A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. — Antoine de Saint Exupéry
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Should I refer to my business as “we” or as “I”?
Is it best to use “we” or “I” when you talk about your freelance business? Some people think that it is dishonest to use “we” if your business is only “you.” Others say that using “we” makes a business look bigger, which can convince potential clients to take you more seriously. Whichever you decide on, […]
View PostMy client wants me to use copyrighted material
Q: My client gave me the copy (text) for their page, but I found out that it was taken from another website. What can I do? A: I recently had a similar situation with a drawing that the (potential) client wanted me to copy. Even though my contract specifies that I will not be responsible […]
View PostBring in the lawyers
Sometimes it pays to spend money. Last night a very good client of mine at a big corporation sent over a confidentiality agreement which I’ll need to sign to work on an upcoming project. It basically reiterates an agreement we already have in place, but is very specific about which information I won’t disclose. That’s […]
View PostFreelance vacation: planning my getaway
I’m getting ready to get away. For 5 days, I’m attending the Creative Freelancer Conference and HOW Design Live, including a design and a package design conference, in Boston. The conference schedules will keep me busy all day, so I’ve told clients I will not be available during that time. I have made arrangements with […]
View PostHow much for something simple?
I saw this question on a graphic design message board. Actually, I see this question a lot. Q: How much should I charge to design a simple one-color flyer? A: Sounds like a simple question, but it can get complicated. The short answer is, “It depends.” Things to consider and questions to ask: How fast […]
View PostTime management: this wasn’t good
I had one of those days today. I have a lot of work to do for clients. I also want to get my portfolio website fixed up and live before I leave for the HOW Creative Freelance Conference and the HOW Design Conferences in two weeks. I knew my son had a dentist appointment this […]
View PostFreelancing rocks, holiday edition
It’s Memorial Day. Across America, people are enjoying the official unofficial kickoff to summer (and remembering why we have this holiday, I hope.) My family went for a hike this morning, and now my son is floating on a raft in the pool while I sit on the deck and write this blog post. So […]
View PostFollow Up Friday
Yesterday was the last day of school for my son, so I want to get my work done so we can do something fun later. I woke up early and went right to the computer. I have a couple of client projects to work on, but I started with something else. Follow ups. I’ve decided […]
View PostGadgets I like: Zagg keyboard
I’m typing this on my new favorite gadget. It’s a Zagg keyboard, and it is connected to my iPhone via bluetooth. That’s right, a real keyboard for my phone. This one is light, about 3/4 the size of a standard keyboard, and has a nifty case which folds out into a stand to prop up […]
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