How & Where To Get Paid Freelance Work While You’re Still A Design Student
Written by Jacob Cass on Thursday, March 27, 2008 – 6:07 pm 
This was an article that I wrote last month on Freelance Folder and it received quite a stir so I thought I would share it with you and add it to the archives here on Just Creative Design. I have also added to the article quite a bit since then so that’s another bonus.
As some of you may know I am a second year graphic design student and an active freelancer so I am going to share my tips on how and where to get freelance design jobs while you are still a graphic design student.
For most 1st, 2nd or 3rd year students, finding a part time or even casual job in the design industry is quite frustrating and nearly impossible and most resort to working at their local store, however, there is hope - I am living proof that a design student can get a job in design while still studying, here are my tips…
The Problems
The problems most design students will face is they do not yet have the skills needed to be a professional designer (1) as they are still trying to figure out the ins and outs of the programs (2) and to top off this they still are yet to have a reputable portfolio (3) or any knowledge about dealing with clients, budgeting or time management (4). Let’s have a look at these problems and their solutions.
1. No Basic Design Skills
This of course, is the reason you are at University or College… to learn these skills. However, do not just be a static learner at University, you must propel yourself forward to learn more and be the leader of the pack. You should be active in graphic design forums, read design and freelancing blogs like as you are now, borrow/buy books, ask questions and get out there. Go to your local design studio and ask for work experience - I did this and I worked on all their pro bono jobs, it was a great experience and I learned more about clients and time management while I was doing it. These few things will help your basic design skills up to scratch.
Forums I Use And Recommend For Students
Books I Have Read And Recommend:
- Graphic Design School by David Dabner
- Non Designer’s Type Book by Robin Williams
Graphic Design Blogs I Read And Recommend:
- All Graphic Design
- David Airey
- Creative Curio
- You The Designer
- Smashing Magazine
- For more graphic design resources
2. No Computer Skills
You need computer skills to be a successful graphic designer and a great way to acquire these skills is by reading tutorials, books and of course, practice. I repeat again… tutorials, books and practice. By reading tutorials and books you gain more knowledge of the softwares and get better as a graphic designer.
Try to get first hand experience off another professional designer - a great way to do this is ask for work experience at your local design studio, they are usually more than happy to help. Another thing I did was to get free stock items and deconstruct them to see how they were made, this opened a whole new world for me.
Last of all… Practice, Practice, Practice and hopefully you don’t turn out like this guy.
Tutorial Websites I Use And Recommend:
Book To Learn Softwares That I Use And Recommend:
3. Do not have a reputable portfolio
Every designer had to start somewhere and every designer started with nothing so you are not alone. Building your portfolio is probably the most important thing you do at University as this is how you will get a full time job once you leave.
Portfolios are another topic in itself, however you can build it up by making up your own fictional graphic design briefs. Studios do not mind if your portfolio items are fictional as long as they are quality, trust me.
Resources I Have Read And Recommend Regarding Portfolios: 10 Tips On Creating a Design Portfolio, Design Portfolio Preparation Tips
Forums: To build your portfolio up you can get some small paying jobs (between $15 to $200) on Digital Point Forums.
Student Freelancers: There is a new website focused on finding jobs for student freelancers here. It is a new website and the only one of its kind so we will see how it goes!
Job Board Sites: Not so much for students but if you are good enough you should check out job boards such as the 28 ones listed here.
4. No Knowledge About Clients Or Time-Management
Nearly every graphic design graduate lacks these skills… This is where experience is the key and there is no way to get better experience than to gain work experience at your local design/print store - just drop in and ask, you will be surprised how happy they are to hear from you - just mention your a graphic design student and wishing to learn some new things. By working there you will learn all about dealing with clients, time management and the design industry - the big picture.
This was an actual reply I received from a reader - it does work!
