Comments for Creative Freelancer Blog http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com Mentoring and information for the creative solopreneur Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:09:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on More on: Too old to find design work? by Anna Sprague Brodsky http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/more-on-too-old-to-find-design-work/#comment-34751 Anna Sprague Brodsky Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:09:12 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=37341#comment-34751 You all sound so happy and optimistic! I'm 54, freelancing for the last 8 years, and facing the dilemma of having watched my client base drop from a half dozen solid regulars to just a few. One client has been keeping me very busy for a number of years, and although I knew I was putting myself in a precarious position, I just didn't make the time to cultivate new work. That said, the true dilemma is burn out. So much of my work is simply revamping and updating old pieces. Nothing challenging, nothing interesting. Any suggestions on how to attract more interesting work? My background has been mostly corporate collateral, but it is not my passion. Where's the fun design work and how do I get some? You all sound so happy and optimistic! I'm 54, freelancing for the last 8 years, and facing the dilemma of having watched my client base drop from a half dozen solid regulars to just a few. One client has been keeping me very busy for a number of years, and although I knew I was putting myself in a precarious position, I just didn't make the time to cultivate new work. That said, the true dilemma is burn out. So much of my work is simply revamping and updating old pieces. Nothing challenging, nothing interesting.

Any suggestions on how to attract more interesting work? My background has been mostly corporate collateral, but it is not my passion. Where's the fun design work and how do I get some?

]]> Comment on Too old to be a designer? by Laurel Black http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/too-old-to-be-a-designer/#comment-34661 Laurel Black Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:24:20 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32485#comment-34661 It's true, many of us need a kick in the butt about staying current, and not just in the design field. Programmers who are stuck on C++ and not interested in learning ROR and other languages will be left by the wayside. Whether our work remains relevant has mostly to do with the effort we're willing to make to stay current. Beyond that, however, getting ADs to look past our graduation dates sounds like a major roadblock to many of the posters on this forum. You yourself don't want your cohorts at work to know your true age, even though you undoubtedly produce "work that rocks." If that was truly all that mattered, you wouldn't care who knew how old you are. That you do indicates that you are afraid that you and/or your work will be viewed negatively. It's true, many of us need a kick in the butt about staying current, and not just in the design field. Programmers who are stuck on C++ and not interested in learning ROR and other languages will be left by the wayside. Whether our work remains relevant has mostly to do with the effort we're willing to make to stay current.

Beyond that, however, getting ADs to look past our graduation dates sounds like a major roadblock to many of the posters on this forum. You yourself don't want your cohorts at work to know your true age, even though you undoubtedly produce "work that rocks." If that was truly all that mattered, you wouldn't care who knew how old you are. That you do indicates that you are afraid that you and/or your work will be viewed negatively.

]]> Comment on Too old to be a designer? by Laurel Black http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/too-old-to-be-a-designer/#comment-34641 Laurel Black Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:06:03 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32485#comment-34641 @ Kelly - I'm sure $$$ has a major influence on the issue. But going by most of the comments posted here, it sounds like even if the money part was taken out of the mix, there would still be a noticable skewing toward younger designers at agencies. So I'm glad I'm an independent working directly with clients, but sad to hear that younger designers may be perceived as more "disposable." Having to start out in this economy must be brutal. @ Nancy - Wow, another lifer! And your advice is absolutely right. @ LeAnn - Can you give us an example? @ Kelly - I'm sure $$$ has a major influence on the issue. But going by most of the comments posted here, it sounds like even if the money part was taken out of the mix, there would still be a noticable skewing toward younger designers at agencies. So I'm glad I'm an independent working directly with clients, but sad to hear that younger designers may be perceived as more "disposable." Having to start out in this economy must be brutal.
@ Nancy - Wow, another lifer! And your advice is absolutely right.
@ LeAnn - Can you give us an example?

]]> Comment on Ageism forcing you into freelancing? by LeAnn Barker http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/ageism-forcing-you-into-freelancing/#comment-34621 LeAnn Barker Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:28:53 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32612#comment-34621 Experience is a plus, I think when it comes to freelancing, owning a studio, or being in any kind of mentor role in the graphic design field. Experience is a plus, I think when it comes to freelancing, owning a studio, or being in any kind of mentor role in the graphic design field.

]]> Comment on Too old to be a designer? by LeAnn Barker http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/too-old-to-be-a-designer/#comment-34611 LeAnn Barker Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:27:25 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32485#comment-34611 I have always thought that if opportunity was too hard to get through conventional means, than the opportunity needs to be created. I have always thought that if opportunity was too hard to get through conventional means, than the opportunity needs to be created.

