The Skandalaris Center recently partnered with the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts for a Freelance Bootcamp to help students and alumni navigate a freelance career. The two-day event featured workshops and panels to give artists, designers, photographers, bloggers, influencers, and those interested in monetizing their expertise an understanding of how to start or grow a freelance career, a toolkit of skills and programs to manage the business of a freelance career, and connections with campus and community partners. Following are a few key takeaways from the bootcamp and links to some of the recorded workshops.
Day 1
Session 1: How to make freelancing a career
Ben Franklin, Founder, Principal and Creative Director of Yank and Limey, Inc and Jen Meyer, Assistant Director, Career Services, shared seven areas of focus that are important when establishing a freelance career.
- Objectives and Goals
- Capabilities and Skills
- Target Markets and Customers
- Branding and Marketing
- Collaborations and Partnerships
- Financial Planning
- Differentiation
Session 2: Customer Acquisition
John Hendrix and Ryan Abendroth, Founder, Passive Energy Designs, discussed getting your first client, networking, negotiation, mindset, and promoting yourself.
Session 3: Skills Sessions
Marketing for Freelancers
Melinda Love, Founder of M Consulting Group, shared how freelancers can market themselves.
How to Make Money
Julia Kuo, Illustrator/Freelancer and Noah Baker, Brand Designer shared how to make money, find your clients, and balance your work.
Day 2
Session 1: Negotiation Workshop
John Horn, WUSTL Professor of Practice in Economics, and Bob Francois, Skandalaris Expert on Call shared the keys to success in negotiations.
- Understanding the other party’s point of view.
- Thinking of negotiations as an ongoing conversation.
- 90% listening and 10% talking
- Negotiations are an “alignment of incentives”
- Don’t make assumptions in the proposal
Session 2: Panel Discussion
Ben Franklin led a panel featuring Elizabeth Beier, Creative Director of Art + Story, Rachel Youn, Freelancer, Traci Moore, Principal, TM Consulting, and Noah MacMillan, Independent Design Professional. The panelists share their goals for going freelance, unexpected hurdles they faced, moving, and how to manage the isolation of a freelance career.
The two-day boot camp concluded with networking breakouts that allowed attendees to connect with the speakers and other freelancers.
The Skandalaris Center and Sam Fox are here to provide resources for students and alumni interested in pursuing a freelance career. We encourage you to connect with us to start your freelance journey!