Forever Freelancer No. 001 | Jiani Lu
Creative direction, graphic design and creative operations. Toronto, Canada. 13 years freelancing.
There's always a moment, a meeting, a Monday, a very specific email, that made you think "I can't keep doing this." What was yours?
At some point I realized I was earning more from freelance work in the evenings than I was from my first full-time job.
Going into freelancing, what did you think the hardest part would be, and what's the hardest part actually?
I assumed the hardest part would be getting clients. The actual hardest part is turning them down. Every yes has a habit of becoming five more similar yeses, so being selective is often the difference between building the career you want and accidentally inheriting one.
What's the skill you've had to develop that has absolutely nothing to do with what you actually do, but makes or breaks everything?
Blocking time to eat lunch. And not over a sink.
If you had to pick up to three GIFs to describe the energy of a memorable client, what are we watching?
What's a phrase that instantly tells you a project is about to become complicated?
The fastest way to turn a Friday into a Monday is a 5:01PM inbound email that says, "We're gonna need to see an option 3."
What's the most freelancer sentence you've ever typed?
"Next month will be quieter."
Tell us the lowest rate you ever accepted. The actual figure. No rounding up for dignity.
* This answer is anonymous. The number becomes part of a collective figure drawn from everyone in this series.
I can't remember the exact number. Either it was that low, or my brain has intentionally deleted the file. It was a monthly salary for a senior design role where about 90% of my income went straight to rent. Overtime wasn't compensated, but it was definitely expected. Ironically, the same company had previously paid me more as a freelancer working remotely than they did once I moved to their city. The justification was the classic one: exposure, experience, and a prestigious agency name on the CV. In other words, I accepted payment in future promises.
What would you put on a business card that actually captures what you do?
Chaos organizer and aesthetizer.
What have you gained that would've been difficult to find anywhere else?
Traveling extensively, forming friendships around the world, and being influenced by cultures far beyond my own.
Finish the sentence: "Forever Freelancer means…"
"Freedom to choose your direction, your collaborators, and your compromises."
Finish the sentence: "Forever Freelancer means…"
"Freedom to choose your direction, your collaborators, and your compromises."