behance.net) and/or Dribbble (dribbble.com) profile; post 6–12 of your best pieces.
- Make concept projects for imaginary or real local businesses ("rebrand concept for a Kisumu bakery"), clearly labelled as concepts.
- Show your process: sketches, options, final, mockups (the logo on a shop sign, T-shirt, phone screen).
- Post work on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok (time-lapse "design with me" videos attract clients).
42. Logo design
What it is. Designing logos (symbols, wordmarks) for businesses, churches, schools, events and startups.
How to start:
- Learn logo principles: simple, memorable, works in one colour and at tiny sizes (favicon) and large (signboard).
- Learn vector design (Illustrator, or free alternatives Inkscape and Figma); logos must be vectors (SVG, AI, EPS, PDF) so they scale without blurring.
- Design 5 concept logos for local businesses; present them on mockups.
- Offer packages on Fiverr/Upwork and locally: logo + colour palette + fonts + files for print and web.
Process clients appreciate: short questionnaire (business, audience, style, competitors) → 2–3 concepts → revisions (agree how many) → final files (PNG, SVG, PDF; colour, black, white versions).
Watch out. Never copy or lightly modify existing logos or use paid stock icons without a licence; trademark problems land on your client and your reputation.
43. Social media graphics
What it is. Designing posts, stories, carousels, banners and ads for businesses' Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and WhatsApp status.
How to start:
- Master Canva sizes: 1080×1080 (square post), 1080×1350 (portrait post), 1080×1920 (stories/status/reels covers).
- Create a consistent template set for a sample brand: colours, fonts, logo placement.
- Offer monthly packages to local businesses (e.g. 12 posts/month), often combined with social media management (method 68).
- Sell to salons, restaurants, churches, schools, real estate agents, boutiques: they post every week and need content.
44. Flyers, posters and event branding
What it is. Flyers, posters, banners, roll-up banners, event programmes, church event posters, wedding stationery, menus and business cards.
How to start:
- Learn print basics: CMYK colour, bleed (extra margin, usually 3 mm), 300 DPI resolution, safe areas, exporting print-ready PDFs.
- Partner with printers in your town: many get customers who need design.
- Market on WhatsApp status, Facebook groups and campuses; events (graduations, weddings, harambees, conferences) need designs constantly.
45. Brand identity kits
What it is. A complete brand system: logo variations, colour palette, typography, patterns, business cards, letterhead, social templates and a brand guidelines PDF explaining how to use them.
Why it pays more. It's a bigger project solving a bigger problem (looking professional everywhere). Upsell logo clients into brand kits.
46. UI/UX design
What it is. Designing app and website interfaces (UI) and making them easy to use (UX): research, wireframes, prototypes and design systems, usually in Figma.
How to start:
- Learn Figma (free) and UX basics: user research, user flows, wireframes, usability testing, accessibility.
- Free courses: Google's UX Design certificate (paid via Coursera, with financial aid available), Figma's own learning resources, many YouTube courses.
- Build 2–3 case studies showing the problem, research, wireframes, design and testing, e.g. "Redesigning a matatu booking app".
- Apply for UI/UX roles and freelance projects; team up with developers.
Pay. Among the highest-paid design skills; strong demand from startups and app developers.
47. Canva templates
What it is. Designing reusable templates (social media packs, CVs, menus, planners, business cards, presentation decks, wedding invitations) and selling them to people who customise them in Canva.
How to start:
- Join Canva Creators (Canva's programme where approved creators earn royalties when templates are used; apply with a portfolio and check current requirements).
- Or sell template links yourself on Etsy-style marketplaces, Creative Market, Gumroad, Payhip or Selar (popular in Africa, accepts local payments), and your own website.
- Make templates for specific audiences: "Kenyan restaurant menu templates", "church event poster pack", "CV templates for graduates".
- Market with Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok demonstrations.
Rules. Follow Canva's licence for elements (some premium elements can't be resold in templates; check Canva's content licence).
48. Print-on-demand designs
What it is. Uploading designs to platforms that print them on T-shirts, mugs, phone cases and posters when someone orders; you earn a royalty or margin without holding stock.
Where: Redbubble, Teepublic, Spreadshirt, Zazzle, and locally, printing partners for your own online shop (method 107).
How to start: research niches (humour, professions like nurses and teachers, African culture and Swahili phrases, hobbies), create original designs, upload many, and promote on social media. Income is usually slow at first and builds with volume; never use trademarked characters, logos or slogans.
49. Stock photos and videos
What it is. Selling photos and videos through agencies that license them to businesses, media and designers worldwide.
Where: Shutterstock (submit.shutterstock.com), Adobe Stock (contributor.stock.adobe.com), iStock/Getty, Alamy, Pond5 (video).
