Should You Become a Freelance Graphic Designer?

Should You Become a Freelance Graphic Designer?
If you want to become a graphic designer you have to decide whether becoming a freelance graphic designer or an in-house graphic designer is the right career choice for you.

Being a freelance graphic designer means that you will have a lot freedom but also increased responsibility you may not have if you are a graphic designer working for a company.

As a freelance graphic designer you will also have to interact directly with clients and take ownership and responsibility for all aspects of your work. If you’re a more introverted or shy person this can be uncomfortable or stressful for you.

In that situation you may be better off working as a graphic designer for a company or agency rather than being a freelance graphic designer, so there is a buffer between you and clients.

There is no right or wrong answer as to being a freelancer or working as an in-house graphic designer, but you have to be self aware when deciding what graphic design career pathway is best for you in your journey.

Start Your Graphic Design Portfolio with a Website
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Read More

Start Planning Your Graphic Design Career [Video]

Planning Your Graphic Design Career

Often graphic designers overlook the importance of planning their graphic design career and setting clear goals and accomplishments for themselves. Most designers just get a job and think that is the end of it. Or they are working as freelancers and think that the end all be all is hunting clients.

You need a bigger goal and plan than that to make it as designer and be truly satisfied. Haven’t you ever wanted to do the work you love and can be most proud of? If you don’t make a true plan for your career, the odds are, that this will never happen for you, because you are working all day instead of taking the steps to build an actual career as a designer.

So what do I mean by an “actual career as a designer”?

Well your career is the accomplishments or feats you’ve achieved as a designer. Which is what you will find on the best resumes from the most in demand creatives. They don’t have their job roles and daily duties. They have a list of feats they achieved in their time. Figure out what your “12 Labors of Hercules” would look like. What do you aspire to accomplish?

  • Figure out what you are passionate about
  • Make a list of things you want to achieve in the next 2 years
  • Identify what job roles and titles align with your goals
  • Determine any resources you need that you don’t currently have
  • Develop network contacts that can help you achieve your goals

Recommended Graphic Design and Career Books:

How to Become a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul

Creative Inc: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Creative Freelance Business

Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

Know Your Onions: How to Think like a Creative, Act Like a Businessman and Design Like a God

Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things People Never Told You About Being a Creative

Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff They Don’t Teach You In Design School, But Should

Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

Read More

Starting a Graphic Design Business

Starting a Graphic Design Business is very different than being a Freelance Graphic Designer. Freelancers have to think about the Business side of Graphic Design, but they don’t necessarily have to run every aspect of the business or incorporate, deal with payroll or outsourcing.

Building a Graphic Design Business means thinking about how to sustain the business even if you don’t have Graphic Design Clients, which means diversifying revenue, having recurring income and knowing what all of your yearly expenses are.

Freelancers have more freedom where this is concerned and it is also the reason the lifestyle is more feast or famine. Running a Design Business means positioning for long term stability.

Graphic Design businesses can take many forms and may not all be service oriented.

Books That Build My Business
http://robertoblake.com/blog/2015/11/100-books-that-built-my-business/

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More

When Is It Okay to Use Design Templates?

When Is It Okay To Use Graphic Design Templates?
Beginning Graphic Designers often wonder if it is okay to use templates. I hear a lot of Graphic Designers with experience give some of the worst advice about this, overplaying the “value of originality” with no accounting for the context of the situation.

As a graphic designer, you should NEVER depend on templates. But using them, making your own and understanding when to use them is part of the Business of Graphic Design.

Romanticizing certain ideas instead of a focus on practicality dooms many designers in their career.

Here are some helpful templates for different graphic design needs you might have:

Mutli-Purpose HTML Theme http://bit.ly/startuprrHTML
Avad WordPress Responsive Theme: http://goo.gl/kllctn
Bootstrap Landing Page Template: http://goo.gl/rf14h4
Stationary and Branding Mockup: http://goo.gl/JUFU1L
After Effects Logo Reveal: http://goo.gl/OLruQ7
Broadcast Motion Graphics Package: http://goo.gl/CEk2pt
Digital Magazine Template: http://goo.gl/bxwjWS
Trifold Brochure Template: http://goo.gl/0337Z6

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More

Responsive Web Design Explained in 3 Minutes

Responsive Web Design Explained
Web Designers are obsessed with Responsive Web Design and it’s ability to optimize website for multiple devices instantly.
Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Responsive web design (RWD) is an approach to web design aimed at crafting sites to provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience—easy reading and navigation with a minimum of resizing, panning, and scrolling—across a wide range of devices (from desktop computer monitors to mobile phones)

