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I was working in-house in a marketing agency, wasn't really happy with the projects I was given, I felt under-appreciated by both colleagues and clients. I had actually planned to quit in march 2020 but Covid hit in February and my partner lost her job, so I had to keep on working full time for another year, all the while trying to develop my own business. Fast forward to 2021, I now work full time for myself and my clients are really grateful for my expertise and I'm hoping to book more clients into the next year to fill my project calendar and really get the lifestyle I want for me and my family

i love this q&a! In my design process, I prefer to sketch ideas out. starting on paper helps me get the “bad ideas” out of my mind and it allows me to come up with new and better ideas. I don’t spend a lot of time on it though. I like to create quick messy thumbnails to get my brain going. I’m currently working on a sample client project to see how i go about my process. i went right into illustrator and i’ve felt stuck ever since so i learned that jumping right in is not for me. now i’m basically starting from scratch again. one of my professors in some of my classes, challenges us to do thumbnails..sometimes like 10. 10 is a lot but it stretches me and has me think and approach different ideas in a new way.

I'm a sophomore graphic design student and LOVING IT. There are so many challenges and I'm learning so much! It's really crazy to me that something I love so much can become my full time job. I can't wait to see what happens for me in the next couple years!

I’m working as a graphic designer at a marketing agency and I love this Q&A it’s SUPER informative. I’m so happy that so many people feel the same way that I feel and you’ve provided some immaculate advice in this video!

Abi! Your videos were one of the main reason our studio was born. I was graduating college (uni) and your vids were one of the main reason I took a leap and opened my studio, Meghan Gunz Design Studio here in Dallas. Thank you for your work!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, this is so incredible to hear!! So glad my videos have helped and you were able to form your studio!!!🧡 crazy what watching others can do for you!! Hope 2022 is a year of more growth for you x

Your videos are so calming and genuine! Thank you for gifting us with them 🥺 You’re truly an amazing person who cares for her fans ♥️ Love you!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Your comments make my day!! Thank you for sticking around, and I can’t wait to see where this channel goes next year! 🧡

I am a designer working for a company with three decades of experience I find you an amazing designer and an agile lovely soul! Stay Blessed and produce more of such videos!

I'm sticking around for this. Just raw and authentic you! I love this

This is so helpful abi. Thank you for so much knowledge this year. Happy new year and hope you have a great year ahead.🥰

Thank you so much Abi :) Love you and happy new and successful year!

LOVE the Q&A Abi - these are super helpful!! ps thank you so much for answering my question 🤍

you've have been my greatest graphic design teacher, you made me fall in love with it and I rewatch a thousand times your videos when you show ur procedure on illustrator, so thank u so much 💜

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

🥺 well this has made my day! Thank you so much, I’m glad watching my process and other videos give you the inspiration you need x

Hi Abi, thank you for all your hard work put into these videos. I do a concept technology design, mainly automotive, focused on Formula 1 and motorsport (studied aerodynamicist, mechanical engineer). It may look like totally different area, hovewer your videos helped me a lot during this year. Organization of work, presentation, social media posts, building personal brand, I managed to improve in these areas thank to you. Wishing you all the best in the New year!

Such an encouraging video! My goal for 2022 is to finally start my design KZread channel. This vid definitely makes me feel more comfortable starting & not being so hard on myself. Thanks for all of your advice ❤️❤️😊

Love this so much! I would LOVE to see a KZread video about how to start your own design channel☺️ thank you for all that you do!

Ever since I found your channel I've been so encouraged to continue learning graphic design, I love your designs and how genuine you are in your videos. Thank you so much for making this video...I look forward to watching more of your videos.

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

This is amazing to hear, thank you 😊 Comments like this give me the motivation to keep putting out videos!

Hey Abi, thanks for the encouragement you truly are making a difference in the design industry. I love your personal brand and style. Please make a video on starting KZread, BTS, and editing videos I would love to see it.

Abi it sounds crazy but honestly I feel grateful that I can watch your vids. My dream is to become a graphic designer with no experience and no degree so far - that’s why sometimes I just feel lost and don’t know where to start from and what to do next. But you just give me a lot of motivation. Watching you and your progress make me feel more confident and literally you make me do not give up. Thank you !

Hi Abi, it's so good to hear someone else mentioning they don't really sketch on paper in their process! I can relate very much. Lately I noticed storytelling/writing works for me to describe a vibe of a company or brand, before designing it. Almost in a poetic way I feel like language adds a little more value for me in the design process, to use as a base or starting point when designing. Would recommend to try it ones for fun! 😄 Loved this Q&A, and when I will be working full time I am gonna use Trello as well, thank you for that tip!

