Life as a Designer - Freelance Vs Full Time
I’ve been in the Design business for over 15 years now, both as a freelancer/contractor and a permanent (perm) employee. The choice between being a perm and freelance depends on various factors, including individual preferences, career goals, lifestyle, and financial considerations.
The Reality
One thing to remember when considering either option is that they are essentially contracts between you and the company (employer), and they can be terminated at any time. With the number of tech industry layoffs and the rise of AI in the past two years, many design professionals have learned that no job is permanent, and no job is safe.
I say this not to scare you but as a reality check from experience. I have been laid off and had contracts cut short in my career. So, my fellow designers, here is some advice before we continue, regardless of which one you pick:
Always keep your ear to the ground for new opportunities (internally or externally).
Keep learning new things and keeping up with what the design industry is doing.
Diversify your income and create streams that you control.
Focus on your Creativity, Critical Thinking, Observational Skills, Problem-solving skills and Articulation. These are skills that will set you apart from other designers.
A great book to help you with this are:
It’s not how good you are, It's how good you want to be - By Paul Arden
Show your work - by Austin Kleon
More on these topics will be discussed later in the Eka Etiquette articles.
Now for the main event!
Here's a comparison between perm and freelance options (please note this is from a UK perspective, and working in other countries may vary).
Permanent Employee
Pros
Stability
As a permanent employee, you typically have a stable income with benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other perks.
Predictable Work
You'll likely have a more predictable workload and schedule, with regular hours and clear expectations for your role.
Team Environment
Working as a permanent employee often means being part of a team, which can provide collaboration opportunities, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.
Career Growth
The company may have more structured opportunities for career advancement, professional development, and skill-building.
Cons
Career Growth
You may be wondering, I thought this was a pro, and yes, it still is, but this could also be a con. For example, if you are a Mid-weight designer and want to become a senior, but the company you work for have all the senior roles filed, and there is no space for you to progress, at this point, to move up in your career would be to move onto another job.
Introvert Personality
If you are an introvert, these environments can be challenging, and you will constantly wear a mask to fit in. I experienced this in the early stages of my career. There is such a thing as Code-switching and Water cooler talk. Sometimes, you only want to do great work, be left alone and get paid (Individual Contributor). This is fine but hard to do in this setting, as office culture plays a massive part in pay raises and promotions. Gone are the days when you would be praised for the merits of your excellent work. If this is you, contracting or freelancing may be best for you.
Freelance /Contractor
Pros
Flexibility
Freelancing offers flexibility in choosing projects, setting your schedule, and working from anywhere worldwide. Thus, you have more control over your work-life balance.
Variety
Freelancers have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects and with different clients, allowing for continuous learning and skill development. It truly keeps you on your toes; if you don’t provide a service, you must be a quick learner.
Higher Earning Potential
While freelance income can be less predictable, successful freelancers often have the potential to earn more than their salaried counterparts, especially with higher rates and multiple projects, which you get with experience.
Independence
Freelancers have the freedom to manage their workflow, creative process, and client relationships without direct oversight from a boss or supervisor.
Cons
The many hats
Freelancers must handle client acquisition, negotiations, contracts, and invoicing, which requires additional time and effort beyond actual design work. There are times when this can get overwhelming if suitable systems are not in place. Ensure you have a solid process for onboarding and offboarding clients when you set up. This bolds well with clients when you have a well-oiled machine in place.
Income Delays
As I said above, for income, we have a system in place for sending and receiving invoices. Chasing clients for money can be a pain when you have completed work. Be sure to send work over after you have been paid. And make sure this is stipulated clearly in your contract.
Financial Security
Freelancing can be financially rewarding, but it may also come with income fluctuations and uncertainties, whereas permanent employment offers more stability in this regard.
Important to consider
Work-Life Balance
Freelancing can provide more flexibility but may also blur the boundaries between work and personal life, leading to potential burnout if not managed effectively.
Health Benefits and Retirement
Permanent employment often includes benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans, which freelancers must manage independently.
As I said initially, choosing between being a permanent design employee and a freelance designer depends on your priorities, goals, risk tolerance, and lifestyle preferences. Some designers may prefer the stability and structure of a permanent position, while others may thrive on the autonomy and variety of freelance work.
Students
My recommendation for students, interns and anyone who wants to enter a design career for the first time is to do two to three years at an agency or design lead business. This is to ensure you understand the business side and cultural side of the design industry. Going freelance off the bat is OK, too, but you can be prone to so many mistakes. However, in a permanent role, you can elicit the help of senior designers for mentorship and guidance to speed up your design learning.
Hopefully, this has given you a clearer picture of which pathway you would like to choose.
To learn more about what to do in the age of AI, head to my other blog here: The Rise of AI vs the Creative.
Bonus Tips
Culture & Soft skills
Communication & Vibes. Every office, studio, company, and business will have its own “office culture.” Your soft skills are the key to breaking down barriers and perceptions about who you are. They are also essential regarding communication and how you come across it. This is why companies usually conduct a ‘culture fit’ interview stage. Remember, the job must fit you and the company well.
Systems and ways of working
As perm, within the first 30 days from when you start, it is your job to find out how everything works, from setting up your email to who your key stakeholders are, from where you save design files to where the fire exit is (if you are in the office). For freelancers, you usually have your setup ready to go from when you have your first call with the client. Your system must be robust from end to end, from onboarding clients to offboarding clients. If you are a freelancer contracting at a company, you must be a fast learner as you usually have to learn these things on the go. My advice is to be very inquisitive and ask if you don’t know something, as you don’t know what you don’t know. The company who hired you will most likely want and expect this from you as you are on the clock at their expense.
Equipment
When working perm, you use a given device. Usually, these are MacBook laptops. For freelancers, you will need to buy your own. If you are new, I would buy and spec out the latest one, which will last you ten years. I did this with my MacBook laptop from 2015 to 2024, saving me a lot of money. I have now done the same this year (2024) with the new M3 MacBook Pro. Buy once, buy quality.
Software
The industry standard at the time of this article is Figma. It used to be Sketch, and some companies still use it. If you are going to a perm role, ask these questions during interviews. But remember, just because companies use one tool doesn't mean you stop learning other tools in your spare time. As for freelancers, whatever gets the job done. You are usually not bound by application but by the processes you implement to deliver quality. No code tools have become quite popular in the past two years. Applications such as Webflow and Framer offer designers end-to-end design and development capabilities. Adobe is still Adobe, and there will always be a use for Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for brand and logo design. (politics aside). There are so many other tools, but remember, these are just tools. Your design thinking and how you solve problems with design is more important. I will be creating another article on design tools soon.
Travel
Always consider your travel, door to door, from home to work and vice versa. The transport system in London is okay, but the cost of using it can add up. With hybrid working now, that cost is cut in half for some.
Clothing
The more corporate the setting, the more smart you dress. The less corporate, the more casual (But don’t go overboard). I usually strike a balance and go smart casual wherever I go.
To be on the safe side, in a corporate setting, I would come smartly dressed, assess my environment, and dress accordingly in the future.
From my experience, creatives in corporate settings have always been the rebel group of all employees. So, we would dress quite casually, even in a corporate setting.