TBH, it is not very easy to find a job in digital arts in Switzerland. There are many professionals in this field who are unemployed or underemployed. Quite a lot of graphic work is being outsourced to cheaper places. 

I write the following with the aim to help you, not to be critical. I hope you take it that way. Do you have certification of your C2 English level? Your English is good. But not at C2 level. Your CV needs work. Go back and look at it again. Ask others look at it critically and give you honest feedback. 

Then never say never. You just have to keep applying. 

There is a lot of portugueses in switzerland already, they account already for nearly half of social assitance.

With the referedum of the 9th of feb, I doubt that people will be more keen on following your route.

Try somewhere else, better luck next time.

Lol you are funny...

Rafael, the best thing is to come and search while you are here, if you have family here, better. 

The referendum has no effects for now, dont worry about some comments. But that doesn't mean its easy. Good luck. 

He is funny but reality is little harsh Dear! 

What reality?

I just want to say that you shouldn't judge 30 million people just because a few thousands aren't honest or so.

Those portuguese (or spanish, or italians, or whatever) who don't want to work and are receiving social assistance, I want them kicked OUT of switzerland as much as you. Just don't judge the guy just because of his nationality, that sounds racist and we are not all the same.

Nearly half ? Where did you find those numbers?

The ones I found say that the Portuguese represents 8.97% of the foreigners in social assistance (46.1%):

4.01 % of the total

More than it should but not even close to half.

in: http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/fr/index/themen/13/03/03/dos/04.html

Not that this is related to the OPs question. Of all the people on social services 50% are foreigners. That's high considering there are only about 20-25% foreigners in the country. 

Out of all the foreigners on social services (114,000, not a huge number out of 8million people) 35,200 of those are from the EU27, 10,200 alone are from Portugal, the highest of one single EU country. The next highest is Italy with 9,600. Then it drops down to 4,300 for Germany.

Not really the "they account already for nearly half of social assitance" (9% actually) nor the Brad's "harsh reality". But some do love stereotypes. "Don't bother me with facts... they just get in the way of a good story". 

There is also a lot of portugese emloyed here as well right, one of the highest groups.  So what is the percent ratio of those employed and paying into the system to those out of work and claiming benefit, in comparison to the other nationalities?  I assume (guessing) its probably not too bad.

As for the original post and finding work.  Well continue to be freelance and base yourself here.  build a portfolio and contacts and be in the Swiss system.  To find a permanent job in your field, keep applying but I would say get out there and network, meet people make contacts and hope for a luck break... its not an easy time here to find work, jobs will more than likely come via word of mouth and not an on line application.

I don't know that number. But, Portuguese are 12.3% of the total foreign population while Italians are 15.9% and Germans are 15.2%**. So if we compare the above numbers, the percent of Portuguese on ss compared to Italians is higher and the Italians compared to the Germans are much higher.

Of course, there are many reasons for this, not all because they are the lazy ba$tards* like some people like to stereotype. I'm sure some are, like any population, but many Portuguese immigrants have little education and work in jobs/fields that are more precarious and seasonal like tourism, construction, etc where as the German immigrants are better educated, have the language skills, etc. Portugal, imo, is still doing a crap job of education for the world we live in today.

As for the orginal question, you are right things are tough. There are 100s of applications for every job. But graphic design is a field that is being outsourced to cheaper places. I work in marcoms and people regularlly pay a designer $100s to provide work for clients were the company charges $1000s for the project. The OP would do better to find clients in Switzerland who will pay more while living in Portugal where it's cheaper.