Hi Jacob. You’re a legend. I followed your advice about just asking a local studio and was shocked when they said I could go in one day a week! I always thought they’d be miserable or ‘have no time for silly young students’, but true, THEY had to start somewhere as well! It maybe be ‘pro bono work’ but its vital experience that will set me apart from other students when applying for a full time job.
5. Getting The Clients Or Jobs
Here comes the hardest part. After you feel confident enough to go out freelancing or working at a design studio during Uni, you should start looking for gigs and clients. I wrote an article on how to get your first job which will also help you out.. It will cover this topic more in depth as it is much needed. For more tips you could also check out 25 ways to become an effective freelancer and the art of getting freelance work on forums over at Freelance Folder.
Are you a student doing freelance work or wanting to? I would love to hear your stories.
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By David Airey (44 comments) on Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Nice images, Jacob.
Plenty of excellent resources mentioned, and once again, thanks very much for the recommendation.
David Airey’s last blog post..Personal blog logo designs
By liam (32 comments) on Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
Nice tips, this is basically how I survived the past 2 years before I got a job.
There’s quite a lot of work out there, it’s just a case of remembering that you’re just trying to build a portfolio, so the money isn’t always going to be a lot to begin with.
However I strongly believe that its important to get working with clients, money and finding work as thats what makes you a good Web Designer, it’s not simply about just designing websites. Gaining experience with clients and finding work are skills that you can only really pick up the ways you’ve mentioned when you’re a student, so make the most of it!
Just my thoughts
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on Mar 27, 2008 | Reply
What were you actually doing to survive Liam… I did mention a lot of things
A little niche that I have been getting a lot of work in lately is Yellow Pages ads… I am sure student designers could do these things and get some cash on the side.
Thanks.
By liam (32 comments) on Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
All of the above!
I took time to learn Photoshop myself, then ended up on a 2 year Multimedia course.
I read through a lot of tutorial sites, just so I could get a feel of the capabilities of Photoshop, even looking at tutorials I couldn’t actually see myself using again, just to get experience.
I spent a lot of time doing jobs from forums etc, just taking on whatever work I could, just so I had something to show in my portfolio. But it also provided me with enough money to enjoy myself over the 2 years.
I got experience working with some local companies just through friends & family, but it really opened my eyes. Meeting a client face to face is completely different to talking to them online, but a vital thing to get experience in.
And it all payed off, by the time I had finished my course I had learnt so much on my own (out of the class) that they couldn’t teach me in school and every step that I took (and youv’e mentioned above)helped me get the job im in right now.
My portfolio was full of work, all work which I had done for people online from forums etc. I had references, experience with face-to-face client relations, and ofcourse had the technical know-how and qualifications.
I think the things you mention are perfect for a student, and there’s no better time to do these things then when you are a student.
* Yellow pages ads, thats a great idea! I like that
By Jim K (1 comments) on Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Great site. I’m co-founder of Brightegg. We offer designers the ability to sell their web themes on our site for a high commission. We also just rolled out our Private Label solution, which is a 100% brandable CMS for interactive design firms that want to sell a full solution, including CMS, hosting and email. Oh, yeah, you can make money! Learn more:
http://www.brightegg.com/partners
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on Mar 28, 2008 | Reply
Ah Liam, that sounds really great, sounds like we are on the same track (except I am not really working on forums) . It is always good to hear other peoples feedback to how they got where they are. How old are you now?
Thanks Jim for the info.
By Rafie (16 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
I almost read this article twice (even sometimes I do). It’s a good one. In fact, it is very useful
Thanks a lot! Should charity work be included to improve your communication and design skills?
Rafie’s last blog post..What Do You See?
By Jeff Fisher LogoMotives (3 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
When I was in college, over 30 years ago, I got plenty of “real world” design work right on campus. I got a job as the advertising designer for the daily college newspaper and got a great deal of project work from academic department offices and student campus organizations. I ended up doing a lot of poster, flyer and invitation design for many fraternities and sororities, as well. The projects and jobs are there if you seek them out.
