Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Whether you're a founder or freelancer, creative entrepreneurship is hard. Consequently, many independent creative founders and freelancers share a longing for connection, reassurance and motivation. Consequently, many independent creative founders and freelancers share a longing for connection, reassurance and motivation.

Freelance 488

Freelance Freelance Client Consulting 488

Creative Boom

NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Whether it's a financial barrier, lack of representation, or just the fact that it's highly competitive, it can sometimes feel impossible to jump that first hurdle and land a decent paying job, internship or freelance contract. What’s not to like?

Print 435

Print Freelance Freelance Agency 435

Creative Boom

JUNE 18, 2025

Then she went freelance for many years, taking a whole range of commissions – from ceramic tabletop designs to medical and golf illustration and on to paper product graphics. After dropping out of Manchester Polytechnic because the textiles course she was on wasn't focusing on textiles, she went to New York and landed a job in fashion.

Patterns 398

Patterns Arts and Crafts Illustration Illustrator 398

Creative Boom

JUNE 26, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock There are many ways to get your first freelance gig. Embarking on a freelance career is an exhilarating journey filled with boundless opportunities and the freedom to shape your professional destiny. Whether or not you land freelance work entirely depends on your own initiative.

Client 514

Client Freelance Freelance Self-employed 514

Creative Boom

MARCH 14, 2022

In the midst of global turmoil, massive changes are afoot in the world of freelancing. The global creative platform has released its latest findings in a new report, Design Without Borders: A Fresh Perspective on Freelance. So quite simply, what it doesn't know about freelancing isn't worth knowing. Earnings look set to rise.

Freelance 541

Freelance Freelance Agency Client 541

Creative Boom

JUNE 15, 2025

Feeling alone and isolated as a freelancer? For freelancers especially, this community fills a crucial gap. We could go on, but you get the point. Read on to find out how to get involved. And The Studio's upcoming online events continue this tradition of insider access to industry leaders. But that's not all.

Networking 322

Networking Freelance Freelance Self-employed 322

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 22, 2022

So you may be wondering, how am I going to afford to live? After all, most of the time, our freelancer bank accounts are empty. But if you're worried about paying the bills in 2022 and beyond, that approach just isn't going to cut it. Freelance graphic designer Mel Gardner , meanwhile, recommends FreeAgent.

Freelance 545

Freelance Freelance Client Adobe 545

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Deciding what to charge is one of the biggest challenges of being a freelancer. It's one of the most maddening things about freelancing: how do you set your rates? But at least it will help give you a baseline to think about your freelance rates and how you can get there over time.

Freelance 545

Freelance Freelance Client Agency 545

Creative Boom

DECEMBER 11, 2023

We caught up with her to learn more about her journey so far, how she looped back into illustration, and what it's like to go freelance. After four years and with all this experience under her belt, Beth felt it was time to make the leap and go freelance. "It For Beth Tibbles, drawing has been a life-long passion.

Illustration 529

Illustration Illustrator Freelance Freelance 529

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock There are lots of pros to going freelance, but also quite a few cons. If you're thinking of going freelance, you're probably getting a lot of encouragement from people you know who've already taken the leap. The alluring dream of freelancing 1. It's fantastic!"

Freelance 477

Freelance Freelance Self-employed Client 477

Graphic Design Junction

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

Amazing Digital Art & Illustations by Zbig Wolowiec Zbig Wolowiec is a skilled freelance artist and illustrator known for his captivating book illustrations and expressive portrait work. One of the studio’s notable artists, Tatiana Pavlova—also known as Doriana DreamPro—is a skilled freelance illustrator and fantasy 2D artist.

Digital 265

Digital Illustration Illustrator Artist 265

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock With so much talent out there, how do you get noticed as a freelance illustrator? And working as a freelancer means that you can, to a degree, work when you want, how you want, and where you want. But first, you need to attract freelance clients. Well, that's going to vary from person to person.

Freelance 489

Freelance Freelance Illustration Illustrator 489

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Freelancing not going as well as you'd hoped? So you've launched your freelance creative business: congratulations! But a few months in, things aren't going as well as you'd hoped. So, how do you go about it? Then it's time to pivot. Then don't. And then another.

