{"id":6530,"date":"2022-04-27T10:32:43","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T10:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/?p=6530"},"modified":"2024-01-16T14:54:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T14:54:55","slug":"tips-freelance-ux-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/tips-freelance-ux-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"12 tips for freelance UX designers from Raleigh Tomlinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Working as a freelance UX designer can be very fulfilling, as it\u2019s full of variety in terms of design ideas and clients, but it takes time – and effort – to get into the swing of things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For World Health Day, Raleigh Tomlinson joined us for a live event where she walked us through a day in her life<\/a> as the Senior Product Designer with the meditative Headspace<\/a>. In her role, Raleigh focuses on creating engaging experiences that help users learn how to use meditation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before she started full-time with Headspace, Raleigh was a freelance UX designer. She shares some very helpful advice freelancing tips for UX designers, including promoting your portfolio and knowing your worth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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[GET CERTIFIED IN UX]<\/p>\n Take our Professional Diploma in UX Design course<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

1. Learn as you go<\/b><\/h3>\n

I got into design as a freelancer. I did a boot camp and I was about one month into my boot camp when I found my first freelancing project. <\/span><\/p>\n

I always tell people who reach out to me to make freelancing a part of your identity because you can start to do UX design work, even if you’re still learning. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That was really a big thing for me. I started building my portfolio, and one freelancing project led to another\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Choose work that appeals to you<\/b><\/h3>\n

You want to make sure that the problems you’re solving and the products you’re building are engaging enough to keep you interested and to keep you excited to wake up each day and come to work. Because otherwise, you know, you\u2019re just drudging along like \u201cI’m just here to make it to the next paycheck mode\u201d, which is not how you want to live.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Ask for intro calls\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

You always want to reach out to people on LinkedIn for interview calls, before you apply for the position or as you’re applying for the position because most companies give a bonus for referrals. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you can have at least one conversation, your resum\u00e9 will be looked at. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you can get a referral, you’ll more than likely have an interview and most people want to refer you because you get a bonus if you can bring in somebody who’s talented.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Build and promote your portfolio<\/b><\/h3>\n

Before I joined Headspace, I had done about 12 products as a freelancer and, even though I was only about a year or two into the field, I came with a really strong portfolio when I was going through the interview and application process. Headspace is actually my first full-time job but I’ve been here for over a year and it’s been wonderful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I had an intro call with someone who ended up being my manager and in the call, she said, \u201cOh, you know, you’re probably a little Junior for what we’re looking for\u201d. And I just said, \u201cokay, well, it’s nice to meet you\u2026\u201d We had our conversation and then about a week later, she sent a contact request through my portfolio and she completely shifted her perspective because of my portfolio<\/a> where I had gone through detailed case studies.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The portfolio is a huge selling point, so that is your resum\u00e9. I actually didn’t even have a resum\u00e9 until much later down the road.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n