Simon started as graphic designer and worked full time for fifteen years. When he realized that everyone was going online he started to learn developing, too. Now he is freelancing and he loves the diversity his job as a designer and developer brings with it. He has a lot of different clients and his projects never look the same. According to him the most important thing to get a job is a good reputation – which you only get when you are a person others enjoy working with…1) Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Simon Minter, a freelance designer and web developer based in Oxford, England. I’ve been a freelancer for around three years, after spending fifteen years working in most aspects of design and web development in the publishing industry. I work for a wide variety of clients – including universities (Oxford has two!), companies of all sizes, and agencies – on all kinds of projects: graphic design, Drupal and WordPress development, music packaging, branding…
2) If you would search for your profile on Google, which are the three keywords you would type in the search bar?
Probably “simon minter design”, although most variations including my name give me results including the other Simon Minter – a ‘YouTube personality’, apparently!
3) You studied Typography & Graphic Communication but now you also offer consultancy on web development. When did you decide to start with web development?
It was a necessity when working in publishing – the world was going online and I didn’t want to be left behind, and it seems like the best online designers know at least the basics of web development. I went a bit further – managing a team of developers for a while, and these days offering web development and website building as large parts of what I can do. In my opinion, though, it’s all design of one form or another, and I’m keen to make good-looking things that fulfil their aims.
4) You offer a complete package to your clients: graphic and web design, web development, illustration, branding, logos, etc. Which projects do you prefer to work on?
Genuinely, I enjoy the mix. Often, projects involve aspects of all of these things, and it’s nice to activate different parts of my brain at different times.
5) What was your inspiration and when did you actually decide to become a freelancer?
I became a full-time freelancer around three years ago, after doing a small amount of free-time freelance work while working full time for a company. A combination of disillusionment and boredom of company culture, and an overwhelming feeling that I have to give freelancing a try, were my dual inspirations.
6) How do you find new clients that are interested in your services?
I have my own website, and have accounts with a variety of freelancing websites but don’t actually tend to use them. I’ve been very lucky in that I haven’t had to look hard for new work – word of mouth recommendations are fundamentally essential and 1000% more powerful than anything else. I also think that being a nice person counts for a lot!
7) Can you provide any marketing tips and tricks for freelancers?
Tricks – not so much. Tips – to steal a phrase from a well known Anthony Burrill poster, “Work hard & be nice to people”. That’ll work.
8) How do you set yourself apart from your competitors? What makes you special?
People tell me that they enjoy working with me. People have told me that they didn’t enjoy working with others.
9) What are the top three books, blogs or magazines you read to stay up to date in the IT market?
I like http://www.webdesignernews.com/, http://www.itsnicethat.com/ and http://tympanus.net/codrops/. I’m a slow and scattershot reader, though, so tend to absorb whatever I can whenever I can.
10. Is there anything you would like to tell our readers?
Be honest with clients, with yourself, and with your work.
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Link to website: nineteenpoint.com
Twitter: @simonminter
