Hi everyone, it’s Regina! I am a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Surface Pattern Designer from Brooklyn, NY. Besides my professional hobbies, I like to cook, listen to music, and play video games.
I’ve been a designer for over 10 years. I’d had several internships that were both good and bad. One internship I enjoyed was working at Komar Brands as a Human Resource Intern, where I assisted high-end companies such as Ralph Lauren Polo, Kate Spade, and DKNY. I rigged clothes and assisted in photoshoots. I was grateful for the experience of learning how fashion houses operated.
So far, I’ve mainly worked as a remote freelancer. I love and hate it all the same time! I’ve done various projects from book cover designs to editorial illustrations. The benefit of working for yourself is that you get to choose your projects and set your schedule. The cons are promoting your business every day. We know most creatives don’t want to juggle everything.
Recently I listened to an episode of a 3 X 3 illustration podcast called Illustration Graduates.
Host Charles Higley said that freelancing is a better option than in-house. I wanted to listen to him since he joined the AOI association and listened to the Illustration Department podcast like me. He recommends researching and emailing Art Directors every 6 weeks.
He also said it's best to have an illustration portfolio rather than graphic design work. While I agree that pitching Art Directors is important, I don’t think you have to email them 6 months instead. I say this because you have to get to know your client more. You don’t want to take on too much if you’re the only one in the driver's seat. When it comes to Art Directors, quality is better than quantity. One good art director is better than having too many clients.
Focus on getting to know your client's needs. You need to understand how they run their business and what they dislike. Therefore, you can give your clients high-quality service and they would want to come back. Don’t be greedy! Be genuinely invested in wanting them to grow! Run your race! Be available and be honest! Hopefully, I inspired you to be a great freelancer. I will continue to have more blogs like this in my newsletter.
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