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Working a traditional 9 to 5 job can be boring and if you want to move from your graphic design job then continue reading this article. Graphic Designers work on a variety of projects and can hold various job titles and positions in a company. They can work at an advertisement agency, publication company, and various other businesses and organizations. But being a graphic designer is not all about working and joining a company or firm to earn a livelihood. You can even do so by working as a freelancer. So if you are a graphic designer and want to start working as a freelancer and are not sure about how to do freelance graphic design? Then this article is right for you.
Table of Contents
How to do Freelance Graphic Design?
01. Calculate the cost
It is easy to think that all we need to do is connect the computer to get started. However, it takes a little more than that. First of all, you will have to think and calculate the cost of your operation even when you are working from home. This will be something you have to think about and incorporate into our work.
As an example, you have your own website, a domain name, and web hosting. And all of it costs something. So these expenses will go towards the cost of operating. Or business cards and small stationery would be required for any communication with clients. It also includes where you will work. Will we be working from home or at a particular place? Well, the choice will solely be based on your comfort and resources. If you are able to rent an office space be free to rent one, or alternatively you can work from home.
Although it is becoming more popular to work from home, there are many benefits. However, we may not always have the right circumstances.
02. Do not be Nameless
You have two options for the denomination: either create your own brand/name or choose one that is more representative of your style or activity and more easily recognizable.
Freelance designers often use their own names as a brand. This gives the project a more personal touch and lets clients know that they are an individual with all of their positive and negative sides.
Here are some tips to follow:
- It should be unique, memorable, and original.
- Communicate at most one objective about the company’s image.
- Clear and inter-culturally linguistically.
- Futuristic and global in outlook.
- Attractive to customers
- Encourage creativity and curiosity
- Patentable – or able to become so, that it can be used worldwide
- There are no legal threats
- It does not have any negative connotations and can take on new meanings.
04. Have a portfolio
A portfolio is important for freelance designers as it showcases your work, your style, and what you can expect from your work. It is vital to have it. However, it is even more important to spread the word via all available online media. Also, you need to be present on social media and build a professional profile.
What happens if I don’t have a portfolio to show for it?
Even if you don’t have much experience, having a portfolio is important. You can always create your own designs. Portfolios must be something that is constantly being created by the designer. He must also adapt to the presentations he makes, depending on what he wishes to highlight about his work. Portfolios of professionals are always in making and evolving.
05. Make Rates for your Services
This is perhaps the first question every professional asks when he starts to face real life.
What should I charge?
It is not an easy question, as the price difference in similar works can be shocking, essentially taking into consideration the designer and client. A formula that will allow you to set an adequate price for your work is one way to value it.
- Calculating our hourly wage is as follows: Costs + Salary / Hours worked per annum = an hourly rate. This formula works out: If we want to make 60,000 euros per year and spend 10,000 euros per year on hosting, stock photos/videos, fonts, etc., each hour would equal (10,000 + 60,000) / 2000=35 Euros/hours. This will determine the pricing of a project.
- Base prices should be developed for all types of projects.
- Prices with additional requirements, for those customers who want something extra.
06. Market Yourself
Freelancers must not only design but also learn how to market their work. It is important to learn how to market and promote your creative talents whether you are working in a company, or if you have your own design studio.
If you don’t do all you can to make your work known and shown to your potential clients, no one will find you. It will be necessary to take the time to understand what you have to offer, your weaknesses, and who might be interested in your services. We also need to consider how we can reach potential clients.
07. Learn and Grow and Evolve
You might think that everything is done. We live in an ever-changing world, so it is important to keep up with the latest developments in your field. If we want to live well, it is important to be informed about the latest developments in the sector, meet other professionals, attend events, and stay current on the news.
Don’t make errors such as not knowing when to say “no”, doing too much for too many people without specializing, not making agreements, working too hard, and being paid too little. This can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of quality in your work.