Hello Abi, I have found you're channel today, and you had me at 5:21 of this video . I am a long time art fan . However, I am a very new graphic design enthusiast. I'v always been curious about the idea but, have only recently been truly determined to start a career in art through Graphic Design . I will most likely officially start my studies with in the next few mouths . I'v started brainstorming and testing with a fake brand and and have planned to do more in the name of PRACTICE ! Seeing that you had the same idea and have had success with it, is very encouraging .

as a self taught designer i enjoyed this video ... it spoke to me on so many levels. inspirational with some gems and tips

Thank you for this lovely and helpful video! Still love ya😝💖❣

I am a freelancer but things are not going very well. I had my clients but not many and a month ago I started working with an agency. This agency didn't want to hire me so we partnered with partita iva (it's the thing that allows you to work as a freelancer here in Italy) and after this month they told me I'm not good enough and they want to pay me less than the initial agreement. I don't know how it works in the UK but in Italy, I have to set aside 30% of all my income for taxes. This means that if you want to pay me 500 a month, my income will only be 350 and if I work just for you the 'salary' is not enough to live on. But the point is, it hurts to be told that you are not good enough and I don't know how to unlock this situation and find clients because I need them. Thank u for these tips!

I love watching your videos they help me so much as I am getting into becoming a graphic designer/brand designer ❤️ there are so many challenges figuring out everything

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear the videos are helping 😊 It can be overwhelming at the start, but I promise it's worth it!

First video I’ve seen of yours! Subscribing. So genuine. So informative. Thank you!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Aw thank you! Really appreciate your kind words and support 😊

Always helpful ✨

thank you so much for making videos like these! you helped me alot!!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

You're so welcome! Glad I could help 😊

Also started my business during the pandemic and have been inspired and motivated to get into a career as a graphic designer. I’m completely at the beginner stage but will be making YT videos showing my process and journey 🙌🏽

Hey Abi, I found your channel a couple of days ago and tadaa it's exactly what I want to do too your content is straight to the point and that's amazing .. for the forms you send to clients, look up a jotform it will basically level up your form game, it's free to use and have so many specialized forms to fit your Brand

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Welcome! Thank you for the kind words, glad you've been liking the videos! ooo I have never heard of jotform, I will check it out, thank you! 😊

I actually started my business by accident in lockdown and made it a thing and now my family are really supportive! I love your videos!

@Vladyyy

2 жыл бұрын

Good for you 👌🏾

This was such an informative video. My design journey also started during the pandemic. I started in May 2020, just by watching youtube tutorials. The only place where I lag is social media management. 😅 Also, showing up on lives is just.....impossible at the moment. Loveeed this session 💕

im a lover of Design Using Illustrator and Photoshop to show my creativity. I'm self taught but I'm very new. I still need to learn so much more. no confidence or time... and definitely really bad at time management ... but I love your videos. gives me this positive vibe and hope to learn more from you as I watch. thanks for being an inspiration.

Hello Abby, i am currently a government employee, but now i m learning graphic designing from youtube... thanks to you n your story telling style i just fell in love with graphic designing.... keep it up

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Happy to help! :)

You are a true inspiration..ur story is similar to me..i am 39 now, working full time, running a side business..i always had a nack for sketching from childhood, but never got the chance to do what i love doing..now i think is the time to start what i had left decades ago..hope i become a sucessful designer like u someday..thanks

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Thank you, really appreciate it 😊 Wishing you all the best!

As a small youtube channel all about the design i would love to see a whole video about youtube! 🥰🥰

Been 12 years in this industry. 😢 still scared of the camera… thanks alot this was a much needed content today. Have a good one 🎉🎉🎉

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! I had the same problem yesterday. I was filming for my upcoming course, and I struggled so much, then the imposter syndrome came!

I quit my job a month ago with the intention to finally fulfill my goals as a designer and can firmly say your videos have helped push that confidence to the edge.. Thank you for your transparency with processes and for sharing all of your helpful tricks! You are a gift to the design community. Get it, sis.

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck to you! You got this! No problem, there is plenty more coming, I'm just glad my videos could be of help! I actually have the perfect video for you coming out in a couple of weeks, it was filmed this week so just being edited now, and it goes through the complete process of working with a client, keep an eye out for it, i think it would be really useful! Should be out within the next 3-4 weeks 😊💛

Thanks you inspired me today ❤️

Your video is very motivatimg. I am an aspiring graphic designer and I loved your videos.

