The life of a freelance designer is rewarding. You make your own hours, choose your clients, and have the kind of autonomy most people dream about. But it’s not all roses and champagne. The myth of the freelancer working with their brand new MacBook Pro on a beach in peru is…well…a myth. You might have long droughts without work, or a spat of difficult clients. One of the best ways to balance the freelance lifestyle is to build relationships with design agencies. If they like you, they can provide a steadier stream of projects. If you like them, you can let their account people deal with the end client, while you develop a relationship with the art director. What do agencies look for when hiring freelancers? Creativity It’s obvious, but creativity may also be the single most important quality for a freelancers. It’s the one you absolutely have to nail. For most agencies, creativity means going beyond technical skills and producing wholly original work. It’s taking the tools of the trade and using them in a way that expresses your style and meets with a specific goal. Start with a creative resume design, and carry the theme through to your portfolio. And of course, put only the best stuff in your portfolio. Don’t fall into the trap of putting every piece you’ve ever made in there. It’s not about showing 20 decent pieces, it’s about showing 5 great pieces Experience “Agencies want to know they can trust a freelancer” says Wendy, art director of print at Impress. “We want to make sure that your work is good the first time, and that we don’t need to spend valuable time coaching you through the workings of the marketing world.” And that’s where experience is an asset. If you can show that you’ve worked successfully with a few clients over longer periods of time, it shows you’re reliable. Companies might take a chance on a fresh freelancer, but if it’s an important project, or if they just have exacting standards, they’ll almost always go for the experienced veteran. The best way to build your experience is to take on enough different jobs to build your portfolio without sacrificing the quality of your work. Time Part-time freelancers should be especially wary of overbooking themselves. No matter how skilled you are, you need time to get work done. Rush jobs show a lack of professionalism, and might force an agency to start to start from scratch, and missing deadlines can be even worse. Be prepared to prove you have the time to do the work, and show your dedication to finishing a project on schedule. Rates Another no brainer, but maybe not how you think. Agencies have to be able to afford you – that’s no secret. But an agency is looking for all around value. If you’re dirt cheap and the work is blah, it won’t matter if you do the work for free. The best paid freelancers offer more than good work. They offer good work, on time, and with a positive attitude.

My kids are priceless to me, of course, but they got a kick out of seeing that they'd equal more than a million dollars in stacked $100 bills! My daughter added a hundred thousand dollars to her height by standing on her tippy toes! For a glimpse of what you'll see on the actual tour, here's a postcard I picked up which shows a couple of the actual machines. We loved getting a behind the scenes look at how our bills are made and we really loved seeing all that money in right in front of us!! If you're planning a trip to Washington DC, put the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on your list of places to see. (Also, there's another bureau in Fort Worth, Texas, so if that's closer to you, perhaps you can catch the tour there!)

Did You Know. Full Sail University offers online degree programs in computer animation, game art, and game design? Missouri is home to 138 Title IV degree-granting institutions. A Title IV school is eligible for federal financial aid programs based on five requirements. They (1) have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, (2) have been in business for at least two years, (3) have signed a participation agreement with the Department, (4) grant an associate's degree or higher, and (5) offer a program of at least 300 clock hours in length. Many Title IV colleges in Missouri have excellent art and design programs—including graphic design. The graphic design programs offered through these schools are high on the list of the nation’s best graphic design programs. Some are expensive, while others are considered affordable. Fortunately, thanks to Title IV status, students have access to a variety of financial aid programs. Continue reading to find out which Missouri schools offer graphic design programs and what you can expect to pay. Most Expensive Missouri Graphic Design Schools Least Expensive Missouri Graphic Design Schools University of Missouri, St. Louis – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $8, 052, nonresidents $20, 409 (based on 12 credit hours per semester) for the 2015-2016 school year. Missouri State University, Springfield – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $7, 060, nonresidents $13, 930 (based on 30 credit hours); Graduate residents $5, 500, nonresidents $10, 108 (based on 18 credit hours) for the 2015-2016 school year. Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $6, 206, nonresidents $11, 704; Graduate residents $5, 660 (based on 9 credit hours per semester), nonresidents $10, 340 for the 2015-2016 school year. Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $5, 550, nonresidents $9, 816 (based on 12 credit hours per semester); Graduate residents $5, 256, nonresidents $9, 288 (based on 9 credit hours per semester) for the 2014-2015 school year. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg – Tuition Cost: Undergraduate residents $5, 115, nonresidents $10, 231 (based on 12 credit hours per semester) for the 2014-2015 school year. Missouri Graphic Design Scene Missouri is home to 34, 510 professionals working in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media occupations. An impressive 4, 400 are graphic designers averaging $46, 360 per year. The state's graphic designers typically work at creative agencies, web design firms, and publishers. Just a few employment options include: 2e Creative, St. Louis Element Eleven, Nixa Fuse Advertising, St. Louis Hub & Spoke, Columbia Kochan & Company, St. Louis Reactor Design Studio, Kansas City Sugar Design Studio, Springfield Vietti Marketing Group, Springfield While employment opportunities can be found throughout Missouri, some of the best opportunities can be found in major cities. Missouri’s top five largest cities are Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Independence, and Columbia.

