12 Gifts Most Freelance Designers Only Dare to Dream About
Posted December 14, 2010 in Design, Web Design
Sure, there are a number of items you could purchase and wrap up to place beneath your beloved freelance designer’s tree that would bring a smile to their face and warm their heart. Anyone can take a trip to the local art supply or computer store, or shop online for that perfect gift. I don’t intend to discourage you from expressing your appreciation in such a wonderful way.
But, if you’d like to blow the mind of the freelance designer you so greatly value this holiday season, why not make an attempt to fulfill this wish list? I’ve taken liberty to share with you the 12 gifts most freelance designers only dare to dream of. Enjoy my version of the 12 Days of Christmas:
1st Day: a Consistent and Ongoing Client
Every freelance designer would love to have at least one client who continually brings new projects, keeping a steady flow of work and building a mutually beneficial relationship. The beauty of this gift is that it can even be given to the freelance designer who supposedly already has everything–we can never have too many of these!
2nd Day: Two Days Off Every Weekend
Yes, we want it all: the benefits of freelancing and being your own boss but without the need to work every waking moment, including weekends. What a gift that keeps on giving, not only to the recipient but to their loved ones as well.
3rd Day: Three Revisions and Not One More
It’s pretty standard to offer three revisions on a design for each project, but many freelance designers find themselves tweaking and adjusting the design ‘just a little bit more’ to get it just right. What a refreshing gift it would be to not have to revise the design more than three times, every time! Enough to make any designer let out a hearty, “Ho ho ho!”
4th Day: Four New Inspirations per Month
Creativity can be contrived, and many would even argue that there is nothing new under the sun. If that’s the case, how’s a designer supposed to keep coming up with new ideas? With what amounts to a weekly subscription to fresh and unique inspirations, the lucky recipient of this gift would never have to worry again about getting the creative juices flowing.
5th Day: Five More Minutes of Sleep
The snooze button on the alarm is pretty much everyone’s best–and worst–friend. It allows us to fall back asleep without any worry that we might oversleep, but it also shouts loud and annoying reminders that clients are waiting and there is work to be done. While no freelance designer would complain about having work that beckons, another five minutes of sleep is always a welcome bonus.
6th Day: Six Free Upgrades on Design Software
Design standards and corresponding software change so rapidly, yet every new version of software that comes out forces the freelance designer to choose between staying current and competitive or sending their children to college. Design software suites can cost at least $2,000 with upgrades almost every one to two years costing at least an additional $600 to $1,000. I’d be willing to bet most freelance designers would be ecstatic to only have to pay once.
7th Day: Seven Figures in Annual Income
Yes, I know almost anyone of any profession would not mind a seven-digit annual income, so why not the freelance designer? The truth is that none of us probably anticipates getting rich doing what we love, but we certainly wouldn’t take this gift back to the exchange and returns line.
8th Day: Magic 8-Ball with All the Right Answers
Freelance designing is full of choices to make, and it doesn’t take long in the profession to realize it is built on a foundation of lifelong education, fraught with mistakes, learning experiences and challenges. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a magic 8-ball that made the decisions so much easier? Fits nicely in a stocking, too!
9th Day: Nine o’Clock Start to the Day
A not-too-distant relative of ‘Five More Minutes of Sleep,’ I am certain many freelance designers would love to rest until nine each morning without having to work until midnight as a result. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept in until nine–my work day starts at 5:00 a.m. What a beautiful thing it would be to start each day at a somewhat normal hour!
10th Day: Ten Fingers Never Tiring
Freelance designers use their hands all day long. Whether drawing, sketching, typing, or using a mouse, we need fingers that never succumb to arthritis or any other debilitating pain or weariness. For some it’s almost as if our fingers need their own personal trainer and gym just to keep them in shape and build their stamina. Maybe the gift would be a membership to that finger fitness program!
11th Day: Eleven Projects Already Scheduled
I know it would be nice for every freelance designer to be able to look at their calendar and see that eleven (or more) projects are already lined up and in waiting, rather than wondering when the next one will come or having to pound the pavement in hopes of drumming up business. Peace of mind is a priceless gift anyone will cherish.
