Why freelance when you already have a job?

Over the last decade, things have really changed in the workplace. An office isn’t just for one enterprise, co-working is on the rise, community working is encouraged, and the freedom of working from wherever you are is becoming more and more accessible. Entrepreneurship no longer means having four walls and a desk to burn the midnight oil on, it has now boiled down to having a sound internet connection and the discipline to know when it’s time to work. The creative fields, in particular, tend to gravitate towards a non-traditional work environment, and designers top that list.

“I totally agree,” says Shikha, a graphic designer who has been exclusively freelancing for 3 years now. “Working for the corporate sector for 5 years made me realize that no designer needs to sit at a desk with the same project for a long time. I mean, if you are good at what you do, why do it only for one person, when you can do it for many and make a wider difference?” she questions rightly. “It’s really ridiculous to expect creativity to come out only between the hours of 9–7. Most of my great ideas only come to me at midnight, so freelancing really works out well” she adds.

Not everyone’s cup of tea

Is this what it has come down to?

Is every designer ditching their traditional 9-to-5 jobs only to freelance?

Not according to Rahul Saxena, a designer who has been working with the same firm for 17 years. “I really enjoy working on the same product and watching it grow, the challenge of making a product better and better is what keeps me going. That is true creativity.” he quips. “Coming from a middle class working family, freelancing was never an option at the beginning of my career. I simply had to dive in, and I realised that this is what makes me happy. Yes, it might get monotonous sometimes, but that’s where the real challenge lies! The bonds I have formed with my team are priceless and I don’t think short-term collaborations can give me this pleasure.” But when asked if will he ever consider freelancing, he simply said, “I don’t think so. I wouldn’t know how to begin. I’d be lost!”

Just like Rahul, there are many designers who are scared to take the leap, shifting from stable timings and timely deposits to hunting for projects and irregular paycheques is definitely scary. Everyone loves the idea of the freedom but most remain doubtful about the consequences.

Freelancing sounds wonderful, but can you do it?

Is it worth the risk?

Is it worth all the effort?

What’s better- Freelancing or Full-time?

The Middle

Pooja Haria decided to choose a central path. Having been a part of an in-house design team at one of best e-commerce websites in the country, she enjoyed the perks of the corporate life, but when the opportunity to freelance came knocking, she didn’t say no. Pooja spends about ten hours a week working on external projects as a freelancer and spends her weekdays at her 9–5. “It’s kinda like being Batman: I get the best of both worlds.” She loves working on niche app projects but also enjoys the work she does for the e-commerce website, and her lifestyle allows her time for both. “It’s not always easy, though. Some weeks I can barely get two hours to myself and there simply isn’t time to work on a freelance project after a really hectic day at the office. That’s why I make sure my clients understand the timelines and always plan them with a little room for flexibility.” Pooja began with a freelance gig for a friend and found it a little hard to cope with the schedule, but in 8 months’ time, she had found the perfect balance between her day job and freelance gigs.

Having said this, a shocking 90% of the industry comprises of freelance designers. It’s not hard to see why being a freelancer allows one so much control over one’s life that it is hard to say no.

Freedom of Choice

As a freelancer, you are your own boss, and thus get to discipline or reward yourself as you choose. From inflicting schedules to managing your own time- you have to handle yourself as a brand. You are your own identity and your own leader. You can define your aesthetic the way you like.

Sonia Lamba, who is juggling freelancing with her full-time job says that this is the most important difference in her double life. “When I’m working for my boss, I have to adhere to his choice of projects and clients and also his way. Sure, work is work but it wouldn’t hurt to be asked for an opinion! That’s why I turned to freelance, only to pick up projects from the brands I believe in.” In her freelance life, she engages exclusively with brands who are environmentally conscious, sustainable and do not test on animals or conduct unfair labor practices, a choice she can’t make for her agency.

Building a Brand

As a freelancer, you also have an opportunity to build a reputation for yourself in the industry, that is not rooted in a product. Your design skills can grow and flourish, and you can discover your signature style. Expanding your influence to shape multiple brands is immensely satisfying and lets you exercise your creative instincts to the fullest.

Building your reputation and growing a personal brand for yourself as a professional is the one thing that simply does not happen when you are a part of a conglomerate. Also, your portfolio will grow faster than ever, get ready to have a 10-page Dribbble profile!

Your Hours

Unlike a 9 to 5, this is one place where you won’t be forced to create if you don’t feel like it. The deadlines are set by you, and your working hours are flexible because you decide when you design. It’s a simple decision that affects how most creative processes function, and it makes a world of a difference.

The most important thing is to get the work done and deliver it, and you can do it at 3 pm or 6 am. Your office is yours to design, so you can work out of a beach in Bali or from a mountaintop coffee estate in Kerala. Good internet and a fresh mind are all you ever need to create great products.

Supplement Income

Who doesn’t like extra income to their account? Freelancing gives you that extra income to spend and save for your future. Take that vacation you’ve put off, buy yourself that extravagant home theatre system, or simply invest in a smart mutual fund.

Fatima Bohri from Hyderabad loves the fact that she can save her salary and spend lavishly with her freelancing income. “It is never bad to have a little extra cash for a rainy day, but mostly I enjoy the financial freedom that the freelance work brings to the table.

All this and more by just burning the midnight oil for a little longer.

The Final Choice

For a company, you are an employee helping them to communicate their ideas and thoughts through design but you are your own brand. The more you make yourself visible in the market, the more credible you become as a designer.

Apart from the above-stated benefits, being an employee plus freelancer can associate yourself with many brands keeping you ‘industry updated’ and understanding how design is affecting different sectors.

But multitasking is not a virtue for everyone! If you are someone who loves coffee delivered to their desk and can’t stop watching Netflix all day without supervision, freelancing may not be for you.

Freelancing while earning is kinda like swimming in the deep sea with a life jacket, you can have all the fun without worrying about drowning. Being in the market without the risks will let you have a taste of freelancing, and if you like it enough you might even decide to go in all the way.

So go ahead, try freelancing while you are working your steady job.

It will make you realize what are you capable of, what you need truly and enjoy. It’s like a self-taught ‘How to make your life better’ lecture but only more impactful.

Onething is a UI/UX Design agency based in Gurugram, India, building a flourishing community of designers from across the world. Check out some of our work on Dribbble and Instagram.