portfolio, banners, freelance
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- nuggler
Hi, QBN. I recently quit my job at AKQA and moved to a little town in NY. I was basically building banner ads for 14 years -- probably too long, but I enjoy that kind of project.
I'm not finding regular employment out here as either a designer or a developer, with mostly just banners to show. I'm living on savings but that won't last forever. So, I think I'll try freelancing.
My portfolio: http://jbradleyjohnson.net/work/…
I tried adding some "design" items, but I haven't done enough design recently -- http://jbradleyjohnson.net/work/…
I've gotten good and brutal advice from this forum in years past. What would you do?
- Nairn0
What would I do? Go back in 14 years in time and make some different life choices.
ho ho.
I'd work on your homepage there - there's something quite unsettling about its design. Perhaps that's just me.
I'd perhaps nix AKQA from the lede - it's important to potential employers, perhaps, but probably a completelly alien abbreviation to the sort of people who might hire you as a freelancer.
Also, why are yo unot visually showing your banners up front - even if just a non-animating grab, or something?
Given you've so much experience in making banners, you seem to be deploying little of that capacity for grabbing attention immediately here.
- Raybandana0
No risk no reward. Doing banners for 14 years has no risk but to end up one day with no reward. Ask yourself what you really want to do and build a portfolio for that. You can just make fiction briefs and solve them. Use that work in your portfolio.
- Actually I really like making banners. What could be better? Motion, typography, design, interaction -- all wrapped up in 15 seconds in the service of commerce!nuggler
- yeah—stick w/banners/html5 animation etc if you love it. I do a lot of the same work and wish I could do just it for all the same reasons you mentioned.PonyBoy
- If you're happy then keep doing banners. All good.Raybandana
- err0
Social media ads are the new banners.
- zarkonite5
Maybe you could reach out to a designer to help you with the layout of your portfolio? Or use a portfolio service with templates...
Otherwise you look like a competent front-end developer with some managerial experience, just need to show it off a little better.
It's not clear what kind of work you're looking for either, that should inform how you present the work. Small biz owners won't be looking for the same things as someone looking to hire a freelancer for their agency. Think of your audience. Good luck!
- Projectile1
Last time I had a big change, I took on a bunch of shitty-paid Upwork freelance projects that I picked as portfolio pieces, so that I could have a more varied portfolio.
Got paid jack, but worked my ass off... but they're still in my portfolio... and I managed to shape my career a little
- Gnash1
Not sure what the equivalent in NY would be but a friend of mine uses a freelance service to get gigs. She gets quite a lot of work from them. She’s their go-to for a specific niche
https://freelancersunlimited.com…
position yourself an expert in social media advertising / banner ad creation perhaps. Become their go-to guy.
I would focus on sites that you would need to apply to, as opposed to the sites where you just create a profile.
- they take a bigger % but they’re more like reps, they match up the work and the clientGnash
- all The work she does is of for large companies; banking, insurance, legal, etc So it’s not crappy little one-offsGnash
- This seems like a good approach, if I can find the right service. I tried TopTal and LinkedinProFinder - no luck so far.nuggler
- https://www.creative…
https://vitamintalen…
https://www.onwardse…
Mind, I’ve had no experience with any of theseGnash
- PonyBoy3
Some good advice here... however, I think you're more than capable of designing / developing your new folio yourself (which you def need!). As a matter of fact I'd take your HTML5/JS animation skills and build-out a badass folio (I'm about to attempt the same thing myself which is probably why I'm all nerdy to see more people do this that actually still keep motion alive on the web).
I'm not saying you pigeonhole yourself as a banner maker... but stick to what you're great at (and love). HTML5 animation is your specialty but as you said in a comment you still get to showcase your design / type / interactive skill sets... you're not just a 'banner maker'... which is why you can handle your own folio. :) (Although — some prefer to have another designer brand them / build their folio etc... I've always found that impersonal and bad form as it's not actually my work making it a reflection of someone else — not me... but do as you will.) :)
Fortunately there are still plenty of design agencies / firms (whatever) out there that are constantly in need of banner production and your additional skill sets(and will be for years to come as things don't seem to be changing).
Personally... given your work I wouldn't focus on the small biz out there (at least not going after them on your own). I'd focus on working for Agencies (or the like)... work for those who have already found the client and actually have need of your skills. SO MUCH EASIER all around than dicking around w/Mom & Pop shops that have zero understanding of what they need (and actually need an Agency to guide them). If you're up for the task of becoming the 'agency' and also doing a shitload of handholding and explanation then go for it... but you'll spend far less time working / designing / animating of which I don't think is ideal for someone who can actually produce on your level. Another perk I love about working specifically for agencies is you don't have to haggle w/them too much. Small biz / mom & pop will eat you alive w/the price haggling process... and they also tend to demand way more changes.
Best of luck... really inspiring to see someone from the old school banner world still animating!
- Thanks PonyBoy! I will try going direct to NY agencies. I might have to rebrand myself as UX motion designer. The change is giving me the push I needednuggler
- UI motion designer.... UX would be something entirely different!dee-dubs
- User experience, user interface - - I don't know the difference! I read this article and thought, that's what I want to do: https://rapidfire.de…nuggler
- ben_1
Yeh it seems as if you love making banners, and from what I can tell you're making decent ones.
But you probably know a lot more about what works and what doesn't in that type of ad then you let on, and could probably do some portfolio work redefining what a banner ad could be.
I think the key in any line of work is to make a name for yourself based on something you can do that no one else can really touch. Have a voice and share it out. Raybandana said take some risks, take them within the area you're comfortable with, push the envelope a bit and make some stuff that's better than decent.
- grafician1
Write a quick book about making the best banner, good practices, make a skillshare even, while you search for a new job
also contact some illustration agencies that might need simple animation work for their illustrators
as for the portfolio, just use a car go site or something, or be hance, your current folio site is not that great - also create 5-6 case studies on how you created those cool banners with steps, animation/motion insights...
after all this time, you're an expert in banners and there must be lots of agencies that need freelance work and you can charge premium prices for high-end banners
good luck buddy!
- CyBrainX1
I agree your site needs an overhaul. Just use a template site with a grid of banners. Get that good work of yours upfront. This current setup doesn't represent you at all. Just remember recruiters and creative directors are looking quickly and you have to make a first impression within seconds.
- CyBrainX1
After reading Ponyboy's comments, I realize I didn't take into account you're also a developer. I wouldn't go for a template site as a developer. He's right that you should do it yourself but just make sure you have that work up front on the first page.
- canuck1
Beating dead horse here, but you really need to redesign your portfolio. If banners are your thing focus just on that. Maybe feature like 6 projects but go into more detail about what was involved. Reach out to some staffing agencies, recruiters, etc. lots of work for banner builds, sadly its one of those things that can be done overseas for peanuts.