Freelance 498

Freelance Freelance Client Portfolio 498

Creative Boom

MAY 11, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock Times are tough for a lot of freelancers out there right now. If our recent survey of creative freelancers is anything to go by, you may well be struggling. So that means almost three-quarters of you are failing to thrive in 2023, and that's not a situation any freelancer should be happy with.

Freelance 529

Freelance Freelance Client Networking 529

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

"However, it turned out I wasn't very good at anything else, and I decided to go to art school for university." After which, Min dove head first into the world of freelance editorial illustration and, after a bundle of cold emails and postcards to art directors, was met with a lack of bite.

Arts and Crafts 489

Arts and Crafts Freelance Freelance Illustration 489

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

And even if you're still managing to keep on top of the rent, there's no shame in feeling a little down about your prospects for continuing success as a freelancer. To put meat on those bones, we asked the Creative Boom community to share their positive stories of the moments that have helped keep them going despite the gloomy climate.

Freelance 542

Freelance Freelance Illustration Illustrator 542

Creative Boom

APRIL 17, 2023

Many graphic designers are also freelance, so their earnings are generally kept to themselves. How much does a freelance graphic designer make? Most freelance graphic designers will start with a lower rate and raise their rates over time as they build their portfolio and reputation. How do I become a freelance graphic designer?

Graphic Design 534

Graphic Design Graphic Freelance Freelance 534

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 8, 2023

Reading blogs, watching YouTube tutorials and going to events helped me get immersed in the design industry and gave me the confidence to apply for graphic design jobs." Going freelance is equally exciting and terrifying, but fortunately, Alex has some advice if you're thinking of following in his footsteps.

Illustration 511

Illustration Illustrator Inspiration Freelance 511

Creative Boom

JUNE 2, 2024

Image licensed via Adobe Stock As National Freelance Day approaches, we share the community's best advice for making it as an independent creative. Embarking on a freelance career is a weird mix of freedom and responsibility. Muralist and illustrator Briks agrees, saying: "Go for it! No more horrible commutes. Find your USP!"

Freelance 501

Freelance Freelance Client Networking 501

Creative Boom

JULY 27, 2022

But July and August can also mean a much quieter time for creative freelancers. If there's one thing that lets down so many freelance designers and illustrators, it's their About page on their website. They often go into one big personal statement without really thinking about potential clients. Image licensed via Adobe Stock.

Freelance 545

Freelance Freelance Client Media 545

Creative Boom

AUGUST 13, 2024

If you work as a creative freelancer, many people will be seriously jealous of you. The life of a freelance graphic designer or artist can be exhilarating, but it can also be challenging and, at times, isolating. Here are some practical ways to support your creative community: Share and promote the work of other freelancers you admire.

Freelance 493

Freelance Freelance Inspiration Client 493

Creative Boom

NOVEMBER 12, 2023

Let's be honest: we freelancers like to think of ourselves as a pretty intelligent lot. A staggering 73% of freelancers say that tax management is the biggest strain on their mental health. Pie: the app to solve your tax problems Pie is quite simply the app freelancers have been crying out for. But we're here to reassure you.

Freelance 469

Freelance Freelance Client Digital 469

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

With backgrounds in graphic design and business management, Ash and Miro's journey began in 2015 as freelance creative directors producing visuals for local artists in Montréal. We escaped and started freelancing but then realised we'd set ourselves another trap, if that makes sense? During that time, I dropped into freelancing.

Agency 398

Agency Freelance Freelance Client 398

Creative Boom

APRIL 23, 2023

Image licensed via Adobe Stock With the economy looking a little flat, most freelancers must put more work into selling themselves. So how can you survive the next few years as a creative freelancer? If something isn't going to provide the results the client needs, I explain what needs to change and how we can go about it.

Freelance 518

Freelance Freelance Client Consulting 518

Creative Boom

MAY 30, 2023

Sometimes you just have to stop yourself and say, 'ok, I'm going to come up with five or ten ideas,' and keep moving things forward. For a year or two after graduation, Tina worked at various London studios as a graphic designer but took on increasing freelance work in the evenings, largely through word-of-mouth recommendations.

