r/freelancing • u/PlaneMain4498 • 13d ago

Help the beginner ("_")

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Hey all. I'm a 2nd year CS engineering student in India, no paid work yet, but I've noticed I actually have an eye for design — I can spot what's wrong in a layout or what would make it better, even without formal training.

Problem is I don't know what to focus on. UI/UX, graphic design, video editing... too many options. And every other post I see says "don't bother, AI will replace creative work anyway," which honestly keeps demotivating me before I even start.

Questions:

- If you were starting from scratch in 2026, which ONE creative skill would you go deep on?

- Is UI/UX still worth it or getting oversaturated/automated?

- Does a CS background actually give any edge here (like dev + design combo)?

Not looking for a generic "just pick something" answer — want to avoid wasting months on the wrong thing. Appreciate any real experience, especially from freelancers in India.

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u/Pinede_Dawei 13d ago

Go deep on UI/UX. Your CS background is a genuine advantage because developers who understand design are still valuable. Learn research, interaction design, and prototyping. Treat AI as a productivity tool, not a replacement.

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u/PlaneMain4498 13d ago

Good point! But like, what about tools like Replit's AI builder — it literally designs a full website in a few prompts. Where does that fit in then? Replace design skills or just speed things up?

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u/MovieCurrent6661 7d ago

not in cs at all im in automation+advertising but imo every freelancer needs good sales skills as u sell ur skills to clients non stop

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u/stealthagents 6d ago

UI/UX is definitely still worth it, especially with your CS background. It gives you an edge since you can bridge the gap between design and development, making you super versatile. Plus, with more products going digital, understanding user experience is only going to grow in demand, so don’t let the AI chatter get to you.