8 min read

Getting to know - Nicole Sos

Written by

Aiman Kabetenova

Published on

June 24, 2022

Tell us a bit about yourself, what's your background?

Kia ora! I’m Nicole, a Designer based in Wellington, New Zealand. I create branding, websites and marketing material for businesses looking to establish themselves and level up.

I’ve been working as a Freelance Designer and running my own design business, Studio True for almost 3 years now and I absolutely love it. It’s so fulfilling to work with people and help bring their visions to life. I’ve had experience in designing for a wide range of brands from in-house, the private and public sector, product design, food, retail, hospitality, real estate, education, events, fashion and creative areas.

Tell us about your journey as a freelancer.

After college I went to study at Yoobee School of Design, where I acquired two diplomas (Graphic Design and Digital Media Design) I then continued to study at Massey University, completing a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design with Honours.

During my 5 years of study, In my spare time I would create passion projects, work on my own website/portfolio to promote my work which then naturally led me into Freelancing. I took on any project that would get me experience and expand my toolkit.

When I completed my degree at Massy I got a full-time contracting Graphic design role at The Department of Conservation (DOC) whilst on the side also freelancing as a Graphic Designer part-time to Mediterranean Foods in Newtown.

This allowed me to dabble my feet in the contracting/freelance world. I learnt about paying my taxes, claiming expenses, invoicing, GST etc. When I was offered a full-time employed position when my contract at DOC ended, I knew it was time to take the leap and go out on my own. Almost 3 years later I haven’t looked back!

What is the personal or freelance project you are most proud of? Why?

Definitely the 2022 Hnry campaign! There was a lot of output for this campaign. This was also the first time I designed for digital/print billboards and bus backs formats. So not only was it a proud moment because of its exposure, but because it was also a learning experience for me - which now I can now add to my skill set.

Seeing your work plastered all over your city, country and across the ditch in Australia was very rewarding. Seeing your work out in the world hits different, especially on such a large scale.

I was also really proud to get to work with Hnry. They’re such an awesome company and team to work with, they’re a New Zealand business that started in Wellington. I was really proud to as Hnry were instrumental to my freelancing journey in terms of sorting out my tax as a freelancer. I started using Hnry in 2020, 2 years later - I was freelancing for them!

‍

What would you say is the most rewarding part of being a freelancer?

One of the most rewarding parts of working independently as a freelancer is having the freedom to choose your clients and projects. Freelancing allows you to choose the type of work based on what interests you. With this, opportunities are limitless - you have the freedom to experiment with your craft. I took this when I branded as Studio True, to instead of specialising within one area of design (say print design) to instead be a multidisciplinary designer - a one stop shop essentially.

Having the freedom to know who you are working with and the subject matter of what you are working with means you can work to your moral compass, if a project doesn’t align with your values and morals, you don’t have to take it on - you can politely decline and offer to help find someone that may be a better fit!

In saying that, there’s always going to be work that may not be so rewarding (that’s life and comes with any job!) But having the ability to move towards things and people that may be like minded with you, can be an incredible experience. It also allows you to form strong relationships with your clients too because you’re on the same page.

What is the most challenging part of running a freelancing business?

Having the ultimate responsibility for your business and income, feeling like there is always something to do. Being able to distinguish between work and personal time is challenging. Being a freelancer doesn’t allow me to go to work, come home and “shut off”. When I’ve finished my client work for the day, my brain is constantly thinking of my next steps for the future of my business. How do I achieve XYZ, how can I expand my client base, future employment for my business, social media posting and have I lodged my expenses?!- there is always something to be done or be considered.

I do allow myself to step away from the high pressure of achievement when I need to have a bit of a reset, but naturally it is something that is always in your head saying “what’s next!”

What has worked best for you when it comes to finding new clients?

Most of my client base is from word of mouth. So networking and building relationships is really key in my opinion. If enough people know you are a go to designer, or a go to freelancer in whatever industry it may be - your name will pop up in those conversations. If you complete a project, ask the client for a testimonial - prospective clients value trust in other clients' experiences.

Alongside that, I try to use social media more of a ‘portfolio’ so my work is out there and viewed - again, even if it isn’t prospective clients following or seeing your work, it might be someone that knows someone who needs a designer In the future that puts in a good word for you!

Unicorn Factory has been awesome too! Potential clients can see your work and reach out or you can view jobs you might be interested in on the job board. It’s also a great place you can network with other creatives.

What advice would you give anyone wanting to start freelancing?

Take advantage of resources around you that will help you learn. I went to a few free IRD workshops to gain some knowledge about what it would take beyond my design skills to run a successful business. I reached out to people I trusted in the design industry about pricing and services.

Don’t be afraid to invest in yourself, your business or reach out for help. Like anyone, we all make mistakes and we learn. When you are freelancing you are constantly learning. So be comfortable with the journey because it will always lead to learnings and a bigger picture even if it doesn’t feel like it in the given moment.

And lastly, never compare yourself to what other people are doing. You are your own unique individual and success is not valued on the same metric or timeline as what others do :)