Despite being in his early 20s, Australian illustrator and designer Nathan Nankervis has made a name for himself amongst the creative industry as one of the next big things. Having bagged accolades for his work from across the world and worked with some of the biggest clients in the country, Nathan knows first hand that being a freelance creative is no walk in the park.
As part of our campaign with AustralianSuper to help you kick start your career, Nathan runs us through his quick-fire tips to making it as a freelancer.
Be patient. Work hard. Stay positive. Get your work out there.
Don’t rush your work. Only put out the work that you want to get back.
Get out from behind your computer and meet people. Be confident in yourself. Stay humble.
Experiment. Take risks.
Write your goals down. Be professional. Be organised. Write to-do-lists.
Do self initiated projects. Make your own clients and jobs. Teach yourself new skills.
Talk to other creatives. Go to exhibitions. Go to creative talks and conferences. Get feedback and opinions.
Back up your work. Build your creative space. Get the right equipment. Invest in your career.
Get yourself a website. Get on social media. Get off social media.
Go with your gut. Be inspired by the world around you. Be yourself. Take breaks. Have hobbies. Travel.
Don’t take things too seriously. Do what you love and have fun doing it.
Nathan Nankervis is a Melbourne based designer and illustrator and you can find out more about him on his website here.
If you’re just starting out in your career, a few right moves early on can help set you up for life. For more stories in our AustralianSuper KickStart series head here, or go to AustralianSuper.
This article has been sponsored by AustralianSuper Pty Ltd ABN 94 006 457 987, AFSL 233788. The views and opinions expressed in any article accessed through Crave are those of the author or Crave and not the responsibility of AustralianSuper. For more information, please visit australiansuper.com
