Freelance product designer working from home

Start-ups, inventors, small manufacturers and established brands that need new products or improvements but have no in-house designer.

Fixed fees per project stage (concept, development, manufacturing files) or a day rate. Some designers also agree a small royalty on top.

• 3D CAD modelling
• Sketching and visual communication
• Understanding materials and manufacturing methods
• Clear client communication and project management

• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance, check what suits design work
• Agree in writing who owns the intellectual property, and what you can show in your portfolio
• Check you are on the right commercial CAD licence, as student or hobby licences usually do not allow paid work
• Responsibility for product safety and UK conformity marking usually sits with the manufacturer, but check what your contract says
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to work from home
• Income can be uneven, so ask for deposits and stage payments

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on your computer, CAD software, prototyping tools and workspace setup. These are estimates, so check software licences carefully, as student or hobby licences usually do not allow paid work.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many projects you take on and how you price them. These are estimates, and income can be uneven, so ask for deposits and stage payments.

Things to check include professional indemnity and public liability insurance, written agreement on who owns the intellectual property, a commercial CAD licence, who is responsible for product safety and UK conformity marking in your contract, and whether you may work from home.