Chapter 3: Being Freelance
How To Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul, by Adrian Shaughnessy
This chapter of How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul is about what it takes to be a freelance designer. I found it interesting her insight on what type of designers would find this lifestyle suitable. The first one is a designer with a very specific skill set. The second is a designer who must make sure himself that every last detail is perfect. As of this point in my life, I have not gotten very specific with what I would like to do. I have not had an opportunity where one specific skill is required more than another and gotten a chance to extensively work on one aspect of my design skill set. Although, I can see the luxury in being able to know what your tackling day in and day out like the back of your hand and not take time to research or learn new techniques on a regular basis. Along with this, the notion of knowing everything you have done has been on your own watch can give a sense of comfort and accomplishment when working for a client. Not having to worry about fixing other people’s mistakes and explaining last minute changes could be an advantage but you have to remember that you are fully responsible for the work that is put out. Personally, I like being able to call upon friends and fellow designers for critiques and opinions about my work. Even if I don’t agree with them all the time, it gives that out of the box response that might point out vital characteristics that I may have missed along the way. Although this is not necessary and doesn’t affect my workflow when designing, it gives me more confidence that my work is as complete as it can be.
Think about it, who wants to work for someone else when you can be your own boss? The advantages are great. To most of us, being able to work from home, not have to commute, make up our own hours, and decide what jobs are taken sounds like an ideal set of guidelines to live by. If it was only as easy as that. There are many things required to getting a successful freelance career off the ground. Getting the right circle of clients is important to making this lifestyle work. Living at home without leaving, not coming in contact with other creative minds, and struggling to find another job could drive some designers crazy.
If I were to take on a freelance career I would most likely rent out studio time. Not so much for the get-a-way from the house or the equipment, but to be around other designers. That is a good way to still get feedback from others while still having full control over your work. This is appealing because no one is telling me how to do anything, but instead giving me critiques from design savvy minds. I would also enjoy the satisfaction of getting work on my own merit instead of being recognized by the agency I was with. Being able to distinguish myself as a designer and be own for my own style would give pride to my work and make me strive to be the best I could be. Don’t get me wrong, being part of a big agency has plenty of pride in it, but it is not fully based on your own actions.
As I had mentioned before, I have had a lot of experience with meeting and greeting people in my previous job. Half of my job was being personable. I have had many experiences where I can attest that being personable makes the client extremely happy. If the people who you are serving like you than everything runs 100 times smoother. There is no unneeded stress and work becomes overall a pleasant experience instead of a negative one. According to this chapter, the client / service relationship applies for the design world as well. Coming from a tourist community where families make their lively hood off friendly service, I feel confident that I would be prepared to handle this aspect of freelance design. Overall, I would consider a freelance career. The only gripe I have about the whole situation is the lack of communication with other creative people, but there are ways to stay in touch and get around that. I feel like this type of lifestyle is compatible with the current attributes I have gained over the years.
Chapter 4: Setting up a studio
This chapter Adrian goes into the nitty gritty of starting your own studio. There are a variety of reasons why a person would want to set up their own studio. Many of which stem from working in the industry under someone else’s watch. Starting a studio is a good way to redefine your direction in the field after being with the same company for a number of years. This is something in which you would need a partner or partner(s) to share the workload with. Being able to share responsibilities catering to each individual’s strength will allow smooth production and operation as well as happy clients. Emotional chemistry, written agreements, complimentary talents and shared visions are all good characteristics for a sound partnership.
It is noted in this chapter that you don’t need a partner. I think Adrian was right when she said that has potential to be lonely. You spend long hours alone, making critical decisions about all aspects of a company, and you have no one to share it with or ask an opinion of. I know from personal experience with our family business John’s Fish Market (pic) that a combination of the wrong partners and working alone can lead to major issues and stress in a persons life. Not to say that it can’t be a functioning, profitable business, but how much unneeded complications can arise from a lack of partner or wrong partner choice.
Even though vast amounts of money aren’t needed to get into the design industry, some initial costs are mandatory. A business plan (how to make a biz plan site) will be a good way to let you know what you expectations are going to be about getting your company off the ground. It will be helpful with getting a loan if need be or just what you potentially have to do to stay afloat. Being able to report your incomes and expenditures and combine them with your expectations to react to the outcome is a pivotal part in making business decisions.
Next step is to find a place to be based out of. Most of the time this can be a room in your home, but eventually you will need your own space. Once you have asked around and figured out exactly how much space you will need to rent. Next you will have to choose a name that will be adequate for the nature of your company. As we all know, designing for ourselves is the hardest thing to do let alone get right. Finding an identity for the studio is very important because it sends a direct message to everyone. If there are holes in how people perceive your identity then they see holes in your thinking. An identity is going to be the unspoken description of your company. You want to be able to show people who you are through your designs, because as a designer that is what the creative process is all about, communicating ideas, concepts and feelings with designs. After you have figured out who you are, you have to decide how you are. Being able to organize a mode of operations for all aspects of your studio will keep things on the up and up.
Overall, this seems like something that happens down the line. Unless you have a partner in mind right out of school or your hometown, it seems like something that isn’t to be forced. It is one of those things where people meet at a crossroad in their life and find what they were looking for at the same time. This is a little bit different from freelance, but has a lot of the same responsibilities and benefits. You have a few people to answer to, you have creative feedback and direction, you share all the responsibilities you would have to do by yourself as a freelance, and you are apart of a team. It has been mentioned the level of satisfaction it is being to call your self a part of a team. As I mentioned earlier, that is something to be very proud of. Instead of being proud of what you did, you are proud of what your company did, which makes a level of equality within the company that allows everyone to work and feel good about it. I would definitely consider starting my own design company but only if the time was right. If there is an opportunity I would most certainly be willing to give it a shot to set up my own studio.
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