AIGA Buzz: Design and Freelancing

On March 4th at Estelle's Coffeehouse I was given the opportunity to host a local AIGA Buzz. The subject of my Buzz was on Freelancing in these current economic times. Here was the intro that was placed on the local AIGA site:

If you lost your job tomorrow, could you make it as a lone freelancer? The current economy is forcing businesses to downsize and make tough decisions, but businesses still need creatives. To become a successful highered gun we have to remove the uncertainty of what's coming tomorrow, by learning new tools today. All to become the fastest rootin' tootin' cowboy in the west.

Join John Howard, freelancer graphic designer and blogger, for a discussion on what it takes to be a successful freelancer -- learn how to prepare for the worst and shoot for the best.

So for four weeks I set myself to learning as much about Freelancing (while Freelancing) as possible. It makes sense the local AIGA chapter would suggest this topic because it's something that we as designers are ever increasingly having to do. We are losing our jobs to the Recession and having to figure it out for ourselves. I myself lost my job last year and now I'm doing fairly well. I wouldn't say I'd go to Vegas and blow a grand on "red". But I feel confident to say that all my hard work is paying off. Since I've been laid off I've seen the Freelance community double here in Charlotte. Agencies and In-House companies are all downsizing just to stay in business. In reality it's grim and many friends of mine are really wondering what they will do.

With this in mind I began to work on the Buzz and I realized through talking to friends that I didn't want it to be doom and gloom. I wanted it to be educational and optimistic. I thought back to what got me interested in design and I remembered that I used to love the comic books drawn by the french artists Morris and Goscinny from the 70s. It told the story of a cowboy roaming the west and always teaching the bad guys a lesson. It made me think of how designers really are like cowboys. We live on our own luck and go from one place to the next trying to find work.

With the concept beginning to come together I wrote and outline and began to draw pages to match the messages I wanted to get across.

They were:
1. The Economy: Adapting to the new world
2. Taking a Deep Breath: Looking back over the years
3. The Plan: Figuring out your Rate
4. The Dangers: Taxes and Health Insurance
5. Saddle Up: Getting it together
6. Networking: Find work
7. Getting Clients: Learning to work with new clients
8. Ongoing: To live and fight another day

With my comic book drawn, written, printed and ready to go I prepared myself to speak at the Buzz.

Click here to view the pages on Flikr.

It began early (7:15am) and like everyone that made it that morning, I too was a little tired and not quite there. I'm not a good speaker, more so someone that doesn't know how to shut up and just go off in to tangents. So I feel bad for everyone that was there for the first 15 minutes. It was a little blah, but it got better once we made it past the Economy. Everyone really enjoyed the handout and once we got to the pieces about Taxes then everyone began to chime in.

It was surprising how many people were Freelancers, it was at least half the group. There were designers that had just been laid off, about to be or were afraid that it was coming soon.

Once we got into Taxes there were a lot of angles to discuss This was probably the biggest talking point because it's the most unknown to designers. We've all heard various ways to do it, but nobody is 100% sure. For me and some of the other designers a tax accountant seems to be the most helpful. It seems to be the most worry free approach and gives you the most options. Once that started it became; how much a state and federal percentage, how do you write other stuff off; how do you use an tax accountant; and on and on. You see most of us have had a full time job so our regular job has always balanced out the Freelance. But with so many designers suddenly stepping into this new arena it's kinda overwhelming. You don't want to screw with the IRS.

Well the meeting went for and and a half. Everyone seemed to like it and I was just happy to get out of the spotlight. Surprisingly a lot of people stayed afterwards and I didn't get back to work until 11am.

It was fun and I'm very happy I did it. It's all because of the AIGA board members Rachel Martin and Nikki Mueller. So a big thanks to both of you for letting me speak and I'm looking forward to listening to Rachel speak at the next Buzz titled, "Design for a Greener Future". Knowing Rachel it's bound to be good.