Designer Alexandra Didukh is frank about freelancing

Freelance vs Employment. Advantages and disadvantages for the designer. We analyze the concept: to whom, what and how to choose the best?

The column will be pioneered by a designer who has been working in this field for almost 13 years and has been engaged in photography for about seven years. And so frankly: about the distinction between freedom and anarchy, about freelancing and teamwork, and most importantly - about design as work and about creativity, in our conversation with Alexandra Didukh.

How to plan your time when you are a freelancer?

To be honest, personal and work time is very "washed out" in freelancing. If the office has a clear framework, then working at home for myself, I put more effort into distinguishing between personal and work. Therefore, in such cases, self-control and time management are important: I myself set the framework for myself. I understand that one will not do as much as the team will do. As a freelancer, I always try to look for teams where I grow and develop. But none of these forms can be an island paradise if you do not want it yourself. The main resources of office work are safety and development. If I do not want to develop, then I turn into "plankton" (the main disadvantage of working in an office). But I can be a "plankton" in my pajamas at home. It all depends only on me. I noticed that 8 hours a day is the limit of my concentration, so I myself came to the optimal work schedule from 9 to 19, distracted by dog ​​walks, dinners, interviews such as with 24print. And so it seems that I work all day, although I am not.

Freelance - freedom or anarchy?

A lot of freelancers really think of working for themselves as so-called anarchy. Like I do what I want, when I want to, and I don't care about deadlines or the rest. For me, this is a childish position. I perceive freedom as a balance of choice, responsibility and responsibility for this choice. I must consciously make a choice. Therefore, freelancing is the freedom to make decisions and be responsible for them. Yes, I am a freelancer, but I am not a separate universe, I am an atom, a part of a system that works for the result.

Yes, I am a freelancer, but I am not a separate universe, I am an atom, a part of a system that works for the result.

Alexandra Didukh

What are the main disadvantages of teamwork and freelancing?

Personally, I don't see the negative sides of teamwork. Even as a freelancer, I'm still on the team. I come and go, for different periods, I adjust to the command. Of course, they trust me less and do not give more global projects, but I can be with the team for years. Even a lonely cowboy will always be with a horse, and so will I, and you are still surrounded by people, and we are part of the system. Yes, I am responsible for myself, but I do not tear myself away from people and from the place. Therefore, I cannot find any disadvantages in teamwork.

But regarding the disadvantages of freelancing, they are. Firstly, I “do not belong” to society, so I put more effort into finding the best team for myself. I have a responsibility to more people than when I worked in an office. Secondly, I have to use more of my own resources: not only deal with my key responsibilities (design and structuring of information), but also take on accounting, analytics, management and even cleaning. I have a lot of roles and they take a lot of my time. Third, I need more effort to keep work and personal life separate. Fourthly, there are not always stable clients with whom one can plan far-reaching projects and cooperate for a long time. But each minus is essentially a plus that hardens.                                  

Is it worth the risk when you go freelancing?

In general, any undertaking for me is skills and some kind of build-up. Taking more risks, you can come to something faster. The main thing for me is to weigh the pros and cons, and also think over the worst option.

What should be the main qualities of a designer?

It is quite broad to talk about some qualities that a designer should have. For example, if you are a graphic designer, what do you do? You can do bus branding, satellite branding, you can do web design, create funny gifs. Your competencies can be cosmic. Therefore, the main thing here is to understand the design format.

For each specific task, for each specific format, different qualities are needed. For me personally, it is important to maintain interest in my profession, to understand its importance and desire to delve into it.

For me, the second stage and the look at typical things are more interesting. The willingness to help is also important. Don't forget about basic time management skills and general education. You need to read a lot, express yourself competently, understand grammar, spelling, and have a broad outlook. Watch what others are doing, analyze and steal like an artist.

Design - creativity or work?

For me, design is a tool that solves problems. Creativity is an experiment for me, and here the look of a beginner is really interesting. Sometimes I make albums, write photo stories, but I don't get paid to do it, I just enjoy what I do. There is such a dangerous place in creativity: when the moment of boredom comes. Whatever you do, there comes a period when you get bored. And if this job is not commercial, you are not paid for it, then you can just give it up. If it is a commercial project, then responsibility appears and you overcome difficulties more easily.

24print or 24 Print?

Of course, printing 24print