]]> Comment on More on: Too old to find design work? by Johrdan http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/more-on-too-old-to-find-design-work/#comment-34551 Johrdan Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:26:33 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=37341#comment-34551 I love this article, and although I am 30 years of age, and with not much experience under my belt due to employers, studios and other entities, not wanting to give me a chance in increasing my skill levels thru experience, I find it hard to freelance without the skills necessary to begin my own business. I might be whining about it all to some, but the truth of the matter is, no one is listening. So instead of using my brain for what it is intended, I have to pay bills thru jackhammering concrete pools, when I could be using that time helping clients and businesses thrive. At age 30, without the experiences necessary for a stable future as yourselves, and the knowledge to survive, what's the point! Although mark my words, I believe that these people who turn me down thru lack of experience, do not have a clue how much knowledge I have built up by teaching myself. Yes I have a degree in communications, and yes I had one semester to finish my degree in creative industries, but discontinued due to the lack of relevant content that I was been taught for my major in graphic design! I know design, and so I will conquer, and theses companies and studios who have turned me down, are gonna wish they hadn't! Inspire, create, share, passion, and give a stranger a hug once in a while!!! I love this article, and although I am 30 years of age, and with not much experience under my belt due to employers, studios and other entities, not wanting to give me a chance in increasing my skill levels thru experience, I find it hard to freelance without the skills necessary to begin my own business. I might be whining about it all to some, but the truth of the matter is, no one is listening.

So instead of using my brain for what it is intended, I have to pay bills thru jackhammering concrete pools, when I could be using that time helping clients and businesses thrive. At age 30, without the experiences necessary for a stable future as yourselves, and the knowledge to survive, what's the point!

Although mark my words, I believe that these people who turn me down thru lack of experience, do not have a clue how much knowledge I have built up by teaching myself. Yes I have a degree in communications, and yes I had one semester to finish my degree in creative industries, but discontinued due to the lack of relevant content that I was been taught for my major in graphic design! I know design, and so I will conquer, and theses companies and studios who have turned me down, are gonna wish they hadn't!

Inspire, create, share, passion, and give a stranger a hug once in a while!!!

]]> Comment on More on: Too old to find design work? by Sandi Whitaker http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/more-on-too-old-to-find-design-work/#comment-34521 Sandi Whitaker Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:44:48 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=37341#comment-34521 I've been a freelancer since 1980, after having been in advertising agencies for 8 years, so am over 60, but my skills and computer are very current. The last couple of years have been some of the busiest of my life, now that my daughter is grown and out of the house. I freelance for a design house, and also directly for a large company, plus smaller jobs throughout the year. One fear I have is that the people I work for will retire, or go out of business, and I am not sure I will appear marketable at my age, though as some of you have written, after losing alot of money in 2008, I am looking at not being able to retire for at least 5 more years. Several printers I have met are thankful for us older designers, as we know how to design and prepare art for print, while many younger designers aren't interested in that, but are fixated more on web design. So keep on keeping on! I've been a freelancer since 1980, after having been in advertising agencies for 8 years, so am over 60, but my skills and computer are very current. The last couple of years have been some of the busiest of my life, now that my daughter is grown and out of the house. I freelance for a design house, and also directly for a large company, plus smaller jobs throughout the year. One fear I have is that the people I work for will retire, or go out of business, and I am not sure I will appear marketable at my age, though as some of you have written, after losing alot of money in 2008, I am looking at not being able to retire for at least 5 more years. Several printers I have met are thankful for us older designers, as we know how to design and prepare art for print, while many younger designers aren't interested in that, but are fixated more on web design. So keep on keeping on!

]]> Comment on Too old to be a designer? by anonymous http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/too-old-to-be-a-designer/#comment-34511 anonymous Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:11:54 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32485#comment-34511 Thank you for saying this. I've been looking at the personal sites of people posting as I am reading the posts/rants, and all the work except for one person looks old, dated and out of touch. I too am an old designer and I think about agism all the time, but I'm also a creative director and I wouldn't hire most of the people here whose work I looked at because the work looks so outdated. I'm not being mean, just some tough love. The visual world has changed in the last 5, 10, 15 years, pick up a new design annual and see what is going on. If you truly love design, you will be excited and jealous at what other people are doing, young and old, and you would want to be a part of it. Now make you work rock! Sorry about the anonymous post but I'm 48 and everyone at work assumes I'm in my 30s and I want to keep it that way. Thank you for saying this.

I've been looking at the personal sites of people posting as I am reading the posts/rants, and all the work except for one person looks old, dated and out of touch.

I too am an old designer and I think about agism all the time, but I'm also a creative director and I wouldn't hire most of the people here whose work I looked at because the work looks so outdated.

I'm not being mean, just some tough love. The visual world has changed in the last 5, 10, 15 years, pick up a new design annual and see what is going on.

If you truly love design, you will be excited and jealous at what other people are doing, young and old, and you would want to be a part of it.

Now make you work rock!

Sorry about the anonymous post but I'm 48 and everyone at work assumes I'm in my 30s and I want to keep it that way.

]]> Comment on Free Webcast: The Only Marketing Tools You Need by Ilise Benun http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/illustrators/free-webcast-the-only-marketing-tools-you-need/#comment-34501 Ilise Benun Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:54:52 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=34779#comment-34501 You can find it here, Ken: http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/announcements/did-you-miss-the-marketing-pep-talk/ You can find it here, Ken:
http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/announcements/did-you-miss-the-marketing-pep-talk/

]]> Comment on Too old to be a designer? by nancy http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/designers/too-old-to-be-a-designer/#comment-34491 nancy Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:28:24 +0000 http://www.creativefreelancerblog.com/?p=32485#comment-34491 54 year old designer, 26 years freelancing. my advice - keep up with the design awards, blogs, software — and it keeps you young! 54 year old designer, 26 years freelancing.

my advice - keep up with the design awards, blogs, software — and it keeps you young!

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