Using cheap flights to become a travelling designer

Backpacking around the world is practically a rite of passage for many young people today. Each year, millions of school and university graduates throw caution to the wind and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Affordable air fares to exotic destinations all around the globe have made a year on the road a very real possibility for today's youth. That said, it is an expensive luxury and often takes a year or two of saving or a hefty loan to make it a reality. However, the last decade has seen a new web-savvy generation enjoy the best of both worlds - travel to exotic locations while paying for their trip by working online. Young writers, programmers, graphic artists, designers and even marketing professionals are booking cut-cost air tickets to who knows where, packing their laptops and setting off on a self-paying adventures. And while working on the road may not pay the full cost of their trip, it will certainly help make it more affordable and buy some more precious time abroad.

There are thousands of freelance jobs available online, and design jobs are especially plentiful. All that is really needed is the know-how, a laptop and an internet connection. Internet connectivity is spreading fast globally and broadband and WiFi can now often be found even if you do wander off the beaten track. In many cases, nomadic designers prefer to hole up in a cheap beachside hut for a month or so and take on project that will help them fund the next leg of their adventure. And with so many cheap flights available to so many destinations, the next leg of the journey needn't cost that much. Arguably the trickiest part of working on the road is finding the right clients. Many designers and web professionals have built up a strong client base before they leave home and can be sure of a steady stream of projects while they are away. This is the ideal, but travelers can also pick up work on the road. There are a large number of websites on the internet where freelance professionals can bid for jobs and complete them remotely.

This can be competitive at first, but can provide a reasonable cash flow over time. In addition, talented designers and web professionals are often surprised what they can pick up on the road. Who knows what guesthouse, bar or restaurant needs a new logo or business card designed? Work can come from the most surprising places. It truly is a brave new world for anyone who can ply his or her trade with a laptop and an internet connection. And while the internet has made the world a global village in the virtual sense, the low cost and ease of flights and travel in recent years has made it a global village in a very real sense. The combination of the two has built bridges that would have been unimaginable a generation ago and opened up endless opportunities for a tech-savvy generation.