Tracy Perkins

Graphic Design and Brand Development

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in-house

When the Working Relationship Changes

Recently I was laid off from the company where I had been working for the last year as an in-house designer. While I was sad about the situation, I had already been thinking of moving on.

I knew when I left that they were still going to need my services as a designer periodically, and as a freelancer I’m always open to having more clients. What has been interesting is how the company still interacts with me as though I am their in-house designer.

I made sure that everyone I worked with on a regular basis knew I was leaving, finished up some long-term branding projects and prepared several documents detailing everything from logo treatments to asset locations on their servers. I did my best to make sure they were set up for success and whoever they worked with after me would have an easier time grasping the lay of their corporate identity.

I was surprised when I left that no one had approached me to ask about my workflow, for any special projects to be completed before I left, etc. Since leaving they keep contacting me every couple days for work and with questions. All of this has been very cordial until this week when I was asked to create new art for their YouTube channel and after delivering the new artwork, was asked to upload it to their profile.

Now uploading the artwork on social media accounts was one of the things I used to do when I worked in-house, however, as an outside contractor I find it totally inappropriate for me to update any accounts held by my clients unless I have been hired to manage that account full time. Having created social media artwork for other clients in the past, the creation and handoff of the artwork was never an issue.

However, explaining my policy against updating clients’ social media accounts on their behalf garnered me a rather rude backlash that was extremely unprofessional. I do understand that, to them, my relationship with the company may not have seemed to change as they never had me on as salaried staff and I’m still doing graphics for them. But the relationship has changed.

I’m no longer in their office on a daily basis from 8am-5pm. I’m only a graphic designer now, not a marketing assistant. I am my own boss and I can refuse to do work I deem not in my best interest. I am now another freelancer whom they hire out to. And I know for a fact that they would never ask the video guy they work with to post the videos he creates for them to YouTube.

I’m sure I’m not the only freelancer who has encountered a client who has asked them to perform work outside the range of their offered services. It’s hard telling a client that you will not perform a task they have asked you to. Especially when that client makes it personal and does not keep things professional.

Good News Everyone!

I can officially say that I am employed. It’s not a full time salary gig, but it’s still a gig. Even if it only ends up being this one project. I’m working for Spy Post, a San Francisco based post-production house, as a design assistant. Today is my second day here, and while the hours are long, it’s nice to be gainfully employed and not hating my job. I dare to say it, but aside from software hangups I think I’m actually enjoying myself. It’s kinda funny, I’m the graphic design version of what Jake does over at Ntropic (he’s video, not design) except I’m working at the studio he wants to be working for. So there is a bit of resentment on his part that I’m working over here and he’s not, especially since I was hooked up with the gig through his contact. Aside from that, things seem to be going well over here so far. I like the people I’m working with, the job is interesting, and it beats making coffee all to hell. Ooo, I can drink coffee while working and not get in trouble! (We weren’t allowed to have drinks on the floor at Sbux.) So hopefully my time here will go well and they’ll keep me on. I hope so. I like ti here so far.

In-House vs. Studio

Almost two full months into my internship with Bel-Ray, I find myself quickly approaching a point where I need to start looking for job options for when my internship comes to an end. while September is literally around the corner and December seems like such a long way off, I know the time will pass quickly enough and looking for a job once you are jobless is NOT the way to go. So the question remains, which is more preferable: working an in-house gig or working at a studio?

Pros & Cons—In-House
One of the beauties of working in house is that you have (almost) complete control over your work and how you want it to fit into the “look” of your company. In fact, if you don’t like the “look” very much you might even be able to successfully pitch the idea for a visual overhaul. However, you will most likely get pulled to do other tasks that are outside of your normal workload and have nothing to do with design. Some companies are bad at this, others aren’t so much.

Pros & Cons—Studio
Studios seem to be the ones having all the fun. The projects change. There’s more freedom within your work. And the atmosphere is usually more relaxed. But you are essentially self employed and you do have to rely on clients “liking your look.”

So I dunno. I think I want to try working in a studio for awhile just to compare experiences.