In this episode I interview the amazing Amanda Wallace who has over 18 years of design experience working as a freelancer and in the corporate world. We cover topics like “how to get started as a new designer”, “when and how to look for corporate design jobs”, “how to manage your workload as a freelancer” and much more. Amanda is a fantastic designer and you can see more of her work here: cleverself.com
Here are the main takeaways from our interview together:
How To Build A Great Initial Design Portfolio:
One of the biggest challenges new designers face is attracting clients before they have experience. Because getting your first clients can be so challenging, Amanda recommends to start with pro bono work for local businesses and non-profits. Non-profits especially really appreciate the help and it’s a great way to give back to your community as a volunteer.
The Advantages & Disadvantages Of Corporate Design Work vs. Freelancing:
Working as an in-house designer is very different from working as a freelancer. Generally your hours, pay, and workload is much more balanced. But as a result you might have less freedom and adventure than you would as a freelancer. You’re also more likely to spend a good amount of time on work that is not design related (think meetings and “meetings about meetings”).
As a freelancer, your life can be more erratic. Some weeks you’ll have a lot of work, other weeks you might have none. Amanda says it’s important to remember that the pool of people who need great design is never empty and if work isn’t here now that doesn’t mean it’s not just right around the corner. At the same time, when you’re super busy it’s important to have clear boundaries set to avoid burnout.
How To Set Clear Boundaries For A Good Work Life Balance:
When you’re working for yourself, it can be really easy to overbook yourself. To avoid this, Amanda recommends setting clear boundaries with agencies & clients around the hours worked and the days you’ll work. Transparency is super important here. If you do ongoing work for one client but take on another client that needs you for a few weeks for a project, it’s important to let that first client know that your availability has changed. Always being available 24/7 is a recipe for burnout and disaster.