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

My YouTube Setup
Nikon D3300 http://amzn.to/1vUnnca
Audio Technica ATR2100 http://amzn.to/1ECRn18
Neewer Lapel Mic http://amzn.to/1waIfBu
Zoom H1 Recorder: http://amzn.to/1Qumh32
TakStar Shotgun Mic http://amzn.to/1waIDjp
Zeikos Tripods 2X http://amzn.to/1IXJGEJ
SP Lighting Kit http://amzn.to/1GftjSU
Lexar HR2 Workflow Hub http://amzn.to/1ED3Xln
Lexar SR2 SD Card Reader 4X http://amzn.to/1Gvj0hi
Lexar Memory Cards 32GB 5X http://amzn.to/1ED4x2o
Transcend Memory Cards 32GB 8X http://amzn.to/1Gvj8NQ
Seagate Desktop Backup http://amzn.to/1desv86
Editing Software Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More

WYSIWYG Web Design Explained in 5 Minutes

WYSIWYG Web Design Explained in 5 Minutes
What is WYSIWYG Web Design? It means “what you see is what you get”. It’s visual way of designing websites vs doing it purely with coding like HTML and CSS.

In this video I explain WYSIWYG. Many traditional coders are against taking advantage of WYSIWYG at all, but when working with others particularly clients, this not only has advantages, but is practical from a business standpoint.

This is not to suggest you shouldn’t also learn HTML and CSS but that you might benefit from understanding visual tools as well. Particularly when time is of the essence.

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK
More Tech Videos & Reviews: https://goo.gl/cDfoZY
More About DSLR Video & Photography https://goo.gl/zTlg6M
More Photoshop CC Tutorials: https://goo.gl/VhQeFN
More Videos About YouTube https://goo.gl/F8a0uf
More Small Biz and Marketing Videos: https://goo.gl/Fz1hyd
More Vlogs and Q&A Videos https://goo.gl/6J5BJd

My YouTube Setup
Nikon D3300 http://amzn.to/1vUnnca
Audio Technica ATR2100 http://amzn.to/1ECRn18
Neewer Lapel Mic http://amzn.to/1waIfBu
Zoom H1 Recorder: http://amzn.to/1Qumh32
TakStar Shotgun Mic http://amzn.to/1waIDjp
Zeikos Tripods 2X http://amzn.to/1IXJGEJ
SP Lighting Kit http://amzn.to/1GftjSU
Lexar HR2 Workflow Hub http://amzn.to/1ED3Xln
Lexar SR2 SD Card Reader 4X http://amzn.to/1Gvj0hi
Lexar Memory Cards 32GB 5X http://amzn.to/1ED4x2o
Transcend Memory Cards 32GB 8X http://amzn.to/1Gvj8NQ
Seagate Desktop Backup http://amzn.to/1desv86
Editing Software Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More

How to Become a Better Web Designer

How To Become a Better Web Designer
Becoming a Web Designer is about more than Learning HTML Code or WYSIWYG Tools. It’s not about your favorite app or editor.
Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

At it’s core Web Design is about building a Website that has to perform a task. That might me the Website has to sell a product or service or market and idea. Your clients can’t afford for you to be romantic and caught up in your own idea of what Web Design is.

To become a good or great Web Designer, you have to understand actual Design and on some level Marketing. You have to understand what a good website looks like and how to build one. Which means learning to copy and reproduce the best websites out there in order to learn the process.

Many artist will tell you that they learned by drawing what they saw, not using their imagination. Some even learned by tracing to the muscle memory down to be able to draw in that style or make those types of shapes naturally. That is part of the process of the work.

Studying good web design, mimic good web design, deconstruct and analyze good web design, then when you understand, you can execute on good web design from scratch yourself.

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More

The Logo Design Process Explained in 5 Minutes

The Logo Design Process Explained in 5 Minutes
Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Understanding the Logo Design Process is not only difficult for clients but often for Graphic Designers as well.

In this video I will explore the Logo Design process in a straight forward way to help you understand what goes into the design of a logo and how involved it can be.

Join the Create Awesome Newsletter http://goo.gl/EywY3S
Listen to the New CSAT Podcast: https://goo.gl/SEQmn8
Get CREATE AWESOME Shirts!: http://goo.gl/lsr8uY

Like My Content? Subscribe for More Awesome!
https://youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=robertoblake2

Support My Channel via Patreon!
http://www.patreon.com/robertoblake

Support My Channel By Shopping on Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=robertoblaked-20

My YouTube Setup
Nikon D3300 http://amzn.to/1vUnnca
Audio Technica ATR2100 http://amzn.to/1ECRn18
Neewer Lapel Mic http://amzn.to/1waIfBu
Zoom H1 Recorder: http://amzn.to/1Qumh32
TakStar Shotgun Mic http://amzn.to/1waIDjp
Zeikos Tripods 2X http://amzn.to/1IXJGEJ
SP Lighting Kit http://amzn.to/1GftjSU
Lexar HR2 Workflow Hub http://amzn.to/1ED3Xln
Lexar SR2 SD Card Reader 4X http://amzn.to/1Gvj0hi
Lexar Memory Cards 32GB 5X http://amzn.to/1ED4x2o
Transcend Memory Cards 32GB 8X http://amzn.to/1Gvj8NQ
Seagate Desktop Backup http://amzn.to/1desv86
Editing Software Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertoblake
Like Me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/robertoblake2
Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Read More