12th Day: Twelve Months of On Time Payments
Can you imagine it? An entire year of every single client not only paying, but doing it on time? I topped this list off with the most magical gift almost every freelance designer dreams about. What a holiday this would be!
Your Wish List
Do you have other items on your own list that you would love to see under your tree? Please share them in the comments below.
Related posts:
- Six Awesome Gifts Especially for Your Favorite Freelance Developer
- 25 Must-Read Blogs for Freelance Designers
- 5 Success Tips for Freelance Web Designers
- 25 Tutorials for Advanced Freelance Web Designers
- 5 Other Services all Freelance Web Designers Should Offer!
About the author: Brian is a freelance web & graphic designer with over 15 years' experience. His business bkmacdaddy designs specializes in completely custom WordPress, Joomla, Magento & CSS/XHTML websites as well as logo design, brand identity, social media management and more. Brian is a father of 3 and madly in love with his wife of many years.
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45 Comments
paul
December 14th, 2010 at 8:46 amOne of each device that I need to test my designs on!
Jack
December 14th, 2010 at 9:21 amNow that is the dream haha :D I have just got started in the freelance world and I’m very happy that I found this blog.
My favorite has to be – Twelve Months of On Time Payments. I’ve only been freelancing for 4 months now and I already have some experience of this problem. Luckily I’ve got web hosting to fall back on.
Keep the posts coming!
Jack
Bastian Heist
December 14th, 2010 at 10:05 amNice Idea. Let’s make a song out of it. :-D
Chris
December 14th, 2010 at 10:08 amGreat post Brian! It would be happy with any of these but my favorite is: Eleven Projects Already Scheduled. That is a great feeling to have going into a new year!
dan howard
December 14th, 2010 at 10:19 am12 figure income?
Or am I just being greedy now?
Rahul Banga
December 14th, 2010 at 10:28 amBrian, you got it correct man!
I personally with for number 3rd and 12th.
My clients always exceed the there due dates and hate it.
Thanks for the Post.
Tanel
December 14th, 2010 at 11:32 amHaha. That would be just awesome. I guess I should inform my friends and relatives about this wishlist. ;)
Arif Saed
December 14th, 2010 at 12:17 pmif i print this out and read it every night, would it help me dream :)
dp
December 14th, 2010 at 12:37 pmI would never offer 3 revisions. (1 revision, maybe 2)
bj
December 14th, 2010 at 1:19 pmHow about 1 week of no one asking for free designs?
-
@the_bj
TLC
December 14th, 2010 at 2:33 pmWould love to have 2 days off EVERY weekend. Alas, this happens infrequently. Either I’m too busy for it, or I trade weekend time for a Friday afternoon off. But I’m glad I have the work!
Also loved Paul’s idea about all the devices you need to test your designs!
ArtDeal
December 14th, 2010 at 2:33 pmPrefect list. I would love to have all 12 but If I just had to choose a few it would be days 6, 11 and 13. I am bless to have two ongoing clients and they have been a pleasure to work with.
Andy Eaton
December 14th, 2010 at 3:05 pmI agree with them all, being a graphic designer can be so tough when we get swamped with work. I would love 2 days off
TheAL
December 14th, 2010 at 3:13 pmAside from the few I already have (I became a freelancer to have a good schedule, so the weekend myth and insomnia issues always being chanted in freelance lore aren’t an issue for me), I definitely would never argue with free software upgrades, all payments being on-time, all clients being good AND continuing, and some sort of magic apparatus with spot-on answers. I don’t think I’d ever ask for a 7-figure income, though. I might even turn one down from the genie, too. Money in this world is more finite than wide-eyed entrepreneurs want to admit. Every million I make is some money a bunch of hard workers making minimum wage never see. And since most people in our fields are still dreaming of even 6-figures (that is, in corporate jobs where people can’t just make up what they think they’re worth), I guess I’d just feel like a pig wanting 10x more.
Brian McDaniel
December 14th, 2010 at 3:20 pm@TheAL: I think the USE of that extra income would determine whether the recipient should feel like a pig or not. While I agree with you that money is finite and the old adage that it won’t buy happiness, it could definitely be put to good use helping some of those less fortunate, something I am unable to do with my lesser income. I don’t believe money is the root of all evil or the source of all joy, but the USE of it certainly could take one down a selfish path just as easily (or maybe more so) as it could save lives. Thanks for your input!
