Track your time

One of the biggest challenges about graphic design is educating your client to the value of your work. Most of the time they will only see your finished project, not the time that you put into it. They won’t see that you sat for ten-hours in front of your MAC instead of going out with the family or working on something else. Tracking your time will take an intangible and will translate it into tangible specialized man-hours.

While most people will approach you to create material that they cannot produce, it’s hard for some to grasp the monetary value. Their nephew or wife can do that with their scrapbooking software right? It looks like fun, and even easy sometimes. The fact is that you are not just doodling; you have an important skill that can take an idea and translate it into a valuable marketing tool. This in the end will help your client earn money. You are important to their bottom-line.

Don’t worry about the money…

Sometimes it takes a relationship to establish with a customer before you can actually translate it to dollars. The relationship may even exist without it ever producing anything substantial. Always value a relationship over money; you never know what will happen in the future. Networking is always worth it and referrals are the best!

Be prepared to do a few pro-bono projects in your career (and for your portfolio). If a small start-up business approaches you, offer to provide them with some basics for trade or even future business. Once you have proven your worth, they will come back to you. At the same time, don’t be a sucker. If you feel you are being taken advantage of, bow out gracefully, your time is valuable and it is precious. If it is not a mutually beneficial relationship, cut it off.

Money is important, no doubt, but if you can focus on creativity and the needs of the client and prove to them your value as a designer, money will be no object if you’re charging what you’re worth and no less…

Xozan (Swojan Newa)

I have created designs since I was 16 years old. I was inspired by several designers like Paul Rand, Mike Shinodoa (Rapper of Linkin Park) etc. Then I slowly changed my hobby into professional life.

I started working as Logo designer when I was 18. I worked for 2 years in UK based Logo Design Company whose 80% clients were from USA. Then, finally, I quit and started working as freelancer so that I would able to give much more time to my studies too!

My favorite part of graphic \ logo design is brainstorming with myself to create the concept of design and the finishing part. I love the finishing part because it makes me feel quite relaxed.

If I have to choose an opportunity to work for an event or individual, I would definitely choose event because an event represent large number of people where they can see my creativity. In other words, it is like I’m getting paid and at the same time marketing my work. But it doesn’t mean I am neglecting an individual client. Every client is equally important.

I would like to suggest to my peers; work hard, love what you are doing, and networking is the most important part to get more and more clients.

There are lots of people indirectly helped me or in better word, inspired me to shape myself and some of them are: Chris Spooner of Spoongraphics, David Airey of logo design love, Fabio Sasso of Abduzeedo, Jacob Cass of Just Creative Design etc…

When looking for ways to spark my creativity, I usually go through different websites via google to get the ideas flowing. But guys copying others concept is really unfair to yourself and your creativity. I would never copy another person’s concept.

Besides design, I love listening to music, meeting people from different parts of world, that’s why I choose hotel management.

Finally, I target myself to stand up as renowned graphic designer, blogger and businessman.

Best Regards,

Xozan (Swojan Newa)

www.xozan.com