posted
I've been lookin around the Ft.Myers area for full-time work. There's a zillion small screenprinting companies and the only sign companies large enough to have employees seem to be more in the market for welders and the like than anybody artistically inclined. So....
Seems there IS a market for freelance design work here.
Any thoughts or experiences to share with freelance designing? Pricing that kinda work, selling a one or two person shop on the benefits of hirin out some of the design work, what kinda companies are most likely to need that kinda thing, etc?
posted
Hi Don, I freelance to small shops, most of them poeple I interviewed with that I didn't take the job or I was over qualified (could'nt pay enough) Any way's I don't have a hard and fast rule on what I get paid, For one ol guy I do work for I charge 20 bucks an hour because I like him and the work he gives me, then there is this newbie guy, who has no clue, I charge 75 an hour to get him out of jams, and he pays it too. It depends on if you have a specialty or not, I design painted murals, to electrical, to Vehicles to wayfinding sytems to code signage, so I'm diversified and can offer stuff most other designers can't. If you specialize you might be better off vending to the big electrical shops who do big projects, there are a few in your area, a small shop is looking for a jack of all trades or are to new in the business to know any better, or have been in it so long they can't change with the times. You have something to offer each of them, making them realize it is a different story. I usually give them my card and a little printed porfolio they can keep, and if they get busy or lose their designer and need an inbetweener till they get a replacement, that's when I get the call. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
interesting post... i've been thinking of doing something similar, but the other way around.
i'm considering finding a shop to produce all the work i design. i figure i can design and sell twice (or five times) as much as i can produce. i'm not interested in a bigger shop, or hiring employees, so i thought i could just sub-out 50% of the production. (heck, they'd probably do a better job anyway).
i suppose i could then offer my design skills to help out those shops. (i keep my clients, they keep their clients.)
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
take out an add in the yellow pages as...COPLANS AD DESIGN AGENCY.....the people who ad agencys need DESIGNED ad's and signs...but they them self dont have a clue to what they want.....and most are rollin in money....ad agencys sell DESIGNS...ONLY producing these designs is done by big sign co....
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi Don, you might consider giving Doug Downey in Stratford, Ontario a call. He does design work for many sign companies. You can get his contact info from his website www.freshink.net
posted
That's okay with me Roger, I do it dry anyway. I'm the Rick on the other message board who has been nice to you. Though I am looking at a gallon of Rapid Tac I have had for quite a while, hey what's the shelf life on that? As far as consistant pricing, it is. If it's fun work it's cheap, if it's boring work, it's expensive, sounds consistant to me. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
Hi Don, Here's what I think... The sign companies are likely to have a couple concerns you'll need to address and overcome.
For instance, as a designer, I find it very awkward to be a third or fourth wheel - getting information from one person (the sign company) that they probably got from another person (their salesman) who got it from the client. Interpreting through all those channels can be a nightmare. So how close are they going to let you get to the actual source? Can you have direct contact? I would think sign companies are going to be guarded about trusting a stranger with their clients names and addresses and letting you become their spokesman. There would need to be LOTS of communicating up front about what your boundaries are. Are you allowed to upsell? Has the price already been set? What are the limitations of the company you are designing for? Blah, blah, blah. And I would never consider sending another sign maker to see my contacts unless he had some incredibly ironclad character references. These are just some random thoughts Don - ones that will be on their minds.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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For the past 6 years or so, I've been working in an art department with assignments that have gone from customer to salesman to art director to me...so I know how that can be. My experience has been that alot depends on the salesman's ability to grasp what a customer wants, and put that into words or rough sketches.
Far as the other concerns, I agree totally. I think it may be less of a problem with screenprint shops. Then again, my biggest computer skill/talent is production setup for screenprint and vinyl art. I love doin it, am fast and accurate, and I know for a fact that most people hate the hell outta doin it...so, maybe I can cash in on that.
posted
There is another post in the last few days asking about environmental graphics. Don, what you propose is one of the many things that those folks do.
Our former retail store did almost no serious art. The client came to us after going to a graphic designer or marketing company. Our job was to make the art work in vinyl on a sign or vehicle or whatever.
We kept a list of three or four graphic designers and hired them from time to time to create art. The issue with this approach is the disconnect between the client and the artist. All the information has to pass through a third head, and things get lost in translation. It works better when the artist talks directly to the client.
The anchorblanks logo, for instance, was created thru email by a Canadian whom I have never met. We iterated until we got to what I was looking for.
So the punch line is, it is possible to make a living as a graphic artist supporting sign companies. You just have to find sign companies that are not selling on price, because they will never have money in the budget for you.
Also, think posters. Small biz did not buy color posters in the past because of cost. Now that you can by just one or two posters for a reasonable price, this opens up the poster art market. I did a little bit of this by virtue of "connections" to a shopping center. Making the connection is the hard part.
Good luck!
Vic G
PS Don, if you show off some of your work in the portfolio section, you'll most likely pick up some work from here. RVG
posted
Hey Don, I just noticed in the new SignCraft that arrived....there is a "Computer Graphics Position" for advertising, O Box 761, Milton Florida 32572
Sorry, it doesn't list a phone number.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 913 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi Don and Victor, for positions in Environmental Graphics, you might try www.segd.org , www.coroflot.com and www.creativehotlist.com while most are college trained, there are quite a few firms looking for practiacal application of signage, I posted a topic called "Environmental Graphics" and only Si has responded, there are a few architectural; and a couple of design firms in your area that might be able to use your expertise. I have no degree, though I have been a graphic designer off and on for quite a while, your portfolio should be in tip top shape, there is a good book on portfolio design by Harold Linton, that these firms are used to seeing. Check out those links on my topic and see if your able to go in that direction. Rick
-------------------- Rick Chavez Hemet, CA Posts: 1540 | From: Hemet,CA U.S.A. | Registered: Jun 2001
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As far as consistant pricing, it is. If it's fun work it's cheap, if it's boring work, it's expensive, sounds consistant to me.
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