Hi Abi, again such a nice video. I would love to know more about your brand strategy process. Nowadays I see a lot of brand designers also offer brand strategy, which is a extensive task itself. Do you think we as graphic designers should implement that in our packages? Love to watch your videos!

Watching this video, inspired me a lot.💖💞 I'm just starting to be a Graphic Designer.👍🥰

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Amazing to hear! I wish you all the best 😊

I started studying and learning graphic design from march 2020 on my own. actually I had changed my way in age 26 to make my dream (being a graphic designer) come true. I had no guide that time so tried to learn anything that was related to graphic design. although I don't have many clients, but I'm still trying to improve myself day by day. for now I thing it's better for me to join a company to learn more from professionals, but my dream is that one day I can be a freelance graphic designer and work Independent. your KZread channel helps me a lot. 😍

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear I've been able to help :) I wish you all the best on your journey in design, you got this!

@charityokiria

Жыл бұрын

Currently me now. Also making 26 next month. How is the journey going because I'm also self taught.

I would love to see a walkthrough of how you use Asana! I use both Asana and Trello, but not neccessarily for design projects. So I would love some Inspo there!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Ooh possibly in the future! I don’t use asana for design clients, but use it to keep track of all projects! X

u're having the best camera, lighting & most importantly the best accent !

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Ahh thank you!! So weird because I don’t notice my accent at all🤣 where are you from?

I can watch you all day ✨ I love your content

@abiconnick

5 ай бұрын

Thank you :)

I totally relate to not sketching my designs out before I get to work on designing. I am horrible at sketching. I am almost done with my bachelors in graphic design and advertising and have never sketched before a project but because the assignments require sketches I come up with alterations at the end to just “get them down”. And to be completely honest they are never better than my original work! Sketching for me waists too much time! Thank you for reassuring that my process is an ok process and will work for my goals as a designer! I look up to you Abi you are an amazing designer!

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear I could help 😊

Hi Abi, I have started my freelance since 2018 but I am a slow turtle designer. I usually brainstorm the briefs and sketch them out first. Have a nice day.

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

a slow turtle designer😂 I love that! Everyone has their own way of doing things and that's great! Hope you have a nice day too! 😊💛

As a fresh graduate from a different background considering a career switch to design, this cleared a lot of apprehensions that were bothering me. Thank you so much Abi, this was really motivating, truly!

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Great to hear! Happy knowing I could be of help in someway. Whatever decision you make, I wish you the best 😊

@Unnatijain444

Жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick Thank you! 😊💛

Loved this video! I currently run my own personal brand as well. I am an educator, coach + designer that shows others that they can discover and embrace their God-given identity, purpose, and passions and live an intentional life.

Abi this is amazing video full of inspiration❤️

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!! Need to do more of these sit down videos!! Thank you🥰

@motonejc

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick yea definitely that kind of videos are amazing. I have still 15mins left but im also kind of bussy. So did you tell how much you charge on avarage because i really like your style of design it feel so much passion in your end products. And to know the market like you know its just wonderful. Merry Christmas 🎄🎁

Well done, You're amazing. My story is still ongoing I'm Mohamad from Syria, i was weightlifting champion before having to do mandatory military service, which lasted for 4 years, anyway, I've always been handy with photo editing and designing and had plans during my military about immigration and improving my skills, and i did it, I'm now in UAE and I'm doing graphic design as a freelance side job and currently working on doing nft project, and my main job here now is a salesman, and also I'm trying to improve my Instagram before starting KZread. Your video is encouraging. Your energy is amazing,.. You are amazing, keep going and thanks a lot 😊

Please do a video about brand strategy☺️

My inspiration you.Thanks!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

🥺🥺 so incredible to know I can be someone’s inspiration!! Thank you so much!

Hey Abi you have created a lot of brand design videos and I've actually learnt a lot from them.I am quite a new viewer so I'm not sure if you have created any videos about brand strategy.I'd love if you give us some info about brand strategy and what actually it is.

Could you create a video on your processes for client intake and organization?

Ok so, this is my story! I have loved design since I was 10, i used to use PicsArt at that age (lmao), but I remember the first time I designed something, it was a logo for my sister's entrepreneurship when I was 15, two years ago I started using Illustrator and in four months I will go to the design school, I know that I want to do this for the rest of my life.