Freelance 477

Freelance Freelance Adobe Typography 477

Creative Boom

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

We won't sugar-coat it: you're still probably going to struggle a bit, possibly for some years. For example, if you're freelance, clients will want to pay you peanuts. Then, if you're a freelancer, start upping your rates, and you may be surprised how quickly people agree to them. (In And that's okay!"

Freelance 493

Freelance Freelance Self-employed Client 493

Creative Boom

JULY 5, 2022

For Sarah Madden , a graphic designer based in Leeds, she realised she wanted to embrace freelance illustration and design full-time to explore a better lifestyle. She'd been illustrating on the side to make some extra cash and had the realisation that she could go for it and make illustration part of her full-time gig. Absolutely.

Freelance 458

Freelance Freelance Agency Illustration 458

Creative Boom

OCTOBER 22, 2023

Case in point, freelance designer and art director Ferran Feixas doesn't hate on social media. Brands were generally going all out for strong, cool visual identities and championing heavily designed merch with a strong brand presence: tote bags being the undeniable queen of the party.

Media 486

Media Brand Branding Freelance 486

Creative Boom

JANUARY 29, 2025

And that's not surprising, because the university has a strong track record of producing graduates who go on to shape the creative industry. His career began while still at university when he established himself as a freelance designer and worked on branding, web design, and brand strategy. If that doesn't instantly make you go 'Wow!',

Graphic Design 312

Graphic Design Graphic Animation Magazine 312

Creative Boom

APRIL 1, 2025

Jasmine, meanwhile, had been working as an illustrator for around eight years, both in-house and freelance. For Jasmine a Cornwall-based freelance illustrator and muralist, who was recently shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards this focus on personal development proved transformative for her career.

Education 356

Education Graphic Design Freelance Freelance 356

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 19, 2023

For creative freelancers, the start of the year is often a quiet time, with few enquiries coming in. And there are plenty of useful things that creative freelancers can do to stay productive, focused and positive during these quieter periods. As a freelance designer, I struggle with advancing my career.

Freelance 526

Freelance Freelance Portfolio Client 526

Creative Boom

MARCH 19, 2024

This unofficial holiday is celebrated on 19 March every year, and it's a day for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and businesses to show appreciation to their clients. Even if you've got enough work to get on with, though, International Client Day serves as a poignant reminder of the pivotal role that clients play in freelancers' lives.

Client 474

Client Freelance Freelance Web Design 474

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

But on discovering the delights of Photoshop and Illustrator one day, she began venturing into the world of graphic design and, later, illustration, picking up impressive roles at various brands such as Macy's and Moroccanoil before going freelance full-time in 2018. I suppose you have to go for it whilst the demand is there?

Adobe 483

Adobe Freelance Freelance Fashion 483

Creative Boom

JUNE 14, 2022

Having recently gone freelance thanks to a successful run on Everpress , he shares his insights on what it means to be successful and how to build a following. Freelance work was certainly welcome, but to make ends meet, he kept working in the same grocery store job he'd had since high school.

Artist 498

Artist Arts and Crafts Brand Branding 498

Creative Boom

FEBRUARY 11, 2024

Artist has taken successful concept of workshops she ran for major brands such as Nike, ASOS and Timberland to help other freelancers or individuals get together and create. Freelancing can be a lonely gig, however much you love it. I treasure the fact that I can dictate how my week looks.

Illustration 482

Illustration Illustrator Freelance Freelance 482

Creative Boom

MAY 6, 2024

It's great working as a freelancer in the creative industry. Yeah, just like we were going to do in lockdown. But honestly, how well did that go for you? Unfortunately, in practice, even experienced freelancers can go into panic mode during downtime, worrying they'll never work again. Things you do just for fun."

Freelance 483

Freelance Freelance Print Marketing 483

Creative Boom

JUNE 1, 2025

I've gone freelance, started an agency, built communities, and lectured. It's so important to look out for one another, and as long as we are able to help at least one person with our actions, we're 100% going in the right direction." Ben Mottershead, founder and creative director at Never Dull Studio , captures this beautifully.

Agency 395

Agency Brand Branding Consulting 395