Can you become a designer with little to no formal training? Certainly, but don’t expect it to be simple. Much of your potential for success depends on how hard you try.

Freelancing by nature tends to be a career that isn’t going to put you in the spotlight. The vast majority of freelancers earn a living in relative obscurity. How much does name recognition factor in to the level of success for a freelance designer? Is it possible to have a highly successful career without developing strong name recognition? And does name recognition always lead to success?

One of the biggest challenges for new designers and freelancers (and even for those who aren’t new) is simply getting their work seen. You may be able to produce an excellent level of quality, but if no one sees it you’ll probably be wishing you had more work. Here is a list from my experience of a few things that can help to increase exposure to your portfolio.

Dealing with ups and downs in terms of your work level is part of being a freelancer. Yesterday we looked at ways you can maintain a more stable income as a designer, but for those unavoidable times when you’re just not as busy as you would like, it’s good to have a plan. Just because you don’t have as much client work as you would like doesn’t mean that there is nothing positive you can do for your business. Here are some things to keep you productive.

As a freelancer your income will obviously fluctuate from month-to-month and year-to-year. Ups and downs are normal, but ideally the down times will be minimized and more stability will be in place. Here are some tips.