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, thank you for sharing! It's so nice when you know what you want to do in life, then you can put all your energy into it! I wish you the best on your journey! 😊

i have always loved graphic design since college i have had it in my life on and off. I am currently working in a field and for a boss I dislike I'm getting back to what I love and in six weeks will be leaving and taking a chance as a graphic design freelancer never took real risk so this will be the first decision that will have a new start and im gonna give it a go

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

This is amazing to hear! I wish you the best of luck with your journey! 😊

I just finished my graphic design bachelors degree after realizing business administration was not for me. It took me forever to get it and now at 35, no one will hire me for being either too old or because I don't have a lot of experience and that's how I ended up here. Thank you so much for all your tips, I am going to try improving my game by redesigning or creating brands to show more of what I can do. Thanks!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Never too old! I think this is really inspiring 🧡 glad my videos have been of help, become so good they can’t Ignore you!

@johannamendez1328

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick on it! 🔥🔥🔥 and once again, than you so much for your videos, they are a lot of help! ❤

Thank you ☺ ☺

@abiconnick

7 ай бұрын

You're welcome 😊

Abi your a true inspiration. I love you and your work. I really want to start a design business. Is there anyway I could contact you for advice?

I was first temporarily laid off from my job in the hotel business (In Norway) in march 2020, after 9 months I lost my job(which I really loved) due to the pandemic. During easter 2020 my boyfriend proposed to me, 💍and thats when the world of design really opened for me. I have always loved creating and making stuff. All the boring templates of design didn´t fit my needs for my wedding, so I startet exploring myself. I work out my notice period of 3 months, and since this was a new world to mye of all things business I wish I have contacted a coach or someone to guide my through my toughts of how to get my going. I used so much time on it. But finally juli, i startet my design business, 👑and now have mye own clients, and slowly getting my cash up too. I really love your story, your work and to follow your journey. Working to finding my own design style 🎨(and by the way, we are finally getting married in may this year)

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

This is so amazing and inspiring to hear! Seriously well done, it sounds like you have done great and I am so glad I could be of help along your journey! I wish you the business and your wedding all the best! 😊💛💛

I'm currently a Digital Media student and I freelance alongside uni, I saw it as the best time to do it as I get my name out there / the portfolio gets bigger and I get real-world experience / I have a student loan to fall back on during this giant learning experience. I used to do art at GCSE and A levels which let me find my creativity, and I liked the idea of expressing it more digitally in more of a digital illustration / graphic design way and saw a lot of appeal to it from people. I would say i'm in a phase rn where i'm trying to stop accepting cheap/free work as I still have to pay for expenses and i see my work standing out far more than when i started and believe it is worth a prettier penny now, but im a bit anxious of navigating that and how to price myself accordingly and to be able to actually have a profit out of it. p.s i love your content its so informative and entertaining, i feel like i can watch for fun and learn at the same time🔥

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Fair play to you for starting freelance while in uni, I Think it's such a great idea, as one thing you don't get from a degree is experience! Plus build up a portfolio and social presence is valuable for getting future clients! Making that leap to charging more is always a bit nervy but so worth it, maybe having an enquiry form where people register their interest to work with you could help? You could include a section where they state their budget region for the project? You can use google forms to create one and then just send a link to each person that enquires. Have you got Instagram? If so send you're link I'd I'd love to see your work :) and thank you, I really appreciate it 😊

wow!

Yes do a KZread as a designer

Also is that your computer chair that you’re sitting in? It looks super comfy and I’ve been looking for a good one for ages!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately it's not! It's just a lounge chair that happens to be in my Studio 😊

@semiprokeloi

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick damn. The search continues haha

I'm a senior design student from America and I have a bit of imposter syndrome. I am not confident in my work and know I need to get better. I love illustrator and have started some projects with sketching first and scanning them into illustrator, but most of the time I usually go straight to illustrator. I'm not a big fan of photoshop anymore.

How do you do being always motivated, inspired by creating new designs? your video 15min challenge is awesome

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! The truth is no one is always motivated, everyone goes through times of lower motivation, its more about creating habits and designing consistently! Don't wait for creativity to strike, start designing then creativity will come 😊

@alormarketing8893

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick

im your avid follower

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

Thank you !

@juvrielechannel1235

Жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick OMG!!! thank you for the reply..

covid changed everything but it made people realise what they are passionate about.

Oh my goodness YES PLZZZZZZ! Did you do this video for KZread already?! So interested in this!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Which video? 😊

@lyndseymorrow834

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick how to do KZread as a designer!

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

@@lyndseymorrow834 Ah yes!! I haven't done it yet, but planning to do so soon! :)

Yes please! I want to star a youtube channel but I'm scared (mostly of people making fn of my accent :c but still...any advice is useful!)

