Brand Designer · Creative Director · Art Director
The love for creative was still there, but the pressure wasn't in the same way.
The biggest takeaway for me is to be crystal clear upfront about setting the boundaries, defining the Scope of Work, and ensuring agreements are locked in before starting the work.
If the client asks for a discount or cheaper rates, I typically reply by saying I can offer a 5% discount for day-rate bookings longer than a month, and 10% for day-rate bookings over three months.
I focus more on the pillars of energy for me. It's the basic stuff that helps me keep up – sleep, diet, water, movement, company.
Written by Tom May for Creative Boom, this article gathers insights from several creative professionals about the lessons learned from failure. Through candid stories of health crises, failed collaborations, and embarrassing mistakes, the piece explores how setbacks can lead to growth, resilience, and better creative judgment. Each contributor shares a personal experience that reshaped their approach to work and life.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May offers practical advice for freelancers on how to set their rates confidently and sustainably. Drawing on insights from artists, designers, and copywriters, it covers strategies like factoring in all costs, asking for budgets upfront, defining minimum rates, and valuing work appropriately. The piece encourages freelancers to treat pricing as a business decision and to maintain boundaries with clients.
Creative Boom reflects on the first month of its new private community platform, The Studio, designed as a social alternative for creatives seeking genuine connection. The article gathers feedback from members worldwide who praise its supportive, algorithm-free environment. Overall, the piece highlights optimism for the platform’s growth and its role in fostering authentic creative exchange.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May compiles advice from designers, illustrators, and other creatives on overcoming creative block. Contributors share practical methods such as working through resistance, changing environments, collaborating, and focusing on wellbeing. The piece highlights diverse personal strategies that reflect both discipline and self-care in the creative process.
The article by Tom May explores the pros and cons of working as a creative professional in three main contexts: agency, in-house, and freelance. Drawing on insights from multiple designers and illustrators, it outlines how each path offers different benefits, challenges, and career trajectories depending on experience level and personal goals.