Focusing primarily on printmedia, this program is designed for artists, designers, and working professionals interested in developing or retooling their visual communication skills and for those wishing to build portfolios for application to graphic design degree programs. Adults will work with analog and digital processes to realize their graphic design concepts and create unique, personalized projects for their final portfolios. Requirements include 10 studio courses and two electives. The average length of time to complete the Graphic Design certificate is two years. Prerequisite: Students are required to have basic proficiency with Mac OS X. Studio Courses (10) Approaching Design Introduction to Graphic Design Introduction to Typography Digital Design: Adobe Illustrator Digital Design: Adobe Photoshop Digital Design: Adobe InDesign Color Theory for Designers Graphic Design Studio 1: Process and Product Graphic Design Studio 2: Layout Projects Graphic Design Studio 3: Portfolio Prep Electives (2) Reflecting the degree program's interdisciplinary approach to an art and design education, all Adult Continuing Education courses are eligible electives for all certificate programs.

This project was very close to my heart. My good friend of over twenty years and my Pilates instructor, who also happens to be my friend decided to go into business together and they hired ME to do their branding identity! We worked on the design for several months, going back and forth on the look. You’ve never met two ladies with more opposing styles! Despite their differing opinions on color, they both had a clear idea of the business and the vibe they wanted it to have. Tomorrow is opening day and I could not be more proud of these ladies. And yes, I will be there getting my sweat on with Stephanie and Heather in the morning! If you live in Ft. Lauderdale and happen to like Pilates, I highly recommend Stephanie’s workouts. She has a way of pushing me to do things I’ve never been able to accomplish and now that she has this beautiful new studio with the BEST equipment, the possibilities are endless!

Did You Know. Full Sail University offers online degree programs in computer animation, game art, and game design? Tampa, Florida, with over 80, 000 commercial businesses and a population exceeding 335, 000, is an ideal home town for many resident artists pursuing careers in graphic design. Companies throughout the city of Tampa hire graphic design professionals for numerous assorted visual tasks. Tampa Schools and Training Programs for Graphic Design Quite a few colleges and Universities in Tampa, Florida offer degree programs in graphic design (technically known as Communications Design). Popular local educational options include DG Erwin Technical Center, Florida Metropolitan University, International Academy of Design & Technology and University of Tampa. Many schools offer graphic design training and degree programs online. Among the most successful nationwide examples are The Art Institutes, ITT Tech, University of Phoenix and DeVry. Some Florida graphic designers obtain degrees at Full Sail University, a popular online design college with a campus near Winter Park. Local graphic designers often earn degrees in visual communications or fine arts. A typical Communications Design degree program in Tampa, Florida would include courses in computer science, website design, digital art, photography, animation, technical drawing, typography and printmaking, as well as professional graphic design software applications. Working as a Graphic Designer in Tampa, Florida The city of Tampa, Florida maintains a healthy demand for professional graphic designers. Communications design determines the visual appearance of brand logos, promotional materials, cover art, web pages and product packaging, as well as billboards, road signs, textile patterns, visual assembly instructions and more. Many Tampa, Florida graphic designers are employed by top ad agencies like Axxis Advertising, 22-Squared, Lord & Lasker, Pyper-Paul-&-Kenney and Schifino-Lee. Other local designers collaborate with Tampa movie producers like Crosscut Films, G&N Works, Spectrum Productions, Tri Dimensional Animation and Zeitgeist. Professional graphic designers in Tampa, Flori