How to start:
- Shoot in demand subjects with few existing images: authentic African and Kenyan everyday life, business, technology use, farming, education, healthcare, food, cities and landscapes.
- Technical quality: sharp, well exposed, no noise; even good phones can work for some agencies, but a camera helps.
- Get model releases signed for recognisable people and property releases where needed.
- Keyword and caption every image accurately.
- Upload consistently; income comes from a large portfolio over time.
50. Illustration and digital art
What it is. Drawing for books (especially children's books), magazines, websites, games, brands, comics and stickers, digitally (Procreate on iPad, Krita and Photoshop on PC) or traditionally then scanned.
How to start: build a consistent style, post work on Instagram/Behance/ArtStation, offer commissions, contact authors and publishers (children's book illustration is a steady market), and sell prints and stickers.
51. Presentation design
What it is. Designing PowerPoint, Google Slides and Keynote decks: investor pitch decks, company profiles, conference talks, training materials.
How to start: master PowerPoint (the PowerPoint subject on this hub): slide masters, layouts, charts, animations, consistent design. Create sample decks (a startup pitch, a company profile, a school prize-giving presentation). Offer to startups, consultants, NGOs and corporates.
52. Photo editing and retouching
What it is. Editing photos: colour correction, retouching portraits, removing backgrounds, product photo cleanup for e-commerce, restoring old photos, wedding photo editing.
How to start: learn Lightroom (colour) and Photoshop or free GIMP/Photopea (retouching, background removal). Create before/after samples. Clients: photographers (who outsource editing), online shops (white-background product photos), and families (restoring old photos).
53. YouTube thumbnail design
What it is. Designing the clickable image for YouTube videos. Thumbnails strongly affect how many people click, so creators pay for good ones.
How to start: study top creators' thumbnails (big faces, emotion, 3–4 words maximum, high contrast), design 10 samples (1280×720), and offer to YouTubers in your niche, including Kenyan creators.
54. Infographics
What it is. Turning information and data into visual graphics for NGOs, health campaigns, reports, social media and education.
How to start: learn data visualisation basics, design samples (e.g. "How to register a business in Kenya in 5 steps"), and offer to NGOs, research organisations, schools and marketing agencies.
55. Motion graphics and animation
What it is. Animated logos, explainer videos, animated social posts, lower-thirds for YouTube, and 2D/3D animation.
How to start: start with Canva animations and CapCut, then learn After Effects (motion graphics), Blender (free 3D) or Toon Boom/Moho (2D animation). Build a showreel. Clients: businesses (explainer ads), YouTubers, agencies, churches and events.
Pricing your design work
- Per project is better than per hour for most design (logo package, brand kit, 12-post bundle).
- Define what's included (number of concepts, revisions, file types) in writing.
- Take a deposit (often 50%) before starting for new clients.
- Raise prices as your portfolio improves; specialise (e.g. restaurant branding, church media, tech startups).
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Unlimited revisions | Agree on a number of revisions |
| Using images and fonts without licences | Use licensed or free-for-commercial-use resources |
| Copying other designers' work | Original work only; it's both unethical and risky |
| Sending low-resolution logos | Deliver vectors and print-ready files |
| No deposit | Take a deposit from new clients |
| Weak portfolio | 6–12 strong pieces beat 50 average ones |
Practice tasks
- Design a logo concept for a local business and present it on three mockups.
- Create a 6-post Instagram template pack in Canva with a consistent brand.
- Design a print-ready A5 flyer with 3 mm bleed and export a PDF.
- Create a Behance profile and upload your best three pieces.
- Take 20 authentic photos of everyday life in your town (with permission where people are recognisable) and pick the five best for stock.
Summary
- Design earning paths: logos, social graphics, print, brand kits, UI/UX, Canva templates, print-on-demand, stock media, illustration, presentations, photo editing, thumbnails, infographics and motion.
- Start with Canva, then learn principles and professional tools (Figma, Illustrator/Inkscape, Photoshop/GIMP) to earn more.
- A focused portfolio on Behance/Dribbble wins clients; process and clear packages build trust.
- Respect licences and trademarks; take deposits; limit revisions.
Check yourself
Logos should be created as which type of graphic: raster or vector?
Show answer
vector
What size in pixels is a standard square Instagram post? Write as 1080x1080.
Show answer
1080x1080
What extra margin around print designs is called? (one word)
Show answer
bleed
Which free tool is the most common for UI/UX design?
Show answer
Figma
What document must recognisable people sign for stock photos? (two words)
Show answer
model release
What size is a YouTube thumbnail? Write as 1280x720.
Show answer
1280x720