Hello, Do you have any tips on how to find your ideal client? I want to target but I don't know who because I'm afraid of losing my "freedom" in design and therefore doing the same thing too often. I don't know if I'm making myself understood.

I never liked to draw anything, Idk why I felt this but I tried to escape from art and drawing since I was a kid. THO, I got highly concentrated when I had to draw in my mid school classes but I always thought that drawing is just a waste of time. So, I graduated with CS and I didn't liked coding either, was in existential crisis when I started watching those art videos on Instagram and found myself watching logo design videos on youtube. I STILL DON'T LIKE DRAWING but I really like making a brand and just watching you guys make them gives me goosebumps... I also have no experience with design tools like photoshop and illustrator . Hi, I am Yash, 23, based in India, a shut in freelancer, just freelancing to make money and not passionate about the work that I'm doing. I don't know what I'm doing with my life...

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Yash! I'm going to be honest with you, no one knows what they're doing in life, and that is completely okay! It's all about trying different things until you find something you love doing, I wish you all the best, keep trying and moving forward! 😊

Would love to learn how to run a design KZread Channel!

Hi Abi, I have a question for you, I hope you can give me some tips, please. I am struggling with designing content for my first portfolio, and don't know where to start. I never worked on real projects before, nor with clients, so it's hard for me to think of a brief for creating content and 'fictional projects'. So thinking of branding, logo design, visual identity etc.for example, where shall I start with thinking of a brief or ideas? I hope it makes sense. Thank you so so much in advance.. I love all you do! x Serena

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

So first I'd suggest watching this video: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ga6W19qJe8jaecY.html it goes through all the stages of my design process so you can see a clear and structured process to go through. In terms of thinking about a business you want to design for, one easy way is to do a famous brand, what would you do if McDonalds or Gucci came to you and asked them to redesign their branding? Another thing is take a look at previous videos of mine, here's an example: kzread.info/dash/bejne/qmVopKRqhbDAl9o.html and just use the same brief and design for the same brand but with your take on it! an FYI for the future, on Instagram each month I put out my 'creative glow challenge' where I set a brief and designers can enter to win a prize! How this helps answer your question, appreciate your kind words 😊

Hii💛| hope you well. I’m a graphic design student. Can you please tell me what laptop is best for graphic design? Mac or Windows? What which laptop is best🦋

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there👋 so I personally use Mac, but to be honest whatever you can comfortable afford is best, the most important thing is the colour accuracy of the screen. Pc, mac, both good, it's just personal preference! Aim for at least 16gb Ram.😊

ahhhh i want to be a super desinger but i cant

How is your work life balance as a freelance graphic designer?

@abiconnick

Жыл бұрын

It changes over time and goes through peak and troughs. I'll go through stages of intense work, and stages where I'm more laid back. My once piece of advice to ensure good work/life balance is have systems and processes in place to save time!

@Sephalosaurus

Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for answering! I appreciate your videos alot

Broke, underskilled (and struggling because I am a SLOW "learner" with limited patience and suck with people ...heh) , underpaid, loan debt riddled (100k because 58k was from an MBA that was 38 and interest added made it around 60 then another 40 for this associate after getting living expenses from excess funds and the student loan/costs itself..) I'm a bit of a jack of trades, and have past writing/proofreading experience... but technically I'm more of a copy paste or arrangement guy or simple edits. I could use a mentor/training/help and would probably fit better as an ACD (somehow anyway overseeing the more talented designers themselves) So I have no idea how to get either a part time - 20-30 hours a week that gets me up to 50k a year post tax or some sort of perma-stable "freelance" along with a 2nd perma job in personal training part time? Digital marketing agencies remotely should LOVE me... but...

Im going to be getting fired from my graphic design job at a firm. How do I get good job prospects despite the tragedy?

PS I can't get a job in copy/writing/content at IN HOUSE OR AGENCY. Drives me bonkers ;(

l love you

Are you using Adobe Premiere for your Videography

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

I actually had a full time editor, and yes he uses a combination of after effects and Premiere pro for the videos!

Hey abi sana app couldn't find😅

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

It’s called ‘asana’ should be the first site when you type it in google ☺️

I'm stuck and I suck

Hi Abi! I just came here to say you that I love you and your videos soooo much ♥! Keep creating awesome contents. (It's my exam tomorrow, wish me luck! )

@abiconnick

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Rahat! Hope the exam went well!! Thank you so much, glad you’re enjoying the channel and the videos! ☺️

@franklyrahat

2 жыл бұрын

@@abiconnick Thank you so much, Abi 😍 The exam went great!!