Sending out a few emails here and there, I got in touch with one of my favourite bloggers, Breanna Rose. Breanna began her own company, Rowan Made, straight after leaving design school. Since this, Rose has also created a web series about being freelance, giving advice to others about this situation. I've been following her blog since 2012, when I had just finished my A Levels and was trying to find my "path." Not knowing what I wanted to do, Breanna's blog really helped push me in this direction, so it was wonderful getting to know her a little more in depth.
1) You started your own company, Rowan Made, straight out of design school. What made you decide to be freelance rather than working in an agency? And what is the meaning behind the name?
I've always wanted to become my own boss, but I didn't necessarily think that I could do it straight out of school. So after graduation, I started applying to agency jobs in Minneapolis to hopefully find a good fit. Three applications in, I could tell that my heart just wasn't in it and I wasn't even excited about getting any call backs. I decided to sit down with my parents (since I was living at home) and tell that my decision to go freelance. They were skeptical at first, but I gave myself three months to see what happened, save some money, and go from there. I'm still running my own show to this day and haven't looked back since, which feels great. But I couldn't have done it without my crazy younger self, that's for sure.
2) What challenges have you faced in the design world?
Becoming your own boss isn't the easiest thing in the world, so going down that path has brought it's own slew of challenges, that's for sure! I think the biggest thing for me was learning how to wear a bajillion different hats. In the beginning, I was naive in thinking that I would wake up, design for hours, and call it a day. But really, it's SO much more than that. I have to answer emails, market my studio, go to meetings, and manage multiple clients + finances, all on top of actually digging into the design. Learning how to wear all of these hats was definitely a huge mountain to climb, and in some ways, I'm still climbing it. But thanks to google (and some great mentors), I've been able to feel that much more comfortable in my own process and management as a designer slash business owner.
3) The creative industries are often seen as a 'mans environment.' Have you felt any sexism towards you as a woman since working in the industry?
I haven't felt any sexism whatsoever, but I think that's mainly because I work for myself and run the show. But whenever I watch Mad Men, you can bet I'm routing for Peggy all the way. ;)
4)What would you say is your biggest accomplishment, and why?
I would say my biggest accomplishment is not giving up. Being your own boss is a roller coaster ride, full of ups, downs, and a lot of in-betweens. I would be lying if I said I've never thought about applying for other jobs that feel safe + steady, because I totally have. But at the end of the day, running your own business isn't for the faint of heart. It requires patience, perseverance, and most importantly, passion.
5) How important do you think social media is to a designer in this day and age? And do you have any suggestions of websites you believe a designer should utilise?
Social media is SO important these days. I always say -- the more you put yourself out there, the larger your potential client base is. By being active and sharing what you do with others, they'll know and share that same information with others. My blog has also been a big player in growing my business, simply because I choose to share a lot of information over there, which over time, has helped develop an audience. Overall, my favorite websites are Twitter, Instagram, Dribbble (others love Behance), Pinterest, and Working Not Working.
6) As you now run your own business and hire other designers, do you have any advice for someone trying to get their foot in the industry? What would you look for in a portfolio?
My advice for not only getting into the design industry, but also getting into a niche that you prefer, is to showcase the type of work that you WANT to be apart of. If your portfolio is full of projects that are good, but don't necessarily excite you, then there's a good chance that you won't be attracting the right type of clients or positions. You can always create fake projects to help round out your portfolio if need be - there's no shame in that! For example, I recently did a conceptual rebranding of a local ice cream business because it was a dream client. I treated this project as if it was real, and as a result, I have an amazing portfolio piece that helps showcase my style + ideal clients.
7) What made you decide to go into the creative industries?
I've always been a creative person, but for the longest time, didn't think that I could turn my hobby into a profession. But once I understood more of what "design" entailed, I was 100% on board and am so glad I decided to say "no" to nursing (cool profession, just not for me) and "yes" to art. I honestly can't imagine not telling stories and designing everyday. It would be weird, that's for sure.
8) How do you decide which projects you want to work on? Do you ever turn a brief down, and for what reasoning?
When I started freelancing, I said "yes" to pretty much any project that came my way. This was a great way for me to learn what type of projects I loved working on and really narrow in on my niche. Today, I'm a lot more selective with the work I take on. Over the past several years, I've discovered that my favorite projects all had something to do with art, food, or fashion, and included full-scale branding + build out so that I could felt involved every step of the way. So now, these are the types of projects I say "yes" to and move forward with. And when something doesn't feel 100% right, or my gut says "no," so do I.
9) What is your favourite area of design to work in? Branding, Editorial, Illustration?
09. That's a tough question! I really love creating brands, but sometimes, it can feel a bit stressful in the pressure of creating an entire identity from the ground up. So although I love it, I would have to say that my favorite projects are actually websites. There's just something about designing organized online spaces that I love. I kind of find it relaxing ... is that weird? ;)
10) And to make these questions a little more fun, what is a fun fact about you?
I've watched "The Office" tv show so many times that I can quote it a ridiculous amount. Here's one of my favorite scenes ... gets me every time!
