The most important skill for a designer is not Photoshop savvy, drawing, brainstorming, or anything technology-related. Anyone can learn the ins and outs of design software or the technical skill of sketching, drawing, or any other art form. If you are a designer, the most vital skill you can develop is CONTINUE

How do you create an atmosphere that is conducive to creativity? I don’t know about you, but my creative thoughts come more easily in a stimulating, interesting environment than in a smothering, bleh environment. Your surroundings really do have an impact on your ability to think creatively, so how do you create a good environment [...] CONTINUE

Over the past three years I’ve become more and more convinced that college is overrated, generally speaking. What do I mean by that? Many people believe that if you work hard in school and get a college degree, you are set for life. You will breeze through job interviews and receive lucrative job offers as [...] CONTINUE

1. Visual hierarchy When you open a webpage, you should be able to tell at a glance what the most important part of the page is, whether that be a headline, a product image, or whatever you decide is the focal point of the page. Usually your pages will have multiple levels of importance, and [...] CONTINUE

Before we begin, I want to clarify what I mean by “business model.” I’m referring to the basic structure of how your freelancing business operates, not the full-fledged business model that includes your target market, fixed cost, etc. etc.. If that’s what you’re looking for, check out this helpful page. Right now we’re just talking [...] CONTINUE

Working for yourself and doing what you love is quite possibly the most fun a human being can have. But do you ever feel overwhelmed with the incredible number of things you have to juggle to survive as a freelancer? I know I do; some days I have clients calling me with urgent work as [...] CONTINUE

Enjoy this selection of beautiful blog designs. I’ve included a variety of styles, including web 2.0, minimalist, and others. They are in no particular order. CONTINUE

1. Outright This powerful book-keeping tool allows you to easily track expenses, income, and taxes. I’ve used Outright for my business records for over a year and have found it to be a very intuitive, efficient, and helpful tool. Highlights: Outright’s slick interface allows you to input income, noting which client the payment is from, [...] CONTINUE

I haven’t been completely happy with my site design, so here goes try #3. One weakness of graphic designers (or strength, depending on how one handles it) is that we are never quite satisfied with our work, especially work for ourselves. idApostle recently posted an insightful article on doing work for yourself as a designer, [...] CONTINUE

One of the most important factors in signing a new client is trust. For a freelance designer, trust can be established in several ways, but the most powerful is a good referral. Within the past 2 weeks, 2 different prospective clients have approached me with design projects. One had been referred to me by a [...] CONTINUE