My First Year as a Freelancer: 10 Lessons Learned

On January 1st, 2021 I launched my business, AGF Design Studio. Within my first year I worked with clients like Adobe, American Greetings, LUNA Bar, and Little Brown Young Readers to create lettering and illustrations for a variety of projects. As I celebrate the first anniversary of my business, I wanted to share 10 lessons I’ve learned as a creative freelancer.

My decision to go freelance was ultimately catalyzed by the chaos of the pandemic and not feeling creatively fulfilled in my position as a Graphic Design Manager. I'd been doing lettering as a hobby for about 6 years at that point and wanted to take the chance to bet on myself. No matter where you are in your journey, I hope this article and my reflections help you as you navigate your career.