By Katia (1 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for very useful information…even in Russia all your recomendation are very close to life…
I m a student studing graphic design.Iasolutelly agree with many things you ve mention, espessially connected with portfolio…so now I will try to do my best findind a good work)))
By Kelly (49 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Jacob,
Love this post. Blending and Comic sans do not count had me LOL.
A long time ago when the Earth was green and I was in college (not that long ago, I went twice cuz I’m nuts that way)… anyway, about ten years ago I took most of my graphics work and one thing a prof said to me has always stuck out: “Don’t get hung up on the tools, because now they move too fast to worry. If you’re really good, it’s the ideas people will pay you for, and they’ll pay enough that you can hire somebody to do the execution work for you.”
You mentioned that you’ve got to have computer skills, etc. I’m not arguing that at all, but would add:
1. Idea skills will carry you farther, in the long run;
2. If you’ve got those skills, find an idea person who’s sick of struggling, as I sometimes am on Friday afternoons. While you’re doing that execution work for them, watch. Learn to develop your idea skills.
Having gone to school as a young’un and later, as an adult, I can tell you that the big difference was that people had forgotten how to put the keyboard away for a while, when I was the “returning” student. Sit with no computer, every day. The tools do not make you a designer; being a designer makes it worth knowing the tools.
Love the links here, too!
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..What’s Hot Now: 39 Inspirations With Sticking Power
By Kelly (49 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
Jeff,
“I got a job as the advertising designer for the daily college newspaper”
I did that too, only for the school magazine. Ugh what a job, plus they thought I should sell ads, too. Yuck.
In high school (that was the stone age) I even did calligraphy for teachers to keep near the smell of ink and make a buck or two.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Leonardo DiCaprio Sent Me a Letter Today
By Vinh Le (4 comments) on Mar 29, 2008 | Reply
You make a good point about not being a static learner. I see some graphic design students that don’t go beyond what they have to do in class for homework and spend most of their time just goofing off playing odd flash games.
And then there are some people who do a lot outside of their homework, but they have tunnel vision and focus only on the area they are good at, ie focusing on the programming side only. Great article.
I’m a psychology major and I work in the systems department designing blogs for the university’s library. Oh yeah, I finished that list I been meaning to work on. Tell me what you think of it. Is it social media worthy?
Vinh Le’s last blog post..25 Must Buy, Borrow, or Steal Books for Web Designers
By modemlooper (31 comments) on Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
Yellow pages ads and local flyers are an easy way to make cash. I have even contacted the people who put out those local ad booklets and they have referred me to potentials who want an ad but have no way to create them. I make from $100- $200 bucks for something that takes an hour or 2.
modemlooper’s last blog post..Kuwaii Styled Food
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on Mar 30, 2008 | Reply
Rafie
Twice eh? Sometimes I do that too, but not too often. Yes I forgot to add charity work in there, I will add that now. Thanks!
Jeff,
Thanks for stopping by again and for the add on Facebook. That’s a great idea about getting a job at the actual campus. We have a similar thing going so I might do that… the poster and flyer design sounds inviting however I do not think they would pay for that but who knows… I guess I’ll have to seek em out.
Katia
Glad to be of help. All the best.
Kelly
Haha well I am glad I could bring a smile to some
The head of my design school said a very similar thing. It is not about the design, it is about the ideas. Usually people with the good ideas are in advertising… but graphic design is a form of advertising but in saying this if you do not have the computer skills to back it up, that is a short coming for you in the long run.
Too bad about the college newspaper… making me having second thoughts about doing a bit of work for my uni.
Vinh Le
Tell me about it… I just think to myself how much money they are wasting just by sitting there.
I had a look at your post actually before reading about it here, some ones I hadn’t seen before. I will put it in my best of March post coming up soon
Thank you all for your feedback.
