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Stay at Home Moms
mjsweetgirl
member
degree in graphic design and sahm
mjsweetgirl
member
Hello ladies! I am a soon to be a sahm and am getting my degree in graphic design. Are there any other moms that are able to use this degree while working from home or not working the typical 9 - 5? What do you do and how do you like it?
Thanks!!
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Re: degree in graphic design and sahm
Usually big cities have web sites where employers post their need for freelance work.
Nonprofits typically don't have in-house graphic designers and are always looking for freelancers to design their annual reports, brochures and the like. A good way to get into that market is to volunteer for your favorite nonprofit; then you have samples and references to show to others.
Also there are temp places specifically geared toward creatives that might hire you to freelance. That might be a bit dried up with the economy being what it is, though.
Hi, I've been a freelance graphic designer for about a year and a half, and here are some things that have helped me:
- try to join the AIGA. It is amazing for networking. They have lower rates for students or people who have recently graduated, so it's worth looking into. Most of my projects come from connections, so you want to make as many design connections as possible.
- set up a portfolio website, and be prepared to email the link to prospective clients. A solid portfolio is 10x as important as a resume.
- Have a few babysitters on hand that you can call if needed. Clients will often want to meet for an hour here or there to hand over files, discuss the direction of the project, etc, and while you can design from home with your child nearby, I wouldn't risk bringing them into a client's office.
- Finally, do not fall for clients that ask you to work for free, telling you that you can use the work to build your portfolio. You can use paid work to build your portfolio, too! Regardless of how much experience you have, you deserve to be paid something. Also, I have found that paying clients tend to be much more respectful of a designer's time - after all, if they ask for 92 revisions, they have to pay you more. Whereas, if you are doing this for free, it is still free regardless of how many changes they insist upon. (Note: most not-for-profits have some sort of design budget, so you can probably do work for them and still get paid. It is ok to cut your rate for a project you really want, but you should still get paid SOMETHING.)
Hope that helps. Graphic design is a wonderful career - hope you enjoy it.
I am a freelance graphic designer and SAHM. Before becoming a sahm, I was in the industry for 15 years, so for me, that made all the difference. I worked in San Francisco for 10, then moved to Santa Barbara and am now in FL. Most of my work comes from previous contacts through other jobs. I've not had much luck with boards like CraigsList and such mainly because it seems to be people looking for a great deal of work for a ridiculously low amount of pay.
That said, build up your portfolio with school projects or volunteer projects to demonstrate your ability. A website that you have designed your self is a must. If you can code, design it and have someone else code it for you. Join the AIGA or GAG in your area and go to the events. Also go to temp agencys both design specific and general. You might get some powerpoint work w/ admin stuff on the side. Not ideal but it will get you experience and in the door of a company that might use you for freelance purposes later on.
Good luck! It's a tough time to be entering the market but it's a great field. I love my work!
Cheers,
Erin