Stephanie
December 14th, 2010 at 7:16 pmOooh I want Day 1, 3, 7, 10, and 12 on my Christmas wishlist. It’s really difficult when a client makes all these revisions and doesn’t even remember to pay for the work on time.
I’d also like a couple of upgrades for my tools, such as a new Macbook (the first one I’d ever have), more space in my Dropbox, and a more affordable mobile plan for my phone. *smiles at Santa Clause’s picture*
Anything Graphic
December 14th, 2010 at 11:14 pmThis post is amazing, haha. Totally true and full of dreams/wishes.
Amber Weinberg
December 15th, 2010 at 12:13 amI count myself lucky that I’m blessed with almost all of these gifts already, but man how I’d love to hav those software upgrades. The costs are ridiculous!
Eduardo Portillo
December 15th, 2010 at 12:21 am1, 2, 5 and 9 are not so dreamy to me, some times I wake up even later then 9 but I had some kind of hamster attitude running around at nights, all the rest are nearly imposible dreams mostly the 6 and 12 and undoubtly 7 in a 3rd world country 6 figures annual income is extraordinaire.
Ints
December 15th, 2010 at 1:52 amYeah, these are the gifts what i want.
angelee
December 15th, 2010 at 3:05 amhahaha… I find this 12days-of-xmas version hilarious and awesome! But, too bad, Santa’s too deaf on me right now.
Sarah Whitmarsh
December 15th, 2010 at 7:08 amNot quite but almost in the same vain…..
Working in India during Diwali last month, we thought we would send the following to our boss….
On the last day of Christmas the company sent to me
12 Laborers laboring
11 Spicy curries
10 Videos streaming
9 Rolls of paper
8 Big projectors
7 Gnats a biting
6 Cans of bug spray
5 Port-a-loos…
4 Mini macs
3 Crew in bed
2 Capture boxes
and a thinner crew in New Delhi…..
As for the Christmas wish list….adding a new one….
‘ A long contract, somewhere warm’
Happy Christmas all x
Rakesh Kumar
December 15th, 2010 at 7:20 amI haven’t seen before such types of tips but very useful. If i talked about myself then it;s dream for me.Thanks
Melissa
December 15th, 2010 at 9:15 amaltho i’d love the 7 figure income, i might be willing to trade it for 7 paid days of vacation (with no crazy clients to deal with while i’m chilling on the beach).
love this post!
Pothi
December 15th, 2010 at 9:57 amLove this list. Fun to read. Unfortunately, most are my wishes too. :(
John White
December 15th, 2010 at 11:48 am>Ten Fingers Never Tiring
BTW, this does /not/ get better with time. Give your fingers a Christmas present this year and switch your mouse to the other hand.
My fingers were bothering me during a particularly busy stretch a couple of years ago, so I moved my mouse from right hand to left hand. It took about twelve minutes for my brain to re-map things. My right hand was instantly grateful.
Lucian
December 15th, 2010 at 12:11 pmI already start my day at 10 :) Rested freelancer, happier clients.
Vivek Parmar
December 16th, 2010 at 12:37 amtill yet never get a chance of being at one. but working hard to get some gifts preety soon
Lynn
December 16th, 2010 at 3:52 amThanks Brian for the great list.
My wishlist, hope Santa you are listening!
In addition to all the twelve you’ve mentioned, I wish I’ve health insurance well cover and a chance to revamp my home office. ;-)
Merry X’mas & Happy New Year everyone.
Kelsey
December 19th, 2010 at 8:16 pmVery nice list. My most-wished for is the 2 days off in a weekend…I don’t know what I would do with myself!
Adam Wood
December 21st, 2010 at 9:32 pmGreat list. I’m not freelancing anymore since I’ve started a business but this list fit perfectly with my wishes for the New Year and Christmas. Thanks and well done.
DaveBowman
January 4th, 2011 at 6:09 amNice and witty, thanks for the post! ))
Alonso
February 25th, 2011 at 10:57 amI like your points and think they are enough for this year.
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