4 signs you’re an OG graphic designer:
⁃You had a cracked copy of photoshop
⁃Your font library came from dafont
⁃You used Lynda for tutorials
⁃Your inspo came from Ffffound
What ones did I miss?
4 signs you’re an OG graphic designer:
⁃You had a cracked copy of photoshop
⁃Your font library came from dafont
⁃Your inspo came from Ffffound
⁃You used Lynda for tutorials
What ones did I miss?
Last year I made just under $100k as a freelance graphic designer.
It took me over a decade of work.
But I made it happen.
Here are the steps of my long strange trip:
(🧵 thread)
5 signs you’re an OG graphic designer:
⁃You had a cracked copy of photoshop
⁃Your font library came from dafont
⁃You used Lynda for tutorials
⁃Your inspo came from Ffffound
What ones did I miss?
5 signs you’re an OG graphic designer:
⁃You had a cracked copy of photoshop
⁃Your font library came from dafont
⁃You used Lynda for tutorials
⁃Your inspo came from Ffffound
What ones did I miss?
Every creative job looks easy…
When you’re not the one doing it.
Because the challenges faced by those in the arena…
Are often invisible to those in the crowd.
In 2021 I made just under $100k as a freelance graphic designer.
It took me over a decade of work.
But I made it happen.
Here are the steps of my long strange trip:
(🧵 thread)
Every creative job looks easy…
When you’re not the one doing it.
Because the challenges faced by those in the arena…
Are often invisible to those in the crowd.
Burnout is a very real threat for designers.
The demanding nature of creative work can quickly lead to:
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Cynicism
But developing a set of habits can help prevent burnout before it ever starts.
Here's 7 you can get started using today:
Twitter can teach you everything you need to know about graphic design.
But connecting with a broader community will skyrocket your knowledge.
Here's 6 designers you must follow:
I couldn’t stand out as a designer.
I was introverted & had no clients.
So I built my freelance biz on the side until I hit my first $100k year at age 30.
Overnight success is a myth.
It comes from chipping away for years until the pieces click into place.
Stay the course.
@SesoHQ
So many people talking about getting into the 3D world here.
Talk about a saturated talent market...
Most designers would be better off learning how to sell/market themselves better as a next step!
IG was literally paying people to create reels and short form video content...in a complete 360 move they just announced re-focusing on static images for 2023.
Just goes to show you - strategy can change at the drop of a hat.
Especially in the social world.
Nobody remembers your:
- Salary
- Position
- Hours clocked
But they will remember your:
- Character
- Friendship
- How you made them feel
Don't live to work.
Work to live.
Freelancing 101:
Don't quit your job and then start finding your own clients.
Take an hour a day to work on finding clients and use your day job to build a savings account.
Once freelancing is paying your salary, then make the switch.
Almost always a better strategy.
Freelancing 101:
Don't quit your job and then start finding your own clients.
Take an hour a day to work on finding clients and use your day job to build a savings account.
Once freelancing is paying your salary, then make the switch.
Almost always a better strategy.
Twitter can teach you everything you need to know about graphic design.
But connecting with a broader community will skyrocket your knowledge.
Here's 6 designers you must follow:
For creatives, ages 18-30 are typically the dark ages.
Where you're fighting for the next big break.
It's where you're still honing your craft.
Going through that body of work to get to your own personal style.
Some of us are still going through this process...
Person 1: "I'm a graphic designer"
Person 2: "I'm a graphic designer that understands how to bring concepts to life by bridging gaps in org structures to help make businesses money"
Be like person 2.
The crappiest part of a creative career...
Is that the more you practice:
- Writing
- Designing
- Producing
- Filming
- Drawing
- Painting
The less time you have to experience others:
- Writing
- Designing
- Producing
- Filming
- Drawing
- Painting
Make time for both.
For creatives, ages 18-30 are typically the dark ages.
Where you're fighting for the next big break.
It's where you're still honing your craft.
Going through that body of work to get to your own personal style.
Some of us are still going through this process...
For creatives, ages 18-30 are typically the dark ages.
Where you're fighting for your next:
- Big break
- Pay bump
- Creative space
It's where you're still honing your craft.
But haven't quite hit your stride.
@SesoHQ
Integrating more vector features so that Illustrator work can port over more easily…though I have no idea what that would even look like from a feature standpoint
Things that kill a creative career:
1. A big ego
2. Not networking
3. No experimenting
4. Too many meetings
5. Not saying "no" enough
6. Lack of business skills
Avoid as many of these as possible.
ASAP is poison.
Urgency is overrated.
Creatives need uninterrupted time.
To focus on solving the things that matter.
Instead of constantly tending to the small fires.
Because the less time creatives have to themselves...
The less work gets done.
Being creative means letting your weirdness show.
Don't hide your quirks.
The world wants original artists, not cookie-cutter professionals.
Your differences make your work special. Embrace them.
Behind every successful creative pursuit there is:
∙ Ignored work
∙ Massive self-doubt
∙ Worries about money
∙ Failed side projects
Anyone who creates has experienced it.
That's why we need to build stronger communities.
Help others and help yourself.
My entire design career started because someone gave me a shot.
That's the big "secret".
Being a real, helpful, caring, supportive person.
Go be that for someone else who could use it.
For creatives, ages 18-30 are typically the dark ages.
Where you're fighting for the next big break.
It's where you're still honing your craft.
Going through that body of work to get to your own personal style.
Some of us are still going through this process...
78% of designers say they worked more hours than they were paid for.
Here's how to combat this statistic:
- Stop responding immediately
- Don't skip lunches or breaks
- Say no to last minute tweaks
- Reinforce boundaries
Behind every successful creative there is:
∙ Ignored work
∙ Crippling self-doubt
∙ Worries about money
∙ Failed side projects
I don't care who it is.
Everyone has experienced it.
That's why it's so important to root for each other.
Lift others and lift yourself.
If I had to start my graphic design journey over, here's what I'd do:
- Focus on a single Adobe program
- Slowly add others
- Get better at communicating
- Fill in gaps with continuing education
All with the sole focus of helping others solve for their business goals.
ASAP is poison.
Urgency is overrated.
Creatives need uninterrupted time.
To focus on solving the things that matter.
Instead of constantly tending to the small fires.
Because the less time creatives have to themselves...
The less work gets done.
Things that kill a creative career:
1. A big ego
2. Not networking
3. No experimenting
4. Too many meetings
5. Not saying "no" enough
6. Lack of business skills
Avoid as many of these as possible
@SesoHQ
1st - Go deep on one program
2nd - Slowly add in others
3rd - Thread in knowledge of business, marketing, and people skills.
Hard skills get you hired.
Soft skills get you promoted.
I opened photoshop for the first time 16 years ago and it led to:
- Living in 4 different states
- Work with the worlds most iconic brands
- My work tattooed into people's skin forever
So, if you haven't already, put yourself out there.
See where the universe takes you.
No one will remember:
- Your salary
- Your job title
- How many hours you worked
Instead, people will remember:
- Time you spent with them
- How you made them feel
- Your character
We work to live.
Don't live to work.
6 books that every creative should read:
1. Keep Going by Austin Kleon
2. Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull
3. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
4. Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky
5. Company of One by Paul Jarvis
6. Built to Last by Jim Collins
I've had a personal portfolio up for almost 10 years.
In that time I've never landed a client through the contact form of my site.
Focus on DMs.
The future is social.