Charlotte Knibbs

A Word of Advice

It is very difficult keeping on top of everything when you are a freelancer, even when you have less work on. Where as when you work in a studio there is a designated clocking-off time, home is home. Home is not a studio. Your desk is not a dinner table like it is when you’re working from home.

It’s a tricky old world. Finding the balance involved in freelancing has to do with self control, I myself could work well into the small hours when I am really involved (and excited) about a project. But you need to learn to take a step away from the desk, or you will end up missing out on fun things, eating by yourself and annoying your partner.

I know this is all a very easy thing to say and a sometimes impossible thing to carry out, especially when you are in the design industry. Half of being a designer is getting inspired by the world and what you see around you. Anything can set me off and make me want to create something. In the last month a toothpick was to blame. The week before it was a napkin! (Seriously.)

Sometimes I wish that we didn’t have to sleep because of how much more I could get done! Eight wasted hours (who am I trying to kid… 10… 11 wasted hours) where I could be polishing a project and tweaking the details.

In a way, come January when my Masters starts, I am going to miss all the zillion hours of freelancing that will have to be trimmed way waaay down to allow for all the studying, but also I think I will thrive on the creative freedom. Excitement!!