AmentCreative LLC

I was thinking today which was better... Freelance or working for The Man. Ok, by the man I mean a 9-5 job that pays well and gives you benefits. To tell you the truth, I like them both (and I hate them both.) So here it is... the pro's and cons of each. I really thing that some of the greatest things about being a freelance designer is that the clientel is always changing. Sure, you get a lot of repeat business from some of the clients, but for the most part, the landscape and style are constantly changing. One client might want a design that is crisp and fresh, while another is looking for retro and grungy. It really keeps you on your toes as a designer. I can't tell you how many times a client has come to me with a request for something that was just outside of my skill level. Those are the times that stretch you and force you to learn new techniques. I've never had a request like that that hasn't impressed the client. Because it's raw talent infused with new ideas. What can go wrong there. OK... so the great thing about working for the man? It's really that you have a team of people to bounce ideas off of. GOOD or BAD. I'll be honest, sometimes there are self-proclaimed artists that may have even gone to art school that have no taste. It's true. But you can learn from them as well. (What not to do) But it really is nice to have a client where you know what to expect. You get to learn new things and be a part of trainings. You can experiment with new ideas... even if you know they will be shot down. Yup... there are things that I don't like to do with freelance work. Bookkeeping, taxes, MY OWN advertising (no wonder my clients hire me to do theirs), scheduling... really anything that is administrative. Working for the man has it's downfalls as well. Reproducing the same thing over and over and over again can get really tedious and boring. It can force you into a rut as a designer. The conclusion- do both and settle on the one that most fulfills you.