Freelance graphic designers are the ones who are their own boss and can work from anywhere. To become a successful graphic designer, pick a name that stands out from the lot. Avoid using the word freelance in your name, and get your name registered to prevent others from using it.
Make sure you have a dedicated place to work from. Office space is okay, but most freelance graphic designers work from home. If you work from home, try to get a room dedicated to your business, without the interference of kids. Keep the place clean and organized. Have enough room for a large desk, a filing cabinet, and a phone.
Doing freelance graphic designing without having your own website is suicide. Pick a reliable website host, upload the site, and keep the site updated to convey professionalism in your work. Create a catchy and short domain name, and get it registered. As a freelance graphic designer, you are responsible for graphic designing, along with accounting, bookkeeping, janitorial duties, and marketing. Act and look like a professional at all times.
When meeting clients, dress in formals or wear a clean dress. Advertise your services in newspapers, forums, news groups and the Internet. Be very organized; if you lose a client’s file, you will only get a bad name. Remember that you will get bad clients from time to time; be ready for them. It may take some time to get established as a freelance graphic designer, but it’s better to be armed and ready for it.
A. How to Hire a Freelance Graphic Designer
Graphic design is an important part of both traditional and online business. A good marketing campaign is well planned and well designed, both strategically and creatively. There are many avenues to meeting your graphic design needs. One very popular method is hiring a freelance graphic designer. Freelancers offer services at either a set rate or by a set price per project, which can vary depending on what type of design you need, whether it is simply a logo or a complete marketing campaign.
What ever your needs are, a qualified freelancer can provide that service without the overhead costs a traditional employee carries. Of course "freelancer" is a very broad term, so it is important to remember that the focus of this discussion is "graphic design freelancers".
Not all freelancers are created equal, not every designer can "do it all". Some specialize in advertisements or logos or brochures, etc. etc. Don't be afraid to ask for references, current or former clients who can provide insight into the talents and professionalism of the designer. Any freelancer who is not willing to provide these items when trying to win your business is probably not worth hiring.
If you consider hiring a junior designer make every effort to feel out the designer first, ask to see some school project examples and even ask for a professor's e-mail address for a reference. Not only can you possibly find a great resource for your design needs, you will be able to get great deals and value from the right designer. Graphic design can be expensive and if you are planning on having printing as well, that is an additional cost on top of the actual design service.
Most experienced designers can provide you with a printer whom they prefer to work, so if you do not have one of your own it may be a good idea to ask up front about printing. Remember that most freelancers, unlike design houses do not carry a large amount of overhead and therefore will probably require payment to secure printing up front, if this is a service you are requesting from the designer.
As I stated in tip #3 graphic design is not a cheap service. Professional and experienced freelancers can and will charge more than less experienced or unprofessional designers. Although price should never be the only deciding factor, you should consider all of your needs when hiring, sometimes that younger, less experienced designer is just what you need and you can get a better deal in the end, but expect that a less experienced designer will most likely need more attention and direction from you during the design process, it's a trade.
I suggest building a lasting relationship with a freelance designer. Not that every freelancer is worthy of that coveted relationship but if you are happy with the job they have performed on that first contract, continue to work with that designer in the future. It will not only boost the designers reputation in the community and provide them with a healthy career but it will benefit your business as well by having a designer on hand and on call that knows at least a little about your business and your expectations as a client.
B. Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual communications across a variety of media platforms (print, electronic, and film). They utilize a large array of techniques which can involve varying combinations of illustration, animation, photography, print, and layout design. Their work may appear in publications (e.g., magazines, newspapers, journals), signs, packaging, corporate logos, promotional displays, and/or marketing brochures.
The design process begins when a graphic designer illustrates his/her vision for the design by preparing sketches either by hand or with the aid of specialized computer software packages. The designer will then select the visual elements which comprise the design (e.g., colors, artwork, photography, animation) and arrange them onto the visual media. Depending on their employers, clients, or specific projects, graphic designers may have relatively stable working conditions or widely fluctuating ones. About 25% of designers are self-employed.
Education, Certification, Licensing In today's world, a college degree is usually required for a job as a graphic designer. There are some entry-level technical positions that only require an associate degree; however, a bachelor's degree is required for most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions. There are hundreds of accredited schools which award degrees in graphic design.
An aspiring graphic designer should select one that includes training in current graphics-related computer technology because a quality graphic designer today needs a good working knowledge of different desktop publishing tools and computer graphics/design software. A graphic designer can start building a portfolio before graduating from school by accepting different freelance jobs. The portfolio should be constructed to showcase only the designer's highest-quality work.
