2 Minute Read
Katie recently joined the HDD Team as a Freelancer and got stuck in as soon as she arrived. Her experience working within agencies has been a massive benefit to the studio and luckily for you, she’s sharing her wisdom as a very special Christmas treat!
After graduating Falmouth Uni 2 years ago with a degree in Graphic Design, I can remember feeling daunted at the prospect of being thrown into the big bad world of graphic design. But before I knew it, I was lucky enough to bag myself a few placements in various agencies around the country such as Cornwall, London, Bath and back home, in Cardiff.
It was after about 6 months of being in and out of agencies on placements that I found myself doing freelance work, and I’ve been doing it ever since. Although I’ve only been freelancing for a year and a half, I’ve learnt a lot in a short space of time...
1. Be Brave
Initially, it’s quite scary going alone in the design world, but I’ve learnt it’s important to take risks and believe in yourself. Step out of your comfort zone - you’ll appreciate the fact you did and pat yourself on the back.
2. Meet Face to Face
I really recommend getting out there and meeting people face-to-face, the old fashioned way.
It’s so important to make personal connections, not just with potential clients but with other people within the graphic design industry.
3. Keep in Touch
I definitely believe that things happen not because of what you know, but of who you know. It was keeping in touch with a senior designer from another agency that lead me to freelancing at Huw David Design.
4. Take Breaks
It’s so easy to just work solidly the whole day without taking a break - which leads to total creative block (guilty!). You will find that it is difficult to trace even the most common creative element in yourself then. A 20-minute walk to take your eyes off the screen can work wonders to clear your head and get your creative brain refreshed and back on track.
5. Do things you love on the side
As well as my freelance work, I run an Etsy shop on the side. I find it a great way to stay excited about my graphic design work, keep my entrepreneurial skills sharp, and most importantly - it’s fun!
If you’d like to peruse Katie’s gorgeous Etsy store, you can find it here - or contact her at Katie@huwdavid.net