wanna be Freelance Graphic Designer? (English)

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Things to be considered before you decide to become Freelance Graphic Designer

- Place to work
First thing first, you are going to need place to work so you can work efficiently and effectively. If you work at home, a separate room would be nice in order to avoid any other home activities. Having a room to place a set of computer is good enough, even better if you have more space to any supporting activity such as writing, drawing, printing, set up final artwork (mock up), because as a freelancer you have to do all work which is supposed to be done by more than one person. Place your telephone or fax machine near you, so you don’t have to get up to receive or make a call. It would be better if you have filling cabinet to store all your paper-works.

- You are the company (…and the company is You)
As a freelancer, you’re not only responsible for your creative-works, but you’re responsible for your marketing, briefing, presentation, accounting and filling system matters as well. You are also responsible for all incoming calls, make appointment and take any complain (if any). Being a freelance graphic designer is not only about creativity and design, but it needs strong commitment and takes a big responsibility.

- It needs a lot of patient
All the activity mentioned above needs a lot of patient. It happen so often, when you are so busy designing and need very good mood, at the same time you have to take the incoming calls from your clients who’s complaining your recent work (bad service, bad quality, etc.). Not to mentioned technical problems which occur at the bad time such as problems with your computer, paper-jammed printer, run out of paper, ink and the list goes on. Those problems will hamper your on-going project, and you have to tell your client about the delay.

- Be a professional
As a freelancer you have to be professional. You might be stressed with your on-going project, but at the same time you have to do presentation in front of your client. In this kind of situation you have to be able to get your stress out of your head and leave it at home, on the other way you need to get your concentration on your presentation. Do not let your problems home ruin your presentation. Keep your performance at the highest level, don’t forget… as a freelance graphic designer, you’re not just an artist, but you’re a businessman as well! Your performance affects how the way your client evaluate youself and how the way you run your business.

- Well organized
To run business by your self, you have to be a ‘well organized –person’. Well organized for your filing system on your computer, filing system for your paper work, graphic tools, the preparation for your presentation, etc.

- Supporting facilities
It would be the best if you have telephone, facsimile and e-mail with high speed internet connection. Set your e-mail program to receive all mails at least 15-30 minutes automatically, so you won’t miss any important mails.

- Discipline
The key of success for being freelancer is DISCIPLINE. Trust me… it’s not an easy thing to do, because you have to discipline yourself! No one would warn you but yourself! Discipline in this case consists of:

a. Discipline with your time, although you work by yourself at home, you have to work at office hours. You can’t wake up late and start working at 10-11. What would happen if your clients try to reach you at 9.00 while you’re still sleeping?! In this situation, your clients don’t care about your condition (whatsoever). He has right to call you at the office hours, on the opposite you have responsibility to serve them during that time.

b. Discipline with your money, as a freelancer you have right to own all the profit you get! But it would be wise, if you pay yourself on a salary basis. That way you will save few bucks each month, because who knows you don’t get any job later on… That happens if you don’t have strong or big market.

c. Discipline with YOUR OWN DECISION, being a freelancer is not an easy thing to do! It needs a strong commitment that you have to respect and do it consistently. You better think twice (or maybe more) before you make decision to be a freelancer, because once you jump in this industry as a freelancer, than you risk your own life and your own credibility!

By: anton ardjanggi / www.anarddesign.com