Three Design Business Concepts
Filed Under: Web Design
I am reaching a point where I think I need to brand my creative services with its own website, portfolio, and so on. So I’ve been trying to brainstorm some business names and concepts I can design the site around. I haven’t really hit on anything solid yet, but here are some of the ideas I’ve bounced around on my IM list and in my own head. Sarah’s tired of hearing about them, so now you get to instead!
“Monster Stomp Studios”
Logo Concept: A daikaiju monster from a low angle, lifting a massive foot to DESTROY!
Tagline: “Small Studio. Big ideas.”
Disadvantages: I am not the world’s greatest illustrator, and I want a cartoony illustration for that logo, I think. Like a chibi Godzilla knockoff. So I’d probably have to outsource the illustration to another designer and that doesn’t look good on my main work site to have done that. I need the design to be completely my work. So if I stick with this one, I’ll have to really work hard in sketching and illustrator to create a good logo. I need to learn to draw better anyway!
Write Design
Site Concept: Natural media, paper, pencils, inks. Lots of editorial style marks on things, correcting typos. Focusing on the written word. Great typography, lots of handwriting.
Tagline: “Design solutions for authors and publishers.”
Disadvantage: My concept is meaningful, but there are a million Write Design websites out there. It’s too common of an idea, and I almost certainly won’t be using this one, which is sad because I like the idea of making a website with real paper. Which leads me to the next
Little Fish Big Pond Studio
Logo/site concept: construction paper! Blue sea background, stylized fish and other sea cutouts here and there. Maybe some javascript animating a few moving around. Masthead involves a bunch of little fish in a school, with one solo fish a different color out leading the pack.
Tagline: “How do little fish survive in the big blue sea? They stick together.”
Disadvantages: A few other design companies out there using a similar concept. This one positions me specifically as being a small business designer, which may be a niche I don’t want to put myself into. I really like the design concept though, and now I just cannot help but want to build a site out of construction paper cutouts. It would look awesome!
Other ideas/concepts that aren’t ripe yet:
- something that can play on science fiction
- something spinning off of Roundbottom?
- something super grungy and crunchy
- something that I can use my photography skills for
- Something about Kansas, using the tall grass prairie as a design element
- dinosaurs! (no, I don’t know what that means)
It’s hard work being a creative genius, but someone’s gotta do it. Eventually, I’m going to hit on the perfect concept that’s going to show my skills at their best. I know it. I just need a bit more time and thought. Advice is gladly accepted.
I am Also On the Market for Writing Gigs
Filed Under: personal
I can string words together in a pleasing fashion
I’ve been writing much here about how I am available for freelance web design, but I wanted to make it known that I am very interested in picking up freelance writing jobs as well, particularly within my areas of expertise. I would especially like to break into some freelance blogging. If anyone hears of jobs in this department, or knows of good resources where I can seek out said work, please drop me a line via email or in the comments.
Week One of the Freelancing (And Job Hunting) Life
This past week has gone very well. I have now been longer without a job than any time since I was sixteen. But don’t think I haven’t been working. I am handling a number of design projects at the moment (but I’m always looking for more). About half of this week’s work was direct client work, and half of it was work I am doing as a subcontractor for another design firm in the area. The design firm work is at a lower rate than I charge myself, but I am trying to justify that to myself with the acknowledgment that I have to spend less time getting that work.
I have surprised myself with inner strength and professionalism that I didn’t know I had. The experience is teaching me to be less afraid of asking for things I want. Shame melts away when you have the feeling that you have nothing to lose in doing something. There is a lot of fear of uncertainty in this pursuit, but there isn’t that dread that comes with worrying about your job. You are your job. You make your work. It’s a direct level of control of destiny that is refreshing.
I have worked harder in the past week than I have in years. In a paid position, a lot of your time is spent doing tasks that are not the actual work. But you still get paid for those hours just the same. But as a freelancer, you only bill for work on the project, so your days are longer. You still have administrative tasks that need to be done. My financial goals will never be set on having 40 hours a week of billable labor. Because it would mean 65 hour weeks in reality.
The Health Care Issue
A large concern is finding a way to get affordable health insurance for myself and my wife. We’re using COBRA right now (although I still haven’t received the paperwork, so it’s all out of pocket until such time as we can be reimbursed). The COBRA is double the cost of our insurance previously. Sarah’s work plan would cost nearly the same to add both of us, on an inferior plan at that. I’m willing to take any advice anyone has on this issue. If I continue to work as a freelancer, and do not find a full time position somewhere, then I will increasingly need to find a solution to this problem. Going without insurance is not an option, given just the cost of our prescriptions.
What’s Next?
Learning to relax. Learning that the work will still be there when I get back. That is a lesson that I am going to have to drill into myself. Finding more work is something I feel constantly compelled to do right now.
Developing my plans and schemes into coherent businesses. I am drawing up plans to develop an actual design company that will be my public face in the web world. I am locating other design firms in the area to offer my services. I am writing proposals and pitches for the publishing industry that could be a big break for me if they go well. I’m investigating the cost benefits of investing in my own printer for photo prints, and seriously launching my photographic work for sale. I think I have a lot of great work in my portfolio now, and I would like to share it with others. Getting paid for that would be a bonus.
Things look up right now. I have a lot of plans, back-up plans, and business ideas. I would love to have a 28 hour day to work on them, but if I budget my time right, I think this could end up being a very positive life transition. The best part about it all is, I look forward to getting out of bed each morning and tackling it all.
New Client Site: Susan Groppi
Filed Under: Web Design
My March project is now live. There are still a few bugs I need to squash here and there, and I think Susan is still kicking the tires a bit, but it’s no longer a secret. Let me know if you find any problems.
I’m pretty happy with how this one turned out. Be sure to check all the pages. They’re all a little different, and the blog is completely different than the rest.
