Webdesign for living?

[JFlashK]

How many of you are fulltime webdesigners? Do it for living? Who is a "freetime" designer? Is it only webdesign you do? Maybe only flash? Or do you completly new media design and print?...

For me: I'm a student multimedia & communication design, I started a little "company" in 2001, and I'm trying to build up a foundation for after my studies. After school I want to do a lot of aspects in new media and print. So I like to do design for living.

Let us know about you...

[jamble]

I went back to university last september for a year to do a masters degree after being stuck in a crappy office job for 3 years previous.

I'm doing webdesign on a freelance basis but finding work is difficult so I'd have to admit at the moment I'm not making a living out of it yet.

[mx_kid]

fulltimer

currently e-commerce, moving into flash animation next week (new job)

[erova]

all flash at my day job (e-learning)

three freelance jobs (two flash, one straight up html/web design)

and no, i have absolutely no free time anymore....dag....

[monsterfx]

I work for a big, evil corporation (Dilbert has become much more relavent to my life the last couple years) full-time. I do development and maintanence for the intranet, interactive CDs for marketing, and we have begun doing some computer-based training modules. I also do some help files for the home-grown applications (that's part of our group, so I get to do that to - I got the job because of my mix of web development skills and training background).

Previously, I worked at an Ad Agency. I started out as a trainer there, but worked my way up to support and then to Webmaster. If you are going to work for someone else, I'd say do your best to find any job that will give you experience in the area you want (for example, my current position is titled as more of a technical writer than a pure designer/developer, but I mostly do web/interactive work). While we all want to work at a cutting edge studio, there's only so many of those jobs out there and I have found that I enjoy eating and providing a home for my family. Once you have the experience you need, then it will be easier to find the exact job you want.

-monster.

[hurricaneone]

I've had a small company for the past three years and some months, and I spend my time either drumming up business, completing business, or drinking.

All of which leaves me with very little free time.

[wiReZ]

I am currently a freelance web developer (not designer) . I am not doing it for a living, but it's a not bad source of cash. I used to be a full time developer working in education making decent cash, but due to budget cuts and what not in California education was pushed aside. Damn Gray Davis.

[gdstudios]

My situation is similar to Erova's. Full-time designer, part-time freelancer.

[versatilemotion]

same here...full time design gig, almost all art/design and flash based and i do some freelance as well when it comes in. i really like my full time gig, its not quite as "cutting edge" as i would like, but i do get to work on some big projects for a lot of well know companies, and i am the only one doing art here, so i'm kinda the art director when it comes to everything i do...which is really cool and AWESOME experience.
as far as the freelance goes....i'll do anything related to design and i have a few buddies who help me out with the programming and one who does any big time 3d that might come in.

oh and to actually answer you question i do make a nice living with just the full time gig.

[Azaraelle]

I design full time, although 99% of my time is spent doing asp and html... only get the occasional flash job.

I also freelance after hours for some extra cash.

[dlowe93]

Originally posted by JFlashK
How many of you are fulltime webdesigners? Do it for living? Who is a "freetime" designer? Is it only webdesign you do? Maybe only flash? Or do you completly new media design and print?...

I've been a self-employed designer for almost three years now. My work is about 90% Flash or Flash-related (php or backend, video, audio, etc.), with the occassional static html job and the rare print job, plus i teach here and there to make some extra steady income.

I've actually worked very hard to get myself into a "Flash-only" niche, and it's worked out well for me.

d.

[OddDog]

I started out about 2.5 years ago. Did basic html sites. Have grown to 5 full time staff, and we are now a small publicity agency.

We now do web and cds, backend stuff, made to measure software, graphic design for corporate style guides, print stuff, copy, and we are about to start a new line of business in marketing plans, and media buying.

It is not about being the best designer or programmer, it is about satisfying the client. That is often achieved better with professional work processes, rather than ´kick arse´ dezsign ect ...

Best of luck. It can be done, but you just have to be professional about it.

[Urbansory]

that is so true about the client, you have to detach yourself from the work when you first start out. Once you make a style/action/look/ora/feel, then you will get clients that pay you to do your thing, with little input. I want to get away from the web, if it's a general website, no amount will make me accept the job, if it's Flash and not a cheesy intro, I'll take that. Video, interactive CD/DVD interests me these days. I want to work tightly with the entertainment industry, so I'm positioning myself for that, with a few major things coming out this summer for this industry.

[thape]

im a fulltime flash developer.. i make offline casino-games for my boss and online (multiplayer) stuff in my free time

[rugbystud]

FT Web designer @ www.ithos.co.uk
PT Freelancer - portfolio www.heaveninyourhands.com

[gdstudios]

Originally posted by rugbystud
FT Web designer @ www.ithos.co.uk
PT Freelancer - portfolio www.heaveninyourhands.com

Does your boss at Ithos mind that you do freelance projects on the side?

[rugbystud]

Only if it upsets my work at Ithos, which it doesnt.

[gdstudios]

Yeah I find it's tough to walk that line. Was just curious.

[rugbystud]

Yeah, I know, but they're pretty relaxed about things.






which is nice...

[breadlegs]

Full time freelance designer.

For the past 2 months its been 99% flash web work (thats because I enjoy working with flash more so i've 'encouraged' clients to have flash sites)