Make sure you have a dedicated place to work from. Office space is okay, but most freelance graphic designers work from home. If you work from home, try to get a room dedicated to your business, without the interference of kids. Keep the place clean and organized. Have enough room for a large desk, a filing cabinet, and a phone.
Doing freelance graphic designing without having your own website is suicide. Pick a reliable website host, upload the site, and keep the site updated to convey professionalism in your work. Create a catchy and short domain name, and get it registered. As a freelance graphic designer, you are responsible for graphic designing, along with accounting, bookkeeping, janitorial duties, and marketing. Act and look like a professional at all times.
When meeting clients, dress in formals or wear a clean dress. Advertise your services in newspapers, forums, news groups and the Internet. Be very organized; if you lose a client’s file, you will only get a bad name. Remember that you will get bad clients from time to time; be ready for them. It may take some time to get established as a freelance graphic designer, but it’s better to be armed and ready for it.
A. How to Hire a Freelance Graphic Designer
Graphic design is an important part of both traditional and online business. A good marketing campaign is well planned and well designed, both strategically and creatively. There are many avenues to meeting your graphic design needs. One very popular method is hiring a freelance graphic designer. Freelancers offer services at either a set rate or by a set price per project, which can vary depending on what type of design you need, whether it is simply a logo or a complete marketing campaign.
What ever your needs are, a qualified freelancer can provide that service without the overhead costs a traditional employee carries. Of course "freelancer" is a very broad term, so it is important to remember that the focus of this discussion is "graphic design freelancers".
Not all freelancers are created equal, not every designer can "do it all". Some specialize in advertisements or logos or brochures, etc. etc. Don't be afraid to ask for references, current or former clients who can provide insight into the talents and professionalism of the designer. Any freelancer who is not willing to provide these items when trying to win your business is probably not worth hiring.
If you consider hiring a junior designer make every effort to feel out the designer first, ask to see some school project examples and even ask for a professor's e-mail address for a reference. Not only can you possibly find a great resource for your design needs, you will be able to get great deals and value from the right designer. Graphic design can be expensive and if you are planning on having printing as well, that is an additional cost on top of the actual design service.
Most experienced designers can provide you with a printer whom they prefer to work, so if you do not have one of your own it may be a good idea to ask up front about printing. Remember that most freelancers, unlike design houses do not carry a large amount of overhead and therefore will probably require payment to secure printing up front, if this is a service you are requesting from the designer.
As I stated in tip #3 graphic design is not a cheap service. Professional and experienced freelancers can and will charge more than less experienced or unprofessional designers. Although price should never be the only deciding factor, you should consider all of your needs when hiring, sometimes that younger, less experienced designer is just what you need and you can get a better deal in the end, but expect that a less experienced designer will most likely need more attention and direction from you during the design process, it's a trade.
I suggest building a lasting relationship with a freelance designer. Not that every freelancer is worthy of that coveted relationship but if you are happy with the job they have performed on that first contract, continue to work with that designer in the future. It will not only boost the designers reputation in the community and provide them with a healthy career but it will benefit your business as well by having a designer on hand and on call that knows at least a little about your business and your expectations as a client.
B. Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic designers are responsible for creating visual communications across a variety of media platforms (print, electronic, and film). They utilize a large array of techniques which can involve varying combinations of illustration, animation, photography, print, and layout design. Their work may appear in publications (e.g., magazines, newspapers, journals), signs, packaging, corporate logos, promotional displays, and/or marketing brochures.
The design process begins when a graphic designer illustrates his/her vision for the design by preparing sketches either by hand or with the aid of specialized computer software packages. The designer will then select the visual elements which comprise the design (e.g., colors, artwork, photography, animation) and arrange them onto the visual media. Depending on their employers, clients, or specific projects, graphic designers may have relatively stable working conditions or widely fluctuating ones. About 25% of designers are self-employed.
Education, Certification, Licensing In today's world, a college degree is usually required for a job as a graphic designer. There are some entry-level technical positions that only require an associate degree; however, a bachelor's degree is required for most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions. There are hundreds of accredited schools which award degrees in graphic design.
An aspiring graphic designer should select one that includes training in current graphics-related computer technology because a quality graphic designer today needs a good working knowledge of different desktop publishing tools and computer graphics/design software. A graphic designer can start building a portfolio before graduating from school by accepting different freelance jobs. The portfolio should be constructed to showcase only the designer's highest-quality work.
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