7 tips for managing feast or famine as a freelance graphic designer
Managing the feast or famine cycle is crucial for freelance graphic designers seeking a steady workflow. I've developed effective strategies for tackling this challenge while feeding my creativity and maintaining my sanity. Here are 7 valuable tips for successfully navigating the feast or famine cycle as a freelance graphic designer.
1. Invest in Skill Development
Utilize downtime between projects to enhance your skills. Use a project management tool like Trello to create a list of areas you want to grow in, courses you'd like to take, or graphic design conferences you wish to attend. Take advantage of these times to improve your abilities and expand your service offerings.
2. Hire a Virtual Assistant
Consider hiring a Virtual Assistant who can handle business-related tasks while you focus on design work. They can help manage project timelines, schedules, and client communications, ensuring a steady flow of work while you focus on the creative tasks you love.
3. Implement Schedule Blocking
Don't hesitate to inform potential clients about your availability. Set realistic timeframes for projects and adhere to them. Plan how many weeks you need for each project and use Trello to keep track. This way, you can confidently inform clients of your start dates and avoid overbooking.
By adopting a proactive approach to skill building, scheduling, and exploring additional revenue streams, designers can optimize their downtime, enhance their expertise, and seize new opportunities for growth.
4. Manage Donated Projects
Allocate a specific number of donated hours each year for nonprofits you’re passionate about. Only accept such projects when your schedule has a natural opening, allowing you to engage in purposeful graphic design work during slow periods without financial strain.
5. Embrace Breaks
When work is slow, I used to get stressed out and spin my wheels harder to try to drum up some new clients. Look, I know it can be challenging, but you can learn to embrace breaks and slow periods. Trust in your business strategy and maintain confidence that new clients and projects will come. Use these opportunities to recharge and prepare for upcoming busy periods.
6. Explore Passive Income Streams
During gaps between client projects, explore setting up passive income revenue streams. Consider establishing an investment account or building an online store to sell your designed apparel. Creating additional income sources can provide stability during lean periods.
7. Enter Competitions
When creativity strikes during downtime, consider participating in public art competitions. Websites like Café offer a vast database of entry opportunities for artists, ranging from sculpture to murals. Many projects, such as wall vinyl murals, align well with a graphic designer's skillset and don't require hands-on installation.
Implementing these effective strategies empowers freelance graphic designers to successfully navigate the feast or famine cycle, ensuring a more consistent and balanced workflow. By adopting a proactive approach to skill building, scheduling, and exploring additional revenue streams, designers can optimize their downtime, enhance their expertise, and seize new opportunities for growth. Embracing these strategies allows designers to achieve greater stability, productivity, and success in their freelance graphic design business.
AUTHOR
Hi! I'm Tiffany Kelly, owner of The Honest Pixel, an independent graphic design studio in Winter Garden, FL. I've been a creative professional all my adult life. I have a Master's Degree in architecture from RISD and over a decade of experience in graphic design. I've learned so much about design, freelance, and owning a business since starting The Honest Pixel in 2022.
I aim to be a trusted and authentic coach for other graphic designers, freelancers, or owners of small studios. I share honest tips and wisdom about things I'm putting into practice within my own business. My goal is to encourage and build up other creatives in a real way that broadens your community and impacts your success.
I aim to be a trusted and authentic coach for other graphic designers, freelancers, or owners of small studios. I share honest tips and wisdom about things I'm putting into practice within my own business. My goal is to encourage and build up other creatives in a real way that broadens your community and impacts your success.
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