Graphic design degrees are steadily growing in popularity, but very few college degrees give a good, practical background for running one’s own business. There are a few things to learn, the basics of which can be found at the Small Business Administration, but here are some bare bones basics to get you well on your way.

Having a good workspace that contributes to your creative process is also essential. Whether it’s a spare room in your house or a rented office space, you must have a studio in which to work and store your finished pieces and supplies. Many art supplies are toxic to animals and small children, and distractions can be toxic to your creativity, so having a workspace set aside is an absolute necessity. Be sure that the workspace in question has plenty of light, both artificial and natural, as you must be able to see how your artwork will appear under various lighting conditions. Decent studio furniture is a must as well, nothing wrecks concentration quite like back pain from a bad stool or poorly designed drafting table. Last but not least, having a workspace set aside can help train your mind to start generating ideas when you enter your studio. Keeping the studio separate from where you go to goof off is vital for many professional artists and graphic designers.

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While it doesn’t pay to be penny wise and pound foolish in business, as all business is an investment risk by its very nature, it’s still a good idea to find creative ways to minimize costs. Finding economical work space, cheap supplies, and creative marketing are all absolutely essential to running a business of any kind in today’s world. The studio space you’ll have to find on your own, but the following tips can greatly assist in the rest of your needed components.

Choosing a good, inexpensive art supply store is key to making a living as a graphic designer. You’ll need to find ways to get both quality mediums and art papers. Because your business is almost entirely built off of these supplies, finding the right company to partner with is essential to the long term growth and success of your business. If, however, your graphic design is more computer oriented, of course getting a hold of the latest in computer graphics programs and enough hardware to run them is also important. In purchasing computer equipment, it actually does pay to get the latest and greatest, as it will probably continue to serve your needs for much, much longer.

Of course, for most graphic designers contracts do not start rolling in just because you hung out your shingle as a freelancer. For this reason many graphic designers take a job with a design firm for a few years before trying to fly solo, but even if this course is taken, marketing is still a vital continual endeavor. You must be known as an independent, freelance artist before you can expect to get contracts. Getting a professional account on a website like DeviantArt, which provides an online gallery space and an account option allowing you to sell prints through them, is an integral strategy to many graphic design freelancers. ETSY is another website that allows freelance artists to sell their original works in an environment tailored for hand made art appreciation. Most graphic designers don’t place their works in brick and mortar galleries, as those are generally reserved for fine art, but offering subcontractor services to interior design companies can be another way to get your name and reputation known.

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Everybody likes value added services, and your clients are no exception. Offering packages for promotional bags or other items already imprinted with your client’s logo or blazon takes stress from them, makes you easier to work with, and will probably get you repeat business. Of course, using these items with your own logo imprinted on them is a good advertising idea as well.

By using these strategies, keeping an open and creative mind, and with a bit of business planning and luck, your graphic design career should take off like a rocket. Good luck!

Author: Loni Ice

Loni L. Ice is a freelance writer/editor, who lives in Lawrence, KS, caught in a happy tornado of rampant creativity. She writes and publishes CopywriterInfo.com, an online resource about, for and by copywriters.

Copyright 2008, All rights reserved.

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