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Freelancing: The Art of Starting Out

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Greg Straight

When is the right time to leave your job and start freelancing? What is it like being self-employed without the safety net of regular wages? GSM talks to kiwi illustrator Greg Straight to hear his story... I started drawing when I was really young. So you could say I’ve been illustrating for 49 years. However, getting started as a commercial illustrator was hard. My wife Hannah and I met in England where we did pretty well in our respective creative fields. I was actually freelancing by the time we left the UK in 2006. Arriving in New Zealand, we bought...

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Marriage by Design – Work & Home

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Work & Home

Ever wondered what it would be like being in business with your partner? GSM caught up with Leanne Hayes who, along with hubby Aaron, work together in their Blenheim-based design studio - Vanilla Hayes. Like many companies, Vanilla Hayes was born from a desire for those elusive commodities of the self-employed—flexibility and freedom. Oh, the naivety! Life, some 6-7 years ago, was stressful to say the least—juggling two pre-schoolers with an increasing workload as a freelance designer. However, my husband Aaron and I knew nothing would change if we didn’t make it so. We agreed to trial a role reversal...

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From Study to Studio – How to make the transition….

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GSM chats with Josiah Rees, 2020 Gold Pin winner at Best for student graphics. We ask the question.... What's it been like transitioning from study to the 'Real World'? Kia ora, I was born and raised in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, with a designer for a dad, Dad introduced me to InDesign at around the age of 14. Some of my earliest designs were the cover of my year 10, school leaver’s magazine and a logo, or two. Some of which my dad included in some concepts for his clients. From then on I was set on design and it was a...

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Pro Bono Design for Charity – to do or not to do?…

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Pro bono

In GSM10 we caught up with Mandy Nelson from G&A Creative Agency to discuss the Pros and Cons of Pro Bono work for charity. Our question - Does providing free design to non-profits devalue design services, or add value to a good cause? I often ask myself if working for nix is worth it. The only possible answer is a definite ‘maybe’! It depends on your viewpoint - I want to unbundle that question. Pro Bono Work for a Charity I am settlor of the Full Colour Trust as well as joint owner of G&A Creative Agency (G&A), provider of design...

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