Leo on the Loose

Freelance101 :: Getting Started

The number one question I am asked is "How do I start my freelance design business?" This can be an overwhelming question. It can even make people too afraid to begin. I had no idea where to start! Four years ago, I grabbed a Starbucks, sat down and jotted out a business plan to do list. I decided I would tackle three main components first. Finance, Branding and Legal. {This one is long, but worth it. Hang in there! Stay tuned later today for my favorite freelance references.}

+ finance :: Have money set aside and/or hold a part time job for start up costs. Here is a list of what you will need to begin your design company.

/ Savings /  Consult your spouse or your checkbook to make sure you are financially ready to take on feast or famine living. I am married to a "Normal" so we have one steady paycheck coming in.

/ Computer /  I started with a laptop to be more mobile for onsite work. Now I have a laptop and a 24" iMac. When I work out of state, I can work in the client's office during the day, then go to the hotel and continue to work on the laptop for my other clients.

/ Software /  Always own your own software. You never know when your computer will crash and you will need to rebuild it. Trust me. It will happen.

/ Printer /  I would recommend investing in a laserjet. Quicker prints and high quality proofs to show your client.

/ Scanner /  This one may be optional depending on your design process and if illustration is required.

/ Point-n-shoot Camera /  When used correctly, pns cameras can take stunning portfolio pictures. Also good to have for sneaky in-store competitive analysis. {phones work well also}

/ Website URL /  These days it is imperative that you have your work online. Social networking is very important and you must have an online presence. Most of the blog software can "domain map" or push your .blogname.blogprovider.com to just your .designcompanyname.com url. In my opinion, it looks more professional. GoDaddy offers inexpensive URLs. 

Crafting an MBA

As I mentioned earlier, this year is going to be more business driven for me. The design comes naturally, but the business side is always changing and can be confusing and challenging. While doing some research, I was very happy to stumble onto Crafting an MBA. This site is the brainchild of Megan Auman, a designer, business consultant, jewelry business owner {her Etsy shop was a featured seller in March 2009} and natural teacher. The site is business advice geared toward crafters and designers. Imagine, great left brained advice from another right brained person! 

The site offers informative links to other business posts around the web, recommended reading and a business book club with a discussion based CMBA Book Club blog. The categories alone are worth checking out. Some examples :: wholesale, business basics, e-commerce, marketing + manufacturing and numbers + finance.

You can also follow Crafting an MBA on Facebook and Twitter.

This site has become a daily must read for me. Thank you Megan for sharing the nuts and bolts! 

{image credits Crafting an MBA} 

Freelance101 :: Background, Experience & Job Listings

Welcome to Freelance101. This is a weekly feature that I am introducing in response to the numerous freelance questions I have been receiving lately. Freelance101 will be on Thursdays and will focus on aspects of my own personal freelance journey and knowledge attained. I will be providing links to freelance references around the web and offering a free design printable here and there. Freelance is personal and everyone's experiences are different. Hopefully, mine can help you along your freelance design path.

+ my background :: I graduated from Purdue in 2000 with a Visual Communications Design degree. I spent six years in Chicago, working my way through the package design field from junior designer to Art Director to Design Manager. I started to notice the more I was being promoted, the more unhappy I was becoming. Kind of the opposite response! I realized that I was designing less and less. My main responsibility had turned into overseeing other designer's concepts and process. I decided that I needed a break. I left my job for a four month hiatus. That lasted about three weeks. A previous client contacted me and asked if I would be interested in a couple of freelance projects. My freelance company, Vale Design, began at that moment and I have been working as a freelancer both onsite {in my client's office} and offsite {in my home office} for the past four years.

+ experience :: I am always surprised when designers right out of college ask me if they should start freelancing. I know the market is tough right now, but I always advise them to take a full time job first. College experience is not the same as real world experience. Not even comparable! Here is what an office has to offer:

/ Hierarchy /  Owners, Creative Directors, Art Directors and designers have a plethora of knowledge, stories, tips and tricks. Plus, it is crucial that you learn to critique, discuss and debate in design terminology.

/ The Brief /  These documents are often wordy and confusing. You will need to learn how to interpret all the marketing language to find the project's main objective.

/ Brainstorm /  Brainstorming in a group is a great way to "get outside the box." Different brainstorming techniques are good to have in mind when you are designing alone as a freelancer.

/ Presentations /  Imperative that you learn to communicate your design objective to your client.

/ Production /  Final file preparation, printer jargon and printing procedures are a large part of the design process. Clients may contract you for Phase 1 concepts only or all the way through to the press check. Make the printer your ally!

/ Mistakes /  Everyone makes them. They are tough, but necessary for learning.

+ job listings :: These are some great places to look for freelance, full-time or part-time positions.

/ coroflot / creative hotlist / craigslist {I found my favorite and longest client here} / aiga design jobs / simply hired / smashing magazine / freelance folder / freelance switch / krop / the dieline

If you have sent out your resume and have not found a job yet, start offering your services to family and friends. Logos and business cards are a great way to keep building your portfolio and keep you in touch with your local printers. If there is not a job out there, create one!

+ questions :: if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. More than likely if you have the question, someone else does as well.

+ coming up :: my favorite freelance references for getting started and my own start-up plan.

