A Graphic Design Student's Guide to Freelance: Practice Makes Perfect

A Graphic Design Student's Guide to Freelance: Practice Makes Perfect

by Ben Hannam
Released October 2012
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781118341964

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Book description

A complete guide to freelance graphic design—created specifically for design students

Why wait until you graduate? Freelancing is a great way to jumpstart your career in graphic design. It lets you apply what you've been learning in school, close the gaps in your education with real-world experience, enhance your portfolio—and make a little money at the same time.

A Graphic Design Student's Guide to Freelance: Practice Makes Perfect covers everything you need to know to begin successfully freelancing as a designer, including how to set up your business, deal with legal and financial issues, find clients, and work with them effectively.

This full-color guide is divided into sections that correspond to your particular skill level as a student—beginner, intermediate, or advanced. These sections give you specific tasks and goals to help your freelance design work go smoothly as you progress from your very first professional job to gain experience with a range of projects and clients and prepare to move into a full-time graphic design career once you complete your studies.

Complete with sample forms available online (invoices, a proof approval form, job jacket, and more) and 175 color images, including samples of paid work created by students, A Graphic Design Student's Guide to Freelance: Practice Makes Perfect will help you navigate the world of freelance design with confidence.

Inside this book, you will learn to:

  • Write a business plan

  • Purchase key equipment

  • Set rates and draw up contracts

  • Find and manage clients

  • Create and show concepts

  • Market your company

  • Expand your business

  • Develop your portfolio

  • And more

    •

    Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Title Page
    3. Copyright
    4. Accessing Digital Files Online
    5. Preface
    6. Acknowledgments
    7. General Information
      1. Chapter 1: Introduction
        1. Filling in the Gaps in Your Education
        2. What Is Freelance?
        3. Don't Wait until You Graduate
        4. About This Book
      2. Chapter 2: Why Should You Freelance?
        1. Balancing Creativity and Commerce
        2. Escaping the Project Mode Mentality
        3. Working for Money
        4. Working for Trade
        5. Enhancing Your Portfolio
        6. Learning to Fail
        7. Experience the Thrill of Owning a Business
      3. Chapter 3: Planning Your Business
        1. Writing a Business Plan
        2. Performing a SWOT Analysis
        3. Identifying External Factors
      4. Chapter 4: I Have A Business Plan. Now What?
        1. Choosing a Business Name
        2. Talk to a CPA and Fill out Your LLC Paperwork
        3. Apply for an Employer Identification Number
        4. Opening a Business Checking Account
        5. Getting a Business License
        6. Checklist
    8. Beginner Level
      1. Chapter 5: There's a First Time for Everything
        1. Goals for Beginning Freelancers
        2. Equipment to Purchase
        3. How Do You Find Your First Client?
        4. What Type of Work Should You Do?
        5. Writing a Contract
        6. Understanding What's in Your Contract
        7. Meeting Your Client
        8. Creating Your Sketches and Concepts
        9. Showing Your Client Your Concepts
        10. Delivering Your Proof
        11. Delivering the Final Product
        12. Sending an Invoice
        13. Lather, Rinse, Repeat
        14. Beginner Checklist
    9. Intermediate Level
      1. Chapter 6: Gaining Momentum
        1. Goals for Intermediate Level Freelancers
        2. Equipment to Purchase
        3. How Do You Find Clients?
        4. What Type of Work Should You Do?
        5. Establish an Internal Work-Flow System
        6. Creating a Master Client List
        7. Creating a Master Job Tracking List
        8. Tracking Your Jobs
        9. Archiving Your Work
        10. Creating a Business Card
        11. Working with Vendors
        12. Managing Your Time
        13. Documenting Your Process Work
        14. Finding an Internship
        15. Ethical Considerations
        16. Intermediate Level Checklist
    10. Advanced Level
      1. Chapter 7: Stretching Your Wings
        1. Goals for Advanced Level Freelancers
        2. Equipment to Purchase
        3. Types of Clients You Should Work With
        4. Creating a Web Presence for Your Company
        5. Planning for What Comes after School
        6. Choosing the Right Portfolio for The Job
        7. Choosing the Right Portfolio Pieces
        8. Creating a Monthly Budget
        9. Creating a PDF Portfolio
        10. Submitting A PDF Portfolio
        11. What to Say In a Letter of Interest
        12. Advanced Level Checklist
    11. Landing a Job
      1. Chapter 8: Moving Forward
        1. Getting a Job
        2. Writing a Résumé
        3. Preparing for an Interview
        4. Negotiating an Offer
        5. Tips From Professionals
      2. Chapter 9: Epilogue
        1. Looking Back on Your Experience
    12. Resources
    13. Index

    Product information

    • Title: A Graphic Design Student's Guide to Freelance: Practice Makes Perfect
    • Author(s): Ben Hannam
    • Release date: October 2012
    • Publisher(s): Wiley
    • ISBN: 9781118341964