OFFF 2015: Brand Nu explains how to navigate design's 'new playing field' and thrive as a freelance artist.
07. Look after your health
A big lesson I've learned is to look after your health and wellbeing. I'm an all-or-nothing person and I could easily spend my whole seven-day week working 18 hours a day. Sooner or later you'll crack and need twice the time to fully recover.
08. You need a good accountant
Get a good accountant so you don't have to worry about a knock on the door from HMRC. Your accountant should be your ally, not an arsehole who charges the equivalent of a lawyer.
09. The goal posts are moving…
Rest & Be, by Brand Nu
I believe any creative person – especially those in charge of steering the projects – has to be a lot more versatile than ever before. We need extra skills that go beyond the job title, as well as unparalleled knowledge to make a project and its final outcome bulletproof. At a time when every design solution is coupled up with performance analytics, we are in a new playing field.
10. Be ready to evolve – fast
You need to be prepared to be versatile and ready to evolve at great speed. I've seen people fresh out of uni with a single undeveloped illustration style wondering why they need a second job at a coffee shop. Styles and trends come and go. You need to be compatible – but without losing your soul.
11. Social media is the biggest idea-killer
I think social media is the biggest aid to any new designer. But it's also the biggest killer of a good idea. All the channels are over-saturated with bits of potentially amazing projects. I think we've fallen for the numbers game, feeding the streams of tweets and pictures instead of taking the time to develop work that could mean a lot more.
12. Challenge yourself
Lucky numbers is one of a set of three resin sculptures with a chrome finish and a collaboration with Creo design
I spent the best part of the last year developing a range of small resin sculptures – taking a vector drawing and using 3D design and printing, with help from very skilled craftsmen, to achieve something new and unexpected compared to the main body of my work.
When I hold the final article it reminds of the feeling that I had when I held my first piece of work. It feels like another completed challenge on the way somewhere new.
To celebrate OFFF Barcelona 2015, Computer Arts is offering all overseas readers the opportunity to get up to a huge 10 free issues of the world's best-selling magazine for designers, with a two-year subscription. Offer ends 15 June.
