Going freelance is an exciting opportunity to choose your own hours and to pick the clients and work you want to work with and do. With that being said, it’s important to be aware of the helpful tips and advice that are available online and that you can do it in person.
Becoming a freelance jewelry designer isn’t easy, but with the right tools and talent, you could certainly be successful in this chosen career path. Here are some helpful tips on how to become a freelance jewelry designer.
Take A Look At What Other Brands Are Doing
In order to get inspiration for your own styles and creations, it’s worth taking a look at what current jewelry brands are doing and selling successfully. You can get a lot of inspiration from other designers, and as creativity is theft, why not?
Go to any local department stores or shops that you’ve been following online and find out what seems to be popular and consistent throughout or that’s unique and is selling quickly. Remember, though, that when you go to department stores, they’re not all going to be owned by that particular store, so you might want to note down the designers and look into them further via their own websites.
It’s important to gather intel on what’s doing well and what is going to make you successful in the designs you create.
Have A Portfolio Ready To Show Off
A portfolio or resume is going to be critical when it comes to showing off who you are as a designer. Without examples or evidence of your work, no one is really going to be willing to take you on as a freelancer, and it could make your success at being one more challenging to achieve.
Think about anything you’ve created, whether it’s been distributed by a brand or it’s your own design that still remains on paper. Any and every example of your work is going to be critical when starting from scratch.
You should also list off all your relevant skills and training that you do have as your ability to get hired may rely on more than just certain examples of your work. Make it look professional so that it’s ready to present when needed.
Know What You Want To Charge & Perhaps Offer Trials
When it comes to getting paid, it’s an important area to consider beforehand. Some freelancers like to get paid in one lump sum for a project, whilst others will want to be paid by the hour. It’s worth figuring out what you’d like to charge, based on the level of experience you have, the amount of time it takes, and of course, your reputation as a designer.
You might start off fairly low and build up your rates as you gain more clients and more notoriety. When starting out, it’s also not uncommon to offer trials for clients so that they can get a taste of your work without having to pay money right away.
Ask The Questions Before Taking A Job
Before you take a job, it’s worth covering all the questions you may have when it comes to payment, expectations, and deadlines. You’ll likely cover some of these aspects again throughout, but it’s worth making sure you have the agreement that’s right for you and that you’re not going into something that you are going to end up regretting due to lack of payment or taking up too much time.
Go Above & Beyond
Before you establish yourself, you’re not going to build a reputation without doing something first. You need to be willing to work hard and, in most cases, go above and beyond for each and every client. It’s going to help them to keep you in mind for future projects and when collaborating with other companies.
Get In Touch With The Right People
To become a jewelry designer, a lot of the work you get might be through word of mouth or by networking. Be sure to get in touch with those who are influential in making the decision to hire freelancers and make an effort to get to know them personally. The more connections you can make, the better.
It’s going to be these individuals that are going to help you when times get tough. Talk to people and be confident in approaching people you don’t necessarily know, particularly other designers. It’s also worth speaking to those who are perhaps already doing what you want to do in order to get their advice.