Working a 9-5 vs Freelancing

My design career began about 5 years post-college. 

I officially started freelancing around 2019, landed my first in-house graphic design job in 2020, and have worked in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings since.

Here’s my experience

& opinions on both as a

freelance graphic designer:

Working a 9-5 meant having a steady income where as freelancing & being a 1099 employee brings freedom with a not-so steady income.

Photography: UniArt Designs

I can’t express how grateful I am to have a partner that supports us where I’m able to freelance, making my own schedule and working a part time job. It’s a schedule that works for me and for that I am beyond thankful.

I quit my 9-5 in Summer of 2023 and have been working with my own clients since! I also picked up a part time gig in-store shopping at Whole Foods and I honestly love it. I basically work there to get the discount to shop there 😆 It’s a nice balance working from home/remotely and in person a few days a week.

My advice to new designers:

You do not need a degree to start a business or to be a successful graphic designer for that matter. You might hear that it’s better to find a “niche” but you just do you. Whatever you like to do, do it.

Don’t be ashamed to ask for help.

Learn from other designers.

Start freelancing on the side.

Do passion projects. Practice!

Build your network online and offline.

I’m very proud and humbled to be where I am in my career.

There’s still so much more to learn and create; I’m so fueled by this industry ❤️‍🔥

You can read more about my journey on my about page here.

Little 15-year-old me

wouldn’t believe that I get

to do this for a living 🥹

(Can we talk about the JoBros

posters covering every inch

of my bedroom wall? 😆)