{image credit weeping willow}

New product: Seed Packet Printables

Just in time for Spring and Summer wedding receptions and garden parties! finch&hawk™ introduces Seed Packet favors in four modern patterns. Designer, budget-friendly, do-it-yourself printables that can be customized to coordinate with your event colors. Purchase the design, print onto cardstock, trim and assemble. Be simple, stylish and earth friendly at your next gathering!

 

Printable DIY Seed Packet - 2 STRIPES - Customized Color :: {option to remove center copy. This would allow you to handwrite or stamp your guests' names or your event date and use the packets as seating cards}

Printable DIY Seed Packet - Buttons - Customized Color

Printable DIY Seed Packet - 3 Stripes - 3 color options :: {choose either "Thank You" or "Welcome" copy}

Printable DIY Seed Packet - Scroll - Customized Color :: {coordinates with our printable Scroll Gable Box and Nonpareil Swash wedding invitation printables}

Two new weekly features

Happy Friday everyone! I am excited to announce that I will be introducing two weekly features. The first will be on Monday and I am aiming for the second one to be on Thursday. I am very excited about them both, but it is the Thursday one that has my desk covered in Post-It® notes.

+ second weekly feature - I have always been a little vague on this site, not going into too much detail about my freelance business, Vale Design. Yes, I have shared my finished projects, after all, this is a designer's portfolio site. However, I have never shared my personal design journey, my process and my freelance business discoveries along the way. Due to the fact that I have received an astounding number of emails regarding freelance questions, all of that is about to change.

**p.s.**Thank you to every person who visits this site. I am truly humbled by all of your comments and emails. When I started this a little over a year ago, I did not know if I would like being "on the grid." I am a very private person. Thank you for welcoming me and reaching out to me. I have "met" so many kind, talented people/designers. You have pushed me to work harder and trust just a little more. See you all here Monday! Happy weekend!

**p.p.s.** During March, I will be taking Fridays off from posting. I have some personal design projects that need some undivided attention, i.e., portfolio update, website re-design and diving into a special project.

{image credits f-l-e-x}

Vanity Barcodes

Discovered via The Dieline, Vanity Barcodes is founded/designed/managed by the geniuses that are Reuben Miller {Share Some Candy} and Yael Miller {The Dieline and Miller Creative LLC}. I have been a package designer for 10 years. I have seen a lot of techniques, design styles and bells and whistles. Vanity Barcodes is such a simple and effective memory device for the consumer. Just a little something extra to help them remember a specific brand. Vanity Barcodes offers both stock and custom designs. They also offer multiple barcode testing and scan compliance. Genius.

 {via The Dieline. Image credits Vanity Barcodes}

AIGA Aquent 2009 Survey of Design Salaries

Whether you own your own design business or work for someone else, it is always a good idea to stay in the know about design rates and salaries for your region and specific level {Solo Designer, Creative Director, Web Designer, etc.}. Every year AIGA and Aquent publish a Survey of Design Salaries. It is an intricate breakdown ranging from bullet point ideas from top design firm owners to compensation overviews and ranges broken out by design title. A definite must see if you are contemplating asking for a raise or if you are just checking that your rates are current for your area. Great design bookmark.

Click here for 2009.

{image credits AIGA and Aquent}

Design Sponge: Biz Ladies series

Happy Monday everyone. I spent some time this weekend catching up on the Design Sponge Biz Ladies series. These are great informative articles for business owners ranging from subjects such as trademark 101 for designers, copyright 101 for designers, tax info for small businesses, wholesale, and logo design. There are so many more that are also worth checking out. These will help you begin to answer some business start up questions and help you work through the right questions to start asking. 

{image credit Design Sponge}

Logo Lounge

If you are a graphic designer, than you are probably familiar with LogoLounge. This site is a great way to stay current with what your peers have been working on, research for new logo projects and to showcase your own logos. I have always flirted with the idea of joining, but for some reason I never have. Recently, a respected designer mentioned to me that she has been very happy with her membership. Then, someone else mentioned to me on Twitter that I should submit the finch&hawk logo for their book, "The Best of LogoLounge 6." Ok, twice in one week. I did some research. 

It is only $100 for an annual membership and all logos submitted before February 15, 2010 are automatically considered for Book 6. I joined and I will be uploading all of my freelance logos very soon.

{image credit LogoLounge}  

Bakery online business course

One of my goals of 2010 was to focus more on the "business" side of my companies, Vale Design and finch&hawk. The creative side comes easily and I am always interested in learning and educating myself more on the business aspects. As a result, you will be seeing more design business oriented posts this year. What I learn, I will be happy to pass on. Give and give back!

I recently signed up for Bakery's Half Dozen online business course. This is a 6 week online course provided by the company Bakery {run by the Erin and Jaime, the geniuses behind Design for Mankind and Design Milk}. The seats are limited and a bit pricey, but I am guessing it is going to be well worth it. You can sign up online and pay via PayPal. The course runs from February 1st through March 12th. Topics included are: Business Plans, Marketing Plans, Media and Press Kits, Public Relations, Advertising and Social Networking. They will be providing multiple template downloads, tips, media etiquette and interviews with top bloggers. By the end, they state you should have enough information for your own Bakery Half Dozen course binder. I am really looking forward to utilizing all their knowledge and experience. Thanks ladies. This is perfect timing!

{image credit Bakery}