The Value of Community to Freelance Designers

By Sarah Clark
Sarah.clark@graphicdesignschoolreview.com
Graphic Design School Review Columnist

Nearly one third of designers in 2002 were self employed, which is five times the proportion for all professional and related occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Working as a solo graphic, interior, or other type of designer can be lonely; fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the isolation.

In the July 2005 issue of Communication Arts Magazine, Maria Piscopo interviews graphic designer Stefan G. Bucher about the benefits of having a community, especially for designers who work alone.

Bucher is author of All Access: The Making of Thirty Extraordinary Graphic Designers, where he makes a case for the merits of building a community if you're a freelance designer. Relating his own experience as a solo act to Piscopo, Bucher said "after spending a lot of time working solo, it just got to be too hard to be alone with myself all the time....so I made a conscious choice to build a community for myself."

Joining Professional Associations

One of the first steps Bucher made toward that end was joining his local AIGA chapter (the American Institute of Graphic Arts). Other such societies for designers include the American Society for Interior Designers and the Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research. Joining a professional association can put you in touch with other freelancers looking for a community as well as those who may serve as a mentor or just someone with whom you can discuss design ideas.

Sharing Work Space

In many cities, you may be able to find offices that rent space specifically to freelance artists or other self-employed people. While everyone in the office may not be an interior or graphic designer, they likely encounter many of the same challenges that all freelance workers face--maintaining a regular schedule, securing a steady flow of clients, and dealing with temperamental printers and fax machines. Just having others with whom you can troubleshoot problems may take away some of the feelings of isolation that often accompany the self-employed.

Bucher admits that building a community around your freelance design business won't necessarily translate into your being any more successful or productive, but it can bring more excitement and energy to your work.

Sources:

Communication Arts

About the Author

Sarah Clark is a freelance writer based in Virginia.