Quinn Paynter
Let’s start with your name…
Quinn Paynter
Q2 What do you do as a freelancer?
Motion Graphics / Animation / Graphic Design
Q3 How long have you been doing it for?
Nearly 20 years
Q4 What inspired you to become a freelancer?
After working in-house with a number of agencies, I decided to focus on freelancing fulltime. This gave me more control over the clients I worked with, the projects I took on and how my day was structured.
Q5 What do you think the benefits of being a freelancer are?
As a remote designer and parent, you get more time at home with family. You also get to choose the clients and projects you take on, gaining more control over your time (while working with clients and their deadlines). Financially, I believe all parties benefit. Freelancers get paid more than they do at an agency, agencies only need to pay designers for time spent on projects and direct-clients can work with a designer without needing to pay for an agency/team of people when it’s not always necessary.
Q6 What are the biggest challenges you think freelancers face at the moment?
Visibility. I find a large part of freelance work is marketing yourself well. A lot of agencies will already have their go-to designers, so you always need to work on making yourself to be as visible as possible to potential clients. Trust. I notice a large number of companies still requesting designers to be in-house a few days a week (though this is starting to change). While I get that it can be hard to trust a new designer, if they have a solid history and portfolio they will be just as accessible and available to companies online. I find that allowing designers to have a comfortable workspace and their own equipment/setup to work on, they’ll generally work more efficiently and produce better work. If you need changes made, you can always let them know and jump on an online video call if required.
Q7 What do you think is the best resource you have found to use as a freelancer?
Social Media/LinkedIn. Being able to network, connect online and share your work with potential clients and other designers is so important as a freelancer.
Q8 What one piece of advice would you give to other/aspiring freelancers?
Start sharing your work and connecting with others as early as possible. While it can be hard, due to imposter syndrome or being unsure if your work is good enough etc, you will open yourself up to so many more opportunities by doing this. Looking back, I wish I had started doing this earlier.
Q9 What is your favourite project you have ever worked on?
An animation I did with McAuley Community Services for Women. As a designer it’s extremely fulfilling and really means a lot to be able to work on a piece like this.
