Design FAQ’s

Since starting my design business I’ve had several design students reach out for advice and ask questions. I’ve answered them below!

How did you begin the path to your career?  

I began the path to my career during University. We had an exhibition at the end of our final year where industry professionals were going to view our work, and potentially offer us jobs. I had no idea what I wanted to feature and created an IG page as a form of figuring out what my style was and what I should feature in the exhibition. I continued to work on this IG page and after a while (and a lot of effort put into building it) it opened a lot of doors and allowed potential clients to find me. This is what enabled me to eventually freelance full time.

What achievement are you most proud of in your career?  

One of the projects I am most proud of was for the Australian Medical Association. It was an infographic demonstrating where blockages within hospitals are in terms of patient waiting times. This project was more corporate than I was used to so I knew it was going to challenge me, as well as the deadline being quite tight. I decided to take it on anyway (although a little imposter syndrome definitely crept in) and it turned out to be one of my favourite projects, as well as opening a door to more corporate future projects.

What inspired you to focus on illustrations and patterns? 

I’ve always loved drawing so being able to work with illustration is a dream come true for me. Once of my first clients was a cloth nappy business who needed patterns designed for her products, and I quickly realised I loved it. I also realised it was also a great way to build relationships and grow a return client list as businesses needed designs on an ongoing basis.

What’s something that you do to keep yourself motivated?  

It sounds counter productive but taking breaks helps. Whether it’s a daily walk break, or a week off when it’s really needed - it gives me a fresh perspective and reboots my enthusiasm and motivation! When inspiration is low, I really love reading (or listening to) a motivational design book, podcasts, looking at Pinterest or Behance, or working on a passion project.

How did you get into freelancing and what did you do to create your client base? 

Instagram was a huge reason I was able to build my brand and get my work in front of potential clients! I also worked with family friends to get my portfolio started, as well as joining small business groups on facebook and responding to any design job opportunities. The most important thing I found was aiming to over deliver with the clients I found so they would become return clients, rather than focusing so much on continuously finding new clients.

Do you do anything outside of this role to earn income?  

Yes, I started another product based business (dog accessories).

In your years of experience, what’s a skill you always use?  

Organisation. I wasn’t a particularly organised person, but when running a business you quickly learn this skill is essential. Without it you miss things so easily and end up with unhappy clients and stressful situations. Something that’s really helped me with organisation is a big white board in my office with my weekly plan, as well as Notion.

How did you expand your network, have you had a collab with anyone? 

I attended in person networking events, but mostly I met local creatives through social media or working on projects with them, and then staying in touch afterwards. It’s great to find someone to collaborate with who compliments your skills. Someone who can provide your clients with a service that is relevant to yours and can add value.

What part of your career is least enjoyable? 

Admin and finances. I have found that HNRY definitely helps take the stress out of tax time though!

What part of your career is most enjoyable?    

It’s hard to pick just one, but I would say the feeling of seeing something I’ve worked on for ages finally being taken off the screen and put out into the real world! It’s so rewarding seeing the designs come to life and being implemented, along with seeing the business I created the designs for growing as a result!                               

Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? 

I’m not a huge fan of planning that far ahead, but I’d love to grow and potentially join forces with other local creatives to form a studio. I would also love to move toward the education/mentoring area eventually and help new designers find their feet!

Are there any resources or websites you use to seek inspiration? 

Absolutely! Pinterest is a classic and Behance is super useful and inspiring. I also have the occasional scroll through of Dribbble.

What advice would you have for someone just starting out in this career? 

Start building a social media presence, experiment to find your style, take in as much useful advice as possible (there’s so much out there for free via IG, Youtube or design podcasts). Find a mentor or supportive group - freelance life can get a little lonely and confusing, and it’s definitely helpful to have people who can help support you and help you figure things out in sticky situations!

Why did you choose to enter this industry? How did you begin the path to you career?

It took me a while to decide on graphic design. I always loved creative subjects at school and I considered fashion design or digital photography. I eventually realised what I’d loved about the creative subjects at college was actually the design process, which led me to Graphic Design.

In terms of freelance, I loved the idea of being able to work anywhere and the freedom that came with that. I started taking on freelance clients as a way to build up my portfolio so I could eventually find a 9-5 graphic design job. Freelancing full time was a dream I had for a few years down the track, but thanks to finding more and more clients I was able to start freelancing full time without finding another graphic design job.

What were some of the early roles you held in your field?

I started off as an intern during University at a local agency which taught me a lot and cemented that this was the industry for me - I absolutely loved it! Once I finished my degree, I worked as a graphic designer for an events business creating printed and digital designs for the different events and managing their social media. After this I took on a number of freelance projects and built up my portfolio before freelancing full time.

What and where have you studied ie. was it through work experience, professional institutions, or self-learning?

University of Canberra (Bachelor of Graphic Design). I honestly have learned a lot about running my business through podcasts and books as well. I also invested in a social media course when I felt it was time to seriously put time and effort into growing my social media presence as this was how majority of my clients were finding me. I also love a good YouTube tutorial if I’m stuck or want to test out a new style.

What challenges did/do you face when in this industry?

A big challenge is that there is no road map. A lot of it is taking advice from people who are further along in their journey and implementing it into your own business. There’s a lot of trial and error, for things like determining the pricing of your services, refining your processes, creating contracts to support yourself, and finding clients. It’s an ongoing process of testing things out and evaluating how it went, tweaking it and then doing it all over again.

Have you pivoted or re-invented yourself?
I don’t think I’ve really reinvented myself or my business, but I’ve definitely become more clear on what kind of business I want to have! I thought I needed to know everything in the beginning, but quickly realised there isn’t time to do everything all at once, and it’s better to focus that time on what you really love doing. So I’ve narrowed it down to focusing on branding design, illustration and pattern design with a clear goal of helping businesses stand out. This is what inspired my rebrand from Emma Maja Design to Sore Thumb Studio.

Do you have any career regrets?

Part of me regrets not having a solid contract in place sooner, or taking on clients I knew in my gut weren’t going to be easy to work with. However, the other part knows that the projects that caused me the most stress were also the ones that probably taught me the most, even if it was the hard way!