Free logo/graphic design

[Basic]

Please remove :)

[Magic]

It's people like you that kill the industry.

[[FFOUR]]

It's people like you that kill the industry.

LOL.

He's a uni student trying to build his portfolio, give him a break.

[DRKWRX]

Exactly lol its not like hes doing heaps of work for free...........

[Magic]

I know he is. I'm just saying, charge something at least. I don't think someone would say no if he charged $20-60 as opposed to $400 for a logo, he's losing money for himself.

[Mad_Aussie]

It's people like you that kill the industry.

hehehe tis true tis true



But honestly man, don't shoot yourself in the foot. The trick in your situation is to find people putting out paid tenders, and then go and undercut the competitions price by some ridiculous margin, say 50%. Slightly more professional than asking for free work, because at least you're putting a price on yourself. And don't be scared to charge competitive rates, because clients will think that you're shit if you price yourself as shit.

Best bet is to set yourself a whole lot of self projects... Dream up a bunch of clients, and do corporate packages for them. Then as you get real clients, put them into the portfolio too if they are happy for you to do that.

I know its not easy to get yourself off the ground, but it is possible. Put in the hard yards and don't undersell yourself. People respect professionalism.

[Basic]

Best bet is to set yourself a whole lot of self projects... Dream up a bunch of clients, and do corporate packages for them. Then as you get real clients, put them into the portfolio too if they are happy for you to do that.


This is a great idea, thanks.
I can't really see how by doing a few free bits and pieces for people on a website I'm killing an industry though...

[Mad_Aussie]

You see mate, we like to try and charge as much as we can. Coke and hookers are expensive. By setting prices too cheap/free, it lowers clients expectations of what our work costs. The more people give out free/cheap work, the harder it is for us to justify charging them the prices we need to keep afloat.

Graphic work is expensive, and we like to keep it that way :)

[Basic]

Well I have a few things lined up now and the good idea you gave me. Honestly I didn't expect to be hurting anyone's business so if someone wants to close/delete this thread that would be good.

[magic1]

Well I have a few things lined up now and the good idea you gave me. Honestly I didn't expect to be hurting anyone's business so if someone wants to close/delete this thread that would be good.

your not hurting anyone's business, good luck with your portfolio.
I will keep you in mind if i need anything done, students need all the help they can.

[Mad_Aussie]

Well I have a few things lined up now and the good idea you gave me. Honestly I didn't expect to be hurting anyone's business so if someone wants to close/delete this thread that would be good.

Don't take anything i've said there negatively mate, all I'm getting at is you shouldn't undersell yourself.. Free projects you set for yourself to get the portfolio started, and then charge people when you do paid work. Also, get yourself an ABN. When you start looking for paid work, it can help to fall back as a contractor to get some experience for your CV.

[mitchsterbrau]

hey, missed your OP.
where are you studying?
i might be able to help with an internship or some studio experience.
I have been doing in the industry for a long time, now teaching and freelancing "part-time".
I hate to see pimpin' going down. Magic is right though, as harsh as it may sound.
Undercutting and free work makes for difficult negotiation when you're justifying costs to a client as mad aussie says.

At college we regularly get bombarded with "competitions". do an EPIC illustration, get published, win $250~~!!! Be wary of that shit.
The amount of time we spend on perfecting details as professionals in immense, and this only comes with experience.
You work faster, and are more thorough.

Work out how many hours per year you are prepared to work, and design your rates around that. Taking into account minimum wages for your area.
A projected salary is a great way to dip into some freelance work.

There's lots of info about pay rates etc on the AGDA site (http://www.agda.com.au/), and if you're a student there will be membership discounts.
Alternatively, AIGA (http://www.aiga.org/) have a lot of free, US based research.

pm me if ya get stuck!

[Magic]

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound like a c*nt but it's the truth. I have been in the industry for 7 years, and have been charging customers competitive rates since I was 14 years old, so I've seen things like this that seem harmless, effect the industry in a big way, it's actually what's going on now in the photog/design area in the music scene in Perth right now.

5 years ago I was charging 30-50% more than what I'm forced to charge now, I had to pick up another part time job now because things got that bad. And the reason being is because friends etc are helping promoters out with photog/design in return for a bar card or free entry to a club. I've been dropped from about 4 promo companies in my time, not because I wasn't good but because they found someone cheaper.

I know it's wasn't your intention to steal clients etc, but in designing, if you want to build portfolio, like he said above, you build mock-up designs and use that for your folio. I did that when I was young then when I posted them up people messaged me and asked how much I charge and I went from there.

At the end of the day, your not affecting me, I'm just saying don't think your works not good enough or your not experienced enough to charge. It's your time so get your money.

[Basic]

Yeah fair enough thanks mate, I've decided to go with the mock up idea as well as do a few bits and pieces on the cheap.

mitchsterbrau I'm going back to curtin next semester for a double degree in creative advertising and graphic design and digital design and multimedia. Been doing this stuff since I was about 13 but some recent health problems have forced me to give up what I wanted to do before and have a go at doing this full time.

[mehow2g]

Fuuu, im studying graphics design at the moment Magics post worries me abit.

[Magic]

It's just how the music industry is. People are expecting more for less. I'm not sure if anyone has noticed but the reason why a majority of music event posters look more and more like a monkeys ass is because of the reason I said above. Obviously Future, Steresonic etc are well established but I'm talking Perth Club nights, its really just a handful of designers that still put out some decent work in the scene.

It depends what market your targetting. I personally think its the best time to be in the corporate design industry in Perth. entertainment, not so much, plan to move over east if that's the field you want to do full time.

People will probably have different opinions from what I said but I think my opinions are valid, people in the industry would probably agree.

[TJ]

The music scene isnt being damaged by poor graphics on event posters, dont delude yourself.

Its greedy/stupid fucks who see the $$$$$ ringing because they think they can emulate the success of a few instantly and consistently...

Then they wonder why 40 people walk into their club night that no one knows about because they think spamming fb = a recipe for success.

[Magic]

Nar I meant the designing involved in the music scene. the standard of the flyers have dropped. But I agree with the rest of what you said. :)

[Mad_Aussie]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2624704411_9beb37b93e.jpg

[mitchsterbrau]

Yeah fair enough thanks mate, I've decided to go with the mock up idea as well as do a few bits and pieces on the cheap.

mitchsterbrau I'm going back to curtin next semester for a double degree in creative advertising and graphic design and digital design and multimedia. Been doing this stuff since I was about 13 but some recent health problems have forced me to give up what I wanted to do before and have a go at doing this full time.

mmm, consider northbridge tafe. [now C.I.T]
we do everything they do and MORE, minus the degree. hell cheaper too!
every ex-student i talk to complains madly about the lack of content from curtin.
if you compare the grad shows, we blow them away. :):)

[Ben Wha]

I thank Mitch for my success. Tafe is the way to go!