Freelancing as a Graphic Designer
Important Things to Consider When Becoming a Freelance Designer
May 5, 2009
Many people aspire to starting their own business. This might be because their circumstances have changed, perhaps because of the birth of a baby, or because the they would like more freedom to choose when and where they work and what types of jobs they work on.
Working as a freelance Graphic Designer can seem like a very attractive job option, but there are a number of things to consider before making the move.
Where to work
The thought of renting plush modern offices in the trendiest part of town may be something to work towards, but it isn't an ideal move for a new business.
Working from home can reduce start up costs significantly as there is no need to pay yourself rent, however, Designers should check whether there is any legislation concerning the use of a residential property for business where they are based.
Sourcing Equipment
Hardware and software costs can make the process of setting up as a freelancer expensive. The Graphic Design industry tends to favour Apple Macs and OS X over Windows PCs, but choosing a PC can reduce costs as there is a wider range of lower cost machines.
With much improved file compatibility nowadays, choosing a PC shouldn't cause any problems and there is some more information on the subject in this Graphic Design on a Mac or PC article.
Once a Designer has chosen their hardware, they need to select software. Apart from Quark Xpress, Adobe products make up all the industry standard options, namely Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign.
The cheapest way to buy these is in one of Adobe's packaged sets, but this is still an expensive exercise. There are free software options, such as Gimp, Inkscape and Scribus which can be useful tools for Graphic Designers who are starting out. This Suite101 article, Pros and Cons of Free Graphic Design Software, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of using open source Design software.
Finding Clients
This can be the most difficult part of going freelance as a Graphic Designer, as sales skills aren't a prerequisite of being a Designer.
While there are many websites now that post design jobs Designers can pitch for, using personal contacts may be more effective to start with.
Graphic Designers should also look around their local area and think about what they could do to help promote specific businesses. Approaching businesses direct with ideas can be difficult at first and lead to lots of rejections, but it can be worth it if just a few approaches lead to jobs. Often, one job may lead onto others as personal recommendation is one of the best forms of advertising.
While the thought of going freelance can be equally exciting and terrifying, there can be many rewards for those who take the plunge and work hard.
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