Freelance By Design

Design principles can be applied to a number of things, including your life. For us self-employed freelancers, they can create structure out of chaos, help us manage projects and maintain order in all aspects of our lives. I look specifically at the ideas of hierarchy, focus, rhythm, and balance, applying them not just to design, illustration and photography, but to building a business while keeping first things first. 

White space is unfilled space. Designers, illustrators, and photographers understand the importance of using white space in their creative projects. Also known as negative space, white space is defined as measured but unoccupied space.  This episode presents a reframing of the idea of white space — negative, unoccupied space — and its role in your creative processes and freelance business. We'll consider white space as rest, time off, downtime, and sabbath or sabbatical, and how freelancers can benefit from intentional pursuit of white space.

There are risks in working for someone else, when you place all your career expectations in one place. Conversely, there are significant advantages in working independently as a freelance creative. In this episode Alvalyn shares why self-employment has always been her objective and contrasts the perceived safety of working for someone else with the rewards of being self-employed. Points of comparison she addresses include autonomy, insurance, benefits, ownership, rates, time, and purpose. She also emphasizes that it's necessary to be faithful with the small things in order to be able to handle the greater, complex things that go along with creating success. This is the first episode of the re-named and rebranded podcast. 

To niche or not (to specialize) is something that many freelancers question, something that many freelance creatives who are multi-passionate, are concerned about. How do you specialize when you have a diverse range of interests and skills? In this episode Alvalyn breaks down some options, shares from her own experiences, and leaves you with one key strategy that will help you position correctly. She also shares that the podcast is being rebranded and renamed and to watch for that with the next episode. 

Clients are brilliant. They show up with bright ideas and requests when you're already deep into a project. The concern with these mid-process changes is that it's very difficult to hit a moving target. These add-ons are known as scope creep, add time and expenses, and can require a change in direction and outcomes. Few freelancers appreciate scope creep. One way to reduce the likelihood of scope creep and even avoid it (the preferred idea) is to incorporate the creative brief into your process. A creative brief is a type of contract — a written agreement between you and the client — that describes a project's creative objectives. Coming to terms regarding design direction and desired results before you begin work on the project can keep scope creep from creeping in. A solid brief supports effective solutions, reduces stress, saves time, and helps ensure you and your client are in unity about their project. In this episode Alvalyn tackles the principles for using creative briefs, what to include, why to use them, and when. 

Do you tend to avoid risk or prefer to go for it? No one can build a business without taking risks, and freelancers — expecially freelance creatives — deal with specific types of risks. If we don't take risks we are more likely to fail. Knowing what the risks are allows us to make calculated choices and take actions that can reduce risk. In this episode Alvalyn Lundgren addresses five fundamental risks that freelancers face on the road to building sustainable independent businesses, and how to think about risk, so they can make a living doing what they love.

Continuing the discussion of the previous episode the topic turns to using AI tools in your creative processes. Questions including, "Should I tell my clients I'm using AI?", "How do I incorporate AI tools without infringing someone's copyright?" and "Will clients still want to work with me when there are so many AI options out there? How do I remain relevant as a designer, illustrator, photographer?" are growing concerns for freelance creatives. Alvalyn Lundgren shares insights into how creatives can position and differentiate so that they remain relevant to their clients, and focus on the things clients need that AI cannot do which are the essential human traits necessary for creative problem-solving.

If your brand message as a freelancer is that you create excellent work, that you're a certifed software expert, or you've earned badges and certificates in subject matter areas, you're already obsolete. If your creative process relies on templates, creative marketplaces, and execution, your income is in jeopardy. If your marketing approach centers on quick and cheap, AI has already replaced you, for free. Execution is no longer a viable selling point for your creative services. What should you do? In this episode host Alvalyn Lundgren shares practical truths about how to remain irreplacable as a reliable creative partner for your clients by focusing on your most important asset: your humanity. 

As a freelance creative, do you focus more on your technical skills, on your creative talent, or problem-solving abilities to attract clients? How you position yourself determines the types of projects and clients you'll work with. Moreover, especially in this age of AI, talent and tools aren no longer enough to be able to make a living. A focus on tools and tech skills are making you obsolete. Speedy turn-around and low fees can't compete with free. You'll be easily replaced. What should you do? Shift gears and change your approach. Alvalyn shares the necessity of human-centered creative problem-solving and capitalizing on your humanity to solve business-related and life-related problems for your clients.

Overthinking solutions to a creative or business problem is all to common. We want to consider as many possibilities as we can. But when we can make the challenge appear larger than it is, we  become confused and restrained, unable to move forward toward the solutions we seek. Being at times guilty herself of overthinking, and observing how it operates in others, Alvalyn presents a three-part approach to eliminate this tendency so that we can freely move forward and accomplish our objectives.