Graphic designers typically have full-time jobs with standard business hours.
However, work hours can vary greatly depending on the type of company, industry, position level, and workload.
Graphic design can require long hours and weekend work, especially in agency settings, so managing work-life balance is crucial.
Typical Work Hours
The typical work schedule for a full-time graphic designer is Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, which equates to the standard 40 hours per week.
However, many graphic designers end up working more than 40 hours to meet tight project deadlines.
It is not uncommon for graphic designers to work occasional nights and weekends, particularly when deadlines are approaching.
The number of extra hours required depends on the company and type of projects.
Graphic designers in agency settings tend to experience more irregular, unpredictable hours compared to in-house designers.
Agencies often have multiple clients with many last-minute requests and short deadlines.
In-house designers at companies and organizations may maintain more regular 9-5 schedules if projects are spaced out appropriately.
However, in-house designers may still periodically work overtime for special events or launches.
Factors That Affect Work Hours
Several factors influence the number of hours graphic designers are expected to work:
- Industry: Agency designers tend to work longer hours than corporate in-house teams due to serving diverse clients under tight deadlines. Freelancers have flexible schedules but also work irregular hours.
- Company/Studio Size: Large agencies and design studios require longer hours to coordinate complex projects across multiple teams. Smaller companies have more regular schedules.
- Position and Responsibility Level: Junior designers have more regular schedules while senior designers and creative directors oversee teams and projects, resulting in extended hours.
- Workload and Deadlines: Hours increase significantly when juggling multiple projects with tight deadlines at the same time.
- Client Needs: Supporting client last-minute requests and changes frequently involves overtime.
Freelance Graphic Designers
Freelance graphic designers enjoy the freedom and flexibility of setting their own hours.
However, they also need to be available for communications and requests during normal weekday business hours since most clients operate on a 9-5 schedule.
Freelancers may work varied hours across different weeks depending on their projects.
While they don't have to work a fixed 9-5 schedule, freelancers tend to put in full-time equivalent hours to sustain their business.
Their workload can ebb and flow depending on the number of clients and projects they take on.
If you're wanting to make over $100k as a graphic designer, or even become a millionaire, you can expect to put in significantly more hours than an average salaried worker in a 9-5 environment.
Agency Graphic Designers
Graphic designers at advertising, branding, web design, and marketing agencies often work the longest hours in the industry with average workweeks of 50-60 hours.
Agencies have to juggle many clients at once with extremely demanding deadlines and quick turnarounds.
It's common for agency designers to work evenings and weekends, especially toward the end of large projects or leading up to product launches.|
Working overtime is often an unspoken expectation at agencies since they operate at a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
While this can be exciting for some creatives, agency life requires establishing boundaries to prevent burnout.
In-House Graphic Designers
Graphic designers working in-house at companies and organizations typically maintain more regular 9-5 schedules.
Since in-house teams only support one client (their employer), there are fewer simultaneous deadlines.
Weekend or late night work is less frequent unless it's a special event or major product launch.
In-house designers experience more stable, predictable schedules with primarily business hours.
However, work hours can still increase significantly if teams are understaffed or if leadership assigns unrealistic timelines.
Maintenance of a healthy work-life balance tends to be easier for in-house designers than agency positions.
Managing Work-Life Balance
Since graphic design often involves tight deadlines and extended hours, designers must make an effort to set boundaries and avoid overwork.
Maintaining work-life balance helps prevent burnout.
Designers can manage their workload and schedule by being realistic about time estimates, communicating limitations, not overcommitting to too many projects, and prioritizing personal health and wellbeing.
While some overtime is expected in this creative career path, companies and managers should also aim to promote sustainable paces and reasonable timelines.
The graphic design field will continue to demand hard work, but designers deserve balance.
The Takeaway
Graphic designers typically work full-time hours from Monday to Friday, averaging 40 hours per week.
However, additional hours outside of 9-5 are common in the graphic design field, especially among agency designers who work approximately 50-60 hours each week due to tight deadlines, client demands, and quick turnarounds.
Freelancers also tend to work irregular hours based on client projects.
While in-house designers at organizations have more regular schedules, overtime may still be required during major launches or events.
All graphic designers must actively manage their workloads and set boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevent burnout.
The graphic design industry will continue to operate at a fast-paced environment that often requires long hours, but designers deserve to prioritize personal wellbeing.
