Looking for advice
Hello, as a current graphic design/ graphic illustration student, I am looking to start doing freelance work along with my studies. I am looking to get advice on how to start this?
Replies6
- Hi Ayanna,There is a few good advices here already and on top of that a few things:The current landscape - after / during the pandemic lots of people went freelance so it's way more competetive than any time before. So be prepared!Registering your company - you can easily register your company on companies house and as long as you don't make £8000 (roughly, have a bit of research on exact figures) per year or above you don't need to pay any taxes. Option b would be to invoice as a sole trader but it does limit the kind of gigs you can get.Personal style - connections is like 50% of getting gigs, the other 50% is your talent and work. I personally very bad at networking and it really feels like a pain however social media give me a tool to do it without actually meeting people. Also always has an emphasize on having a personal style what gets me most of the work. What I do to compensate my bad networking skills is to be nice with my clients and really getting out of my way to create work what they love.
- I would go with @Vikki Ross and @Richard Depesando find them highly trusted
- Hi Ayanna, contact anyone you'd like to work with and tell them why you're interested in them, and why they should be interested in you - you'll find their contact details online ie via Google, LinkedIn, their own websites. Most people are willing to help so I'm sure someone will get back to you either with work or further advice.
- Hi AyannaThere is no ‘right’ way to do this and I can only call on my own experience (from years ago) and the experiences of students I have taught.Making contacts is the most important (and by far the hardest) part of going freelance, especially if you are not naturally social (like myself). As a student I was always interested in the other departments and made a lot of friends, particularly in fashion and textiles, so I understood what they did and how they worked, after college I was able to support them with graphics - (often for free) but it built up experience and contacts in a sector I really liked, eventually leading to important career developments. Most importantly, we could communicate, clients trusted me and there were real friendships there. If you are looking for opportunities, tell people. Let them know you are eager and interested in what they do, and want to learn from them.Presentation is also really important - when I taught degree level the students who presented themselves well and believed in what they were doing, clearly enjoyed meeting new people and learning from them - are the ones who flourished. Design is lifelong learning and I look back at some of my early stuff with horror but I enjoyed the process and I liked the people I worked with - it kept people coming back to me.Keep meeting people, keep offering to help, keep learning and asking questions - in every exchange you have, take something good from it. As a freelancer, people will want to work with you again and again because they like you, trust you and find the process positive. You don’t even need to be the best designer in the world - as long as you can make a connection.
- Here are a few tips to help you get started with freelance graphic design/illustration work:
- Build a portfolio: Create a portfolio of your best work to showcase to potential clients. This can be a website or a physical portfolio.
- Network: Reach out to other designers and illustrators in your field, join design communities online or in-person to expand your network.
- Establish your rates: Research the going rates for designers and illustrators in your area and set your rates accordingly.
- Create a social media presence: Set up a professional social media account to showcase your work and connect with potential clients.
- Look for freelance opportunities: Look for freelance job postings online, on social media, or in local publications, and apply to any that match your skills and experience.
- Be professional: Always be punctual, responsive, and professional when working with clients. This will help you build a good reputation and increase your chances of getting repeat business.
- Get yourself a contract template: Having a contract template is a great way to ensure that you are protected legally and that both you and the client are clear on the scope and expectations of the project.
- Keep learning and improving: Always keep learning new skills and techniques to improve your work and make yourself more marketable to potential clients. @Ayanna Peniston All the best!
- You can start freelancing whenever you want.However if you’re planning to do commerical or go into freelance for business clients smaller studios – may require you send an invoice likely you’d have to be registered self employed or as a Ltd.*Most companies prefer to work with freelancers registered Ltd.If your planning to design for lower end spectrum (club flyers) of clients that isn’t potential large sum of money then I wouldn’t bother getting registered as self employed. Being a student best to take on small work that isn’t going to conflict with your deadlines.My suggestion would be find a sector/small business clients you wish to work, have a fixed day/hourly rate build up clients by emailing them or reaching out on social media.
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