Freelance and Portfolios

Freelance:
There are designers who want to work on their own and there are designers who like working with a group. Those who like groups may like to have the support and opinions of fellow graphic designers.

Clients tend to look for studios and design firms based on three things: creative reasons, financial reasons, and personal reasons. In other words, they may ask "does the studio do the work that I want?" "Are they cheaper than larger studios?" and "Can I get along with this person?" Clients want to work with the people they like and who have the creative work of their liking. If you can offer what larger companies offer at a lower cost then you might have an advantage and can steal their work.

Setting Up a Studio:
The key to the success of your design company is authorship. When you create work in freelancing, you can call it your own because it's your own work. In a company, it's much easier to lose credit to the pieces you're working on because there are so many other designers working on it also. When you set up your studio, don't do it on your own. Find partners who think the same as you, because if you go into business with the wrong type people, then it can be disastrous both financially and emotionally. Make sure you divide responsibilities and jobs among partners. This puts less stress on everyone.

When setting up your business, make sure you register with relevant authorities and register a company name and URL. You also need to set up a reasonable payroll and tax status along with issuing contracts to employees.
Within the book "How to Be a Graphic Designer, Without Losing Your Soul," it states that there are three important steps to look at when managing your finances. First is planning things like budgeting. Next is reporting. Figure out the difference between the planned and actual cost of things like the fee income, the cost, and the profit. The last step is reacting. Once you've looked at the difference, try to fix any problems that can be setting you back financially.
Other things mentioned in the book are offices. Start off at home and then eventually find a space to set up a proper studio when funds are available. Keep it simple and cheap so the rent doesn't bring you down. When choosing a name, make sure it's something that stands out but is relevant to your business. Also, make sure that it's something you can live with for a long long time! When it comes to an identity, it can be hard to design one for yourself. So, treat it as if you're designing it for a client and go through all the steps. It can help a great deal!

Adaptation:
When it comes to learning the graphic design trade, according to the book "Designing a Digital Portfolio," experience is more valuable than training. To gain experience look for internships and learning under a professional. You need to know your strengths and weaknesses and what you can or can't handle.
You should set goals, both long term and short term. Find out what projects make you comfortable and happy and learn from the ones that you don't really like. Look for your style to put in your own work, but don't make it so obvious in your client's. The book gives a portfolio website in which shows a unique sense of personality while still maintaining an organized and inventive design. Your portfolio is NOT an autobiography, your resume, a checklist, therapy, an inside joke, or a grab bag. A portfolio is a personal statement so make use of your project descriptions and graphic design language. Don't put more than 20 pieces and the ones you do put on should be some of your best work. An example of a good portfolio site from our IDD program is Courtney's Portfolio. Fix up your pieces that aren't quite professionally perfect before putting them in your portfolio. If you don't have a lot of projects that you care to show as your best, then create your own! Invent projects and treat them as if they really for a client and go through all the steps as if it were a real job.