By Rachel (6 comments) on Apr 3, 2008 | Reply
Hi - Great article! Thanks for linking to allgraphicdesign.com
I will stumble and Digg too
By Dia (2 comments) on Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for this.
I’m a confused sociology undergrad who spends her spare time playing with graphic design and dreaming about going to art school.
The links are great. I’ve been half trying to find design forums and this was the little kick in the ass I needed.
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on Apr 5, 2008 | Reply
Hi Dia,
You are welcome… all the best with it!
By dennis (1 comments) on May 1, 2008 | Reply
jacob, great web site. thanks for all the great info.
while in college i was able to find a few web site clients by word of mouth and just telling people what i was studying. i charged like $20/hour and it gave me great experience dealing with clients.
after i graduated i was able to land a job doing web design with an e-commerce company full time and i found the job on craigslist.
dennis
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on May 1, 2008 | Reply
Hi Dennis,
You are welcome. Yeah word of mouth is the way most freelancers get clients. Even in the freelance report from Freelance Switch it said that references accounted for 80% of clients. All the best!
By liam (32 comments) on May 26, 2008 | Reply
In answer to the question you asked 2 months ago that for some reason I didn’t see I’m now 18. Most of my experience started when I was 15-16 so I had a good few years learning and freelancing before landing my full time job.
By Irina (3 comments) on May 30, 2008 | Reply
Hello thank you for your article. I will use it. However, I need to get some free work, not paid. How to get that? Great blog. I am a student myself in New York studying graphic design. You know anyone here bloging from sva? Hoping for a reply from you.
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on May 30, 2008 | Reply
Hi Irina,
Thanks for your enquiry and of course you will get a reply, I reply to all comments on this blog!
To get free work unpaid the best way is to ring up local charity organisations and to just ask! Also try ringing local studios around your area and asking them. Ask and you shall receive as they say.
And I do not know anyone from NY… but now I do
All the best Irina.
By Irina (3 comments) on May 30, 2008 | Reply
Thanks anyway for your reply. How do you know so much? I know this is not taught in colleges, so how you not it? I guess from books. Another question. In a portfolio, presentation counts? You see I think it is not the presentation that counts, but the work that counts. Let me explain where my question is coming from. In my school, at the end of the year we have a portfolio review that features work we did during the school year. I brought my work in a sleaves. The responds from teachers was badly. They said that the work was badly presented and my work was poor. Now I am still confused. Why is this condsidered bad?
By darshika shah (1 comments) on Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
hi i am a commercial artist from india.plz let me know how di i find freelance jobs online and make money.
By Sandie Sørensen (Denmark) (1 comments) on Aug 4, 2008 | Reply
I wolounteered to do some work for the schools studentcouncil. I’m a student in medie-graphics=web and print in Denmark, and it hit me, that the students didn’t have their own place on the schools webpage to talk or showcase or whatever. So currently I’m ending my education in a firm, and on the site I’m making a “kick ass” website for my fellow-students. A website I hope will look good in my portefolio when it’s done.
My collegues at work (where i’m a trainee) are all so impressed by my work, that they happily recomend me by word og mouth to anyone in their network who needs graphic work done. And I alway ask if I can showcase the work on my own homepage (which is still under construcktion). Often they say yes.
Besides I’ve also made some brochures for Amnesty International (local). But they liked the brochures so much, that Amnesty International Copenhagen contacted me for more work. I think that pro bono work like that gives you an unpricable image, that is well worth the time spend on the job. Besides the non-profitted work can polish your selfasteem- and it is easy to take these jobs because the expectations are easily met when they don’t pay you to do it…
(Pardon my french…)
By Jacob Cass (429 comments) on Aug 5, 2008 | Reply
Hi Sandie,
Thanks and well done on making the website for your students, a great idea. Also well done for volunteering your work for a good cause, people like you make the world a better place.
Thanks for commenting Sandie and all the best with your career.