Freelancing. [How to's?]
Abdul (576 pencils) | Fri, 2005-04-01 23:02I don't know if many of you even remember when I first introduced myself, but blah. Go dig it up if you want too.
Quick stats first. I'm a first year national diploma (English education) graphic design student and I'm also doing an extra national certificate of some short course in photography. I have a year left of this diploma after Sep. 05 and then will be considering going onto Uni for degree level studies.
What I'm now thinking of doing is freelancing. I have this urge to do real work for real people and get paid for it too. I know I won't get anything major, but everyone has to start somewhere, and if it's the bottom, so be it.
I'm only 18 and there's way to go yet. I was thinking maybe at 18 if I could start freelancing, I could gain pretty good experience and then I can consider working right after this diploma (this ND is highly reconised by employers and could allow junior level postions in the industry easily) and cut going to Uni. Some say education is important, some say that if you know your design stuff, you're good to go.
Anyway, enough piffle, I want to start freelancing. Though I'm still a student and might not have handled any real clients, I'd love to! I just don't know here to start!
I need some help, in choosing what direction to go and how I should go about doing it. If anyone (from the UK would be an advantage) can help me out here, help me get kick started or just give some good hints and advice, that'd be much appreciated.
Thanks!
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i think the first thing for you to do now is to build your portfolio. do some free jobs to clients who can't pay. like charities and SPCA or such. that will give you the real world scenario without the stress of delivering, since you're doing it for free. try to find clients that will give you relative freedom, so that you can show your creative muscles. this will give you enough experience to work for money. once you have a porti of at least 10 works for real clients you can start looking for a paying client. ask around your area. the pizza place or gym you go to, etc. tell them you are a designer and if they need any design job they can get fresh ideas from you. ask them if they would like to see your porti. most people will be curious and they will ask for seeing it. ask for little money. if you're good you gonna get more and more jobs.
most important, when you work for real clients, you need to listen! listen to every word the client says. you need to feel what they are like, what they are looking for. small clients won't speak the marketing language that would brief a designer properly. you will play the role of a marketing guy, acount executive guy and graphic designer all in one person.
Yeah, I understand. So it's best to start off with doing jobs for free for small business' and individuals.
Thanks for the advice Ivan.
Ok, doing free stuff will build up your portfolio, no doubt about it. BUT, you don't need to do actual jobs at this point in your career. You should do creative pieces, things that you do as samples of your range. Do some package design of your own for example. Pick a product that interests you, and create a new package for it. Same thing with direct mail pieces, like a postcard - just pick up a postcard that you've gotten in the mail, use the same copy, but redesign the piece. Samples in your portfolio don't have to be actually used, as you're still starting out you can really get away with speculative samples. Go nuts, do a little bit of everything. Advertising, direct mail, packaging, logos, catalogs, flyers, illustrations, book covers, cd covers, software box design. You can also do them by industry - fashion, technology, telecommunications, toy, broadcast, entertainment, etc. Build up a nice size portfolio with your speculative pieces, and tell any prospective clients that these are your samples, but be honest with them and tell them that you're just starting out in the industry. You'll get work from a client if your samples are good and your prices reflect your experience.
Do stuff for friends and for charity for free. Companies should pay you. Don't work for them just for portfolio pieces. It demeans your talent, and our craft. You're going to come across companies and individuals that will act as though they're doing you a favor by letting you work for them for free, but believe me, they're not. Respect your work and demand payment for your time and talent, and others will respect you as well.
I have a blog and forum for professional designers - you're welcome to come and join in and gain some experience from those of us who's been there before. http://www.creativeperspectives.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there! Best of luck to you, always.
I bought a book back when I thought of freelancing.
It gave some really good insight, and I don't know where I would be without it.
I agree with ECLombardo, do some fun pieces for yourself. Create deadlines, see if you can do it. I waited until I was out of College to start the freelancing business, and I would recomend that.
The book is "The Graphic Designer's Guide to Pricing, Estimating and Budgeting" IBSN 1581150989
Have fun with it
Thanks for replying guys.
Yeah, I know what you mean about doing fun pieces for myself. All my time that I get spare, I mock up my own projects anyway. I have too because at school we don't do quite a lot so just to teach myself Illustrator and InDesign at an early stage, I mock up my own projects. If you look around on my blog, you'll find a few bits and bobs I've done myself.
I've been thinking recently about this too, and yeah, I think I'll wait till either the summer and then try to do a few clients and then do my final year at school and see if I can start freelancing off properly. I don't really like the idea of going to Uni either, some say it's a waste of time. I know experience within the design industry is of major importance too.
ECLombardo, I'll check your blog and forum out right now and thanks for the book endoze, but it'll have to wait because I'm looking to purchase another book right now. My graphic design book collection has already started too.
Regarding Uni: I know that alot of people say that it's a waste of time, but it really depends on 2 things; what kind of job(s) you hope to land and if you want to learn as much as you can.
I don't really see myself going into the design industry. I would much rather prefer animation, or even simply visual arts. Thus, I'm going to Uni for the chance to get more experience with life drawing and other techniques, and not to mention the technical qualifications such a course involves. Most employers want experience and qualifications from their employees. Experience doesn't count for everything, and Uni level qualifications are just what you might need to get your foot in that special door.
xx