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}
