Just five years ago, I was in a full-time design role, squeezing in many additional long hours in the evenings and over the weekends to build up my freelance client base. My ultimate goal was to move to full-time freelance work, and it was only during COVID that I got the opportunity of a secure salary with more time on my hands, along with the motivation of an imminent immigration to the UK, that I was able to commit fully to my freelance work.
It's been an incredible journey reaching my goals and beyond as a freelance designer. I always dreamed of working for myself, choosing which brands to work with, and cultivating strong long-term relationships. Now, 5 years later, this dream feels like a distant memory — I am living that dream!
Design is not an individual job.
Ultimate passion and extreme dedication led me beyond my initial goal of working for myself. What started as a one-man show, a personal brand, soon required additional resources due to the high workload and limited hours. Over the last year, it has rapidly (yet organically) grown into a carefully selected freelance team of 9 creative designers and developers, offering a diverse range of skills and services. We are now a small, niche bespoke agency working with international clients and delivering exceptional work.
The transition from a solo venture to a team-based approach has been both challenging and rewarding. It required careful planning, recruitment, and the ability to trust others with important work. But the journey has been nothing short of a dream beyond my wildest expectations. The growth, the learning, and the opportunity to work with such a talented team have far exceeded my initial visions. Each project we undertake is a new learning experience, and the satisfaction of delivering high-quality work to our clients is unparalleled.
Design is teamwork.
The support and collaboration within the team have fostered a creative and productive environment for us all. Our different backgrounds and experiences contribute to a rich pool of ideas and solutions, constantly allowing us to learn from each other while maintaining excellent relationships with our clients. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, allowing us to approach problems from multiple angles and come up with innovative solutions.
As a freelance designer now leading a team, I have learned to delegate, allowing others to take the lead, growing in their roles and achieving great solutions. This has led to a more efficient workflow and a higher quality overall, as well as increasing the number of projects we are able to work on. The trust and respect we have for each other have built a solid foundation for our continued success.
Design is a collaborative effort. It involves many individuals with diverse skills and perspectives coming together to create solutions. The best designs often result from this collaborative process, achieving what would not have been possible alone.