Today we are starting a new series called Freelance Five, a collection of quick interviews with freelancers from around the world.
We are starting off today with Wendy Moen of Arizona, USA.
Wendy Moen
I graduated from a two-year vocational/technical Commercial Art program back when the Mac II SE and PageMaker were the best in design technology! In those early years following college, I worked as a paste-up artist and photography assistant before landing at the region’s largest advertising agency. The last 16 years of industry experience include management positions with a newspaper, a print production studio, a web development firm and an advertising agency.
www.designaz.net
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1. What area of the creative industry do you work in?
The core services I provide are graphic design, printing and website development.
2. When and why did you become a freelancer?
Like most graphic designers, I’ve always had projects going “on the side.” But the ultimate decision came with a cross-country move. After exhausting all my time and energy seeking employment in a new city with no connections (and a poor economy), it was quite literally fight or flight. So Design Dimension moved from the shadows and into the forefront, becoming my new full-time (and then some) job!
3. What do you enjoy most about freelancing?
Two things come to mind: freedom and diversity. I have the freedom to juggle my schedule, take an afternoon off, schedule meetings when I choose, work in the wee hours, wear my pajamas, throw in a load of laundry. And the diversity is what I love most. I could be developing an image campaign, creating a website, offering marketing strategies, printing business cards and brochures, and meeting with clients – all in the same day!
4. What do you think is the key to success as a freelancer?
Without a doubt, freelancing success lies in time management and avoiding distractions.
5. Do you have any advice for new freelancers?
1. Take time to get to know your competition. I can honestly say that I am friends with several other freelancers who provide the same exact services, in the same market. We are a network of individuals who provide a slew of resources to one another – sharing information (successes & frustrations), swapping favors (fonts & logos), enhancing services, even teaming opportunities. 2. Plan for feast or famine. The flow of work varies greatly from one week to the next. 3. Take time to market yourself and your services. Be your best salesperson…go talk to people, join organizations, ask for referrals, be seen, create a buzz. 4. Make clients sign contracts.
Want to be interviewed?
If you are a freelancer in the creative industry and want to send us your answers to these questions, you can. Please include a little bit of background information about you, a small photo or avatar (optional but recommended) and one or two links. We will publish the answers regularly but if we have too many we will aim for the most interesting ones – so make them good!
