Part 2 of 4: Graphic Design — Answering 20 Burning Questions

Biggest challenge in freelancing?

Staying organized. Your job never really stops outside the hours of 8 to 5. You have to figure out how to manage your temporal boundaries so you can take care of your clients and yourself.

How do you juggle design and business tasks?

Chunking, scheduling, and a good project management tool. I’ve used a lot of project management tools over the years. My current favorite is Things by Cultured Code. I automate everything I can to create my daily/weekly schedule. Remember Ron Popeil’s “Set it and Forget it”? Never assume you will remember anything. I have daily, weekly, and yearly tasks.

Favorite project so far?

Often it is whatever project I just finished. I used to do the Girl Scout Cookie Brochure each year and that was a blast. They were great at providing high-quality photography and I was allowed to be as creative as I wanted. Nerd alert: I also really enjoy long-document jobs where you must be creative with organization and efficiency.

How do you handle tough client feedback?

I fight the urge to shake them and try to put myself in their shoes. To understand their issues and see what I can do to fix it. Sometimes it requires educating the client. Sometimes they educate you. The goal is to communicate effectively. It’s a team effort.

It probably helps that when I was in college I sat through many critiques. This is when your classmates (who are not skilled in productive critiquing) jump on you like jackals and tear apart your work in a public forum. Good times. You learn not to take things personally.

What keeps you creatively fueled?

50% of creativity is NOT being creative. It’s walking away and doing something completely different to recharge. That’s where great ideas will often develop.

There is some “cross-selling” when it comes to creativity. If you draw, it helps you sculpt. Sculpting informs your furniture building. Building furniture helps your graphic design and so on.

If you are paying attention, you’ll notice colors in patterns in the real world. Maybe the next time you are standing in the grocery store trying to talk yourself out of buying a box of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch you’ll notice the yellowish-gold looks really nice with the brownish-red on the box. Maybe you’ll snap a photo to remember the color scheme for later.

So really, anything that isn’t “work” can help: drawing, sculpting, felting, embroidery, rock painting, sewing, building, walking, watching movies, feeding squirrels, libraries, museums, video games, and wandering the aisles at the local Asian market.

How do you set your rates?

My goal is an equal exchange of money and energy. I give firm estimates. I aim to be fair. I try to be aware of the current market.