One thing that’s great about flying solo as a freelancer is all the freedom you have in who you work with, where,…
A mark up, also known as percentage over cost, is one way you can increase your freelance revenue. Marking up is a…
Did you know that your creative business thrives because of how you do business and not because of the quality of your…
If you're an independent creative professional, you probably already have a website showcasing your amazing portfolio. Portfolios are a necessary component of…
Every business needs regularly-scheduled tune-ups. Just like with automobile maintenance, tune-ups keep things running smoothly. They're most effective in maintaining performance when…
Building a business requires connection with people: prospective clients, colleagues, mentors, customers, and sometimes even family members. When we connect, we share…
Because pretty much everything runs on design and other forms of visual communication, the role of the visual communicator (designer, illustrator, photographer)…
Have you ever gotten involved on a project and then realized that neither the project nor the client is ideal? The project that…
If you are a self-employed creative, business networking is a significant part of your marketing mix. While designers, illustrators and photographers naturally get together with other creatives for…
Avoid awkward moments and misunderstandings about getting paid for your freelance work. Prepare written agreements for each client that outlines the type of work you will do, how much you will charge for it, and how you want to be paid. You cannot make a living by doing favors.
Most problems freelancers experience when working with clients are due to contract mistakes. Do any of these statements sound familiar to you?…
A student asked me the same question I asked my teachers: "How do I know if I will be successful at freelancing?"…
There are two ways in which we mix color: Additively, using direct light from an original source, and Subtractively, using light reflected from…
Have you made resolutions for the new year? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to change? Where do…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Freelancing provides more freedom than any other type of work structure. With that freedom come the responsibilities of ownership and reputation. When…
Ownership is simply the idea that something belongs to someone. In the case of your freelance business, you own it. It belongs…
Freelancing is on the rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the freelance (contract, temp worker and freelancer — in all industries) economy…
I was asked about how to deal with unusual requests. Once someone finds out you are a designer, writer, photographer… any type…
You need to identify what's at stake. I often reflect on how blessed I am to work the way I've always wanted to…
With the excitement and anticipation of embarking on a freelance career, we can easily get caught up in the ideas of freedom,…
To answer the question, “How much will it cost?”, the question, “What do you want to accomplish?” needs to be asked first. Clients are often…
The commonly-given advice is: Do what you love and the money will follow. This is a great ideal, because no one wants to…
Good clients are integral to successful freelance projects and to your career overall. Beyond the project itself, a referral or recommendation from the right…
In Part 1 of this article I focused on what a brand is, and the visual and conceptual components of an effective…
I wish I hadn't said, "Yes" to certain design projects. It's not that the projects were a problem, but something about the clients'…
Recently, I met with a start-up business. As we discussed the scope of work and began putting the design brief together, it…
Every design project includes a punch list of required deliverables and a budget. When the budget does not allow for the creation of…
Working with clients can be likened to a downhill race: The designer moves along in her process and picks up momentum as she heads toward the finish…
The Practice and Principle of Accomplishing Something Upon learning about what I do by trade, an employed acquaintance asked with some concern,…
Start-up businesses and organizations tend to hold themselves back in terms of establishing reputation and solidity by under-budgeting and under-investing in the…
Before working with a designer, a client should prepare for that relationship. Often, businesses will request a web site or a logo…
Working on spec directly contradicts good business practices and does not even promise payment for work performed.
Not every client relationship is a good fit, and it's just good business to separate.
All too often a business or organization seeks a designer to execute an untested, unrefined idea as quickly and cheaply as possible. A business that's design-oriented will not regard design as an afterthought but as the basis for its marketing communications and brand awareness.
How many people set goals and never achieve them? How many creatives start a business and then watch it fizzle out Are…
Does it matter if a design is good or not? Before we can deal with that question let's ask a more basic…
Being effective involves doing the right thing at the right time in the right place.
Setting and maintaining boundaries will help you avoid relationships and circumstances that are potentially harmful.
To be promoted in our design-driven culture, a product must be packaged in such a way that it becomes meaningful to the person using it, so that they become an evangelist for it. This requires thoughtful planning and execution of a design strategy
It is the responsibility of design professionals, teachers and school administrators to value the next generation of designers so that the profession is respected, appreciated and thrives. Unpaid internships won't accomplish that.
Scammers are highly creative in who and how they target. No one is exempt. This design project scam targeting independent creatives has…
How can you invest your product or service with “lovability” and create devotion in your customers? Here are some options: Love it…
Graphic design represents ideas and values. A design is not in itself the idea, but the expression of it. Design points to…
Clients have a choice when selecting creative services: They can go the cheap route and buy a logo through a crowdsource or contest…
Why is spec work so prevalent in the design profession when it's not in other professions? Increasingly, companies - creative businesses included…
Since I established my design studio over thirteen years ago, I have worked with clients large and small, designed for sole proprietors…