They give trophy’s for this stuff?

I won a special commendation for Awesome Illustration at this years Savannah ADDY awards, and I did the cover for the book they gave away telling everyone about it. The two things aren’t connected per se, but if I weren’t me and I wasn’t a betting man I’d place money that the fix was in.

You are a PRO

I spoke to the Design Group at Georgia Southern University recently about living and working as a freelancer. Unless you missed the rest of the site, I’m an illustrator but I tried to make the discussion more of a general treatise on the creative field. Here are some of the highlights:

Your Portfolio

  • Choose only your best work
  • Present it in a highly professional manner
  • You must have a good, working website to support it

Marketing

  • Think of marketing as an ongoing process, part of an overarching campaign
  • Although it may take many forms it must be consistent (I spelled this wrong at the lecture, how embarrassing)
  • Establish yourself as the expert in your field

And you have to remember to pay your taxes. Trust me.

Thinking things

This is where I think about things I think I thought about before, of perhaps it’s the first think thunk. Ponder.

GSU Design Group – Show Notes

45 Things Freelancers MUST read

How Design Calendar – A full year of Marketing Advice

FreelanceSwitch – Freelance Resources

AIGA Pricing Guidelines – This is an article helping you choose what to charge for your work

AIGA 2010 Salary Survey – Wonder what people doing the job you want are making? The AIGA Survey has it and it’s all updated for this year.

IRS.Gov – All your Tax needs, except for the accountant you’re going to need to figure that crap out

GraphicCompetitions.com This site lists DOZENS of competitions that you might/should be entering

Here’s a sample contract for you

Books you SHOULD be reading

GAG Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

Talent is Not Enough

The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing