Creative Circle works with the most talented creatives in the business! One is our beloved freelance writer, Hugo Estrada. Here’s what Hugo Estrada had to say when we asked him about his freelance journey:
What advice would you give to other freelancers?
Take a page from Nike, and “just do it!” The first step can be the hardest, especially when starting a new project, but sometimes it’s just as easy as opening Illustrator, InDesign, or whatever creative tool you need to get the job done. I’ve learned that I can build momentum quickly as I work, and I end up feeling so much better for being productive and making progress on a project. And if you’re ever in a creative rut, take it easy and read a book, listen to your favorite podcast, or scroll through creative websites to reignite your creative spark. Finally, don’t feel shy to overcommunicate with your clients!
When did you realize you were good at your craft?
It was during the first few months of my first year in college. There was a quick call for a designer to create an event flyer from a student-run entertainment group. I quickly put together a flyer that fit the creative brief, and long story short, I booked the gig—my first freelance project! I only received $20 for my services, but I got to see my flyer across campus during Welcome Week. Shortly thereafter, I was hired as the creative designer of the student newspaper and helped my new college friends—and their friends—with their design needs.
When was a moment you knew you messed up, how did you cope?
My anticipation was already high when I was opening a box of printed invitations I designed for a formal event. The invitations were die cut and screen-printed, and I had only seen a digital proof from the printers. To my horror, I noticed something was off on the front cover of the card: one of the colors printed lighter than expected. I phoned the printers to figure out what went wrong and learned that the color shifted lighter due to the translucency of the red ink. To prevent this from happening in the future, I would need to select the color in a shade darker to avoid color shift. Lesson learned! The key takeaway: mistakes are a learning opportunity for you to get it right the next time….and maybe request a hard proof if you’re trying something new!
About the creative.
Hugo Estrada is an artist and graphic designer, who develops design strategies in the areas of healthcare, higher education, and news media, with experience in branding, UX design, and email marketing. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Art History and Studio Art from New York University and has gone on to lead design projects at the San Francisco Art Institute, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals, and the University of Pennsylvania. Hugo has a love for collaborating and a passion for creating memorable content.
