FBP 054: Leaving a Design Agency to Become a Freelance Packaging Designer with Len Lopez of DesignCrowd

I was recently invited to attend an event by DesignCrowd, an online marketplace and crowd sourcing platform for graphic designers.  I have never been at an event for graphic designers, and I felt right at home once I stepped inside the auditorium at A Space and started mingling with my fellow artists (if you could call me one :)).

First, I met DesignCrowd’s young Chief Operating Officer, Chris McNamara, who made a short but compelling talk about his company, DesignCrowd, and how the website helps artists like us earn a living doing what we love doing.  Chris also gave some valuable tips on how we can be successful using DesignCrowd and provided case studies on how the top DesignCrowders from across the world take advantage of this amazing design sourcing platform.

After Chris’ speech, I was able to chat with other designers who were heavy users of the website and, to my surprise, they are not doing it on the side.  They are doing it full time!

What does that mean?  The earning potential at DesignCrowd is tremendous and Filipinos have started discovering this tool that will enable them to live a freedom lifestyle!

I then also met Len Lopez, a packaging designer who has quit her job from a local design agency, where she designed labels for Green Cross, to become a a full time DesignCrowd contractor.  Here is how Len’s profile looks like.

Good thing is that I brought my podcasting equipment with me and I was able to conduct a quick but engaging interview with Ms Len Lopez.

Here are some takeaways from this episode.

Takeaways

• What Len was doing before she discovered DesignCrowd.
• What she didn’t like about working for a design agency.
• How long it took her to get her first win in DesignCrowd.
• Why she chose the niche of packaging design.
• How Len grew her freelance business.
• Why she decided to eventually quit her job from the local design agency and become a full time designer at DesignCrowd.
• Her tips on how to succeed with DesignCrowd.

Resources

• DesignCrowd
• Thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Bitwage.co – Your Wage, Your Way.

How did you start your freedom business?  Please share in the comment box below.

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