How I Find Client Work as a Designer (and more!)

Last week I introduced my new little Question Time video series. This week I run through a bunch of viewer submitted questions, including why designers use Macs, how I find my clients and what camera I use to record these things.

This week's questions:
Why do designers tend to use Macs over Windows PCs?
How do you find your clients?
How often do you trim your eyebrows?
What camera do you use?
What differences are there when communicating with clients in agency work to self employment?

Links mentioned in this week's news:
Getting Carried Away with Balloon Lettering - http://is.gd/ebBSs
35 of the Best Facebook Fan Pages - http://is.gd/ebAgU
A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques - http://is.gd/eg3Tc

Thanks to everyone who submitted their kind comments and questions on the last video. I only pick out a hand full to answer to keep the videos short, so if I didn't pick yours this time, feel free to submit it again and I'll hopefully provide a good answer in an upcoming episode.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• design
• freelance
• designer
• macs
• clients
• eyebrows
• illustrator
• printing
• graphic design
• chris spooner

[Tbonetardis]

@Seryosin - yes, perhaps for starters I agree it's acceptable to use that kind of resource to help build a portfilio - I think you really have to keep it in perspective though and make sure it serves that purpose, providing you with valuable work which will give you leverage to secure more 'serious' commissions.

[Seryosin]

@Tbonetardis True, but when you start, there's nothing wrong to make some work like freelancedotcom etc. At least you'll get something to put in your portfolio and still you get some experience from it. :)

[Tbonetardis]

Good advice generally. One piece of advice for any 'serious' want-to-be freelance designer - avoid sites like 'freelancers-dot-net' unless you want to be totally demoralised. Full of postings from individuals and organisations with little budget and high expectations - oh, and do not, I repeat, do not succumb to providing 'free' visual work on the promise of a commission - they're exploiting you and you'll be helping to ruin an already under-vaued industry...

[tempest6651]

Sorry about this....(but)

Typical mac users answer to the first question. Not sure what you mean by hardware and software being made by the same company. Do you mean the CPU (made by Intel, not apple) or the GPU's (ATI / nVIDIA, not apple) ...infact, nothing inside the Macs are made by apple. They design a pretty case and fill it full of currently existing technology. The only difference with a Mac is OSX.

had to get that out of my system. (no pun intended)

apart from that, love your work :-)

[pixonu]

lol @ eyebrow pluckin! :)

[cazman182]

vectortoots, love iiit :D

[jordan32none]

Really liking these videos, I have the same computer chair as you xD

Whats been your most awkward moment with a client? (just curious haha)

How do you manage/balance freelancing and home life?

Do you tend to do less personal projects than client work or is it the other way round?

[JuicyDBASE]

How on earth do you keep up with all of the coding languages and changes for html, css, ect, ect, ect, ect....... Sometimes it can seem so daunting learning it all and staying up with it all.

Thanks! :D

[TalesOfWar]

To those asking how to get the right effects and stuff, it's a cliche but it's very true! Practice practice practice! Look for as many DIFFERENT tutorials you can, even things you're not all that interested in, you never know what handy things you can learn that will apply to other stuff you do.

[fazzyakamello]

I always wondered where do you learn all the cool effects in your design that you did on your blog ?

sorry for the dumb question, but I am currently studying graphic design and most of the time I had to figure out how to get the desired effect I wanted in my designs, and most of the time I turned to people of your status for help.

my lectures can't seems to help me.

hope you pick my Question.

cheers chris keep the vlog going its helpul!