About This Side Hustle
Designing and selling icon sets, UI kits, and design system components is a lucrative digital product business for skilled designers. Developers and designers purchase these assets to speed up their projects. Marketplaces like Gumroad, Creative Market, UI8, and the Figma Community provide built-in audiences of buyers ready to purchase quality design assets.
Earning Potential
Individual icon packs sell for $19-79 each. UI kits and design systems sell for $49-199. A catalog of 5-10 products can generate $1,000-5,000/month. Top design asset creators earn $10,000-30,000/month.
Pros
- High-margin digital products
- Sell unlimited copies
- Passive income from existing products
- Builds your design reputation
- Low overhead costs
Cons
- Requires strong design skills
- Time-intensive to create quality packs
- Competition from free alternatives
- Need to maintain and update products
30-Day Launch Plan
1
Days 1-7
Research & Design
Study the market and start creating your first pack
- Analyze best-selling icon and UI kits on Creative Market and UI8
- Identify underserved niches or styles
- Design your first icon set (minimum 100+ icons)
- Ensure pixel-perfect consistency across all icons
2
Days 8-14
Polish & Package
Finalize your designs and prepare for sale
- Export icons in multiple formats (SVG, PNG, Figma, AI)
- Create a compelling preview image and mockups
- Write detailed documentation and usage guidelines
- Organize files into a clean, professional download package
3
Days 15-21
Launch & Sell
List on marketplaces and promote your products
- List your product on Gumroad, Creative Market, and UI8
- Share previews on Dribbble, Behance, and Twitter/X
- Offer a launch discount to drive initial sales and reviews
- Submit to design newsletters and curated collections
4
Days 22-30
Expand Your Catalog
Create complementary products and grow your brand
- Start designing your second product based on market gaps
- Create a Figma Community resource for free exposure
- Collect customer feedback for future product improvements
- Build an email list of customers for future launches
Tips for Success
- Consistency is everything - every icon in a set must feel cohesive
- Offer both free and paid tiers to build your audience
- Create products that solve specific problems designers face daily
- Update your products regularly with new additions
- Build a personal brand on Twitter/X and Dribbble for organic sales
Skills Required
Icon design
UI/UX design
Figma or Sketch proficiency
Consistency in design systems
Market research
Tools Needed
- Figma or Adobe Illustrator
- Gumroad or Creative Market account
- Portfolio website
- Social media accounts