Have you ever thought about starting a freelance graphic design studio? Or wondered how to get freelance clients and be your own boss?

 

Our Aventive Academy graduates have started and grown their design businesses, and we’re sharing their stories with you in our Student Success series.

 

Today we’re speaking with Morgan Pantoja, a branding designer and illustrator who took both courses in our Freelance Money-Making Bundle. Morgan has a unique niche and an inspiring story, and we’re excited for you to meet her.

 

Hi Morgan! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Morgan Pantoja, and I’m a branding designer and illustrator for the young in age and young at heart. You can find my Instagram here and my website here.

 

I would describe my style as light-hearted and fun, intentionally designed to be engaging and tell a story. Currently, I live in Kansas City, Missouri, and work with people across the US.

 

What type of graphic design services do you offer?

I offer branding and illustration services. For branding design I offer logos, brand colors, fonts, and brand style guides. As mentioned, I focus primarily on businesses that work and create for children, adolescents, and the like.

 

Secondly, I offer illustration. This could be branding illustrations, such as post cards, brand mascots, illustrative logos, etc. It could be fun illustrations to liven up your website, book illustration, game illustration and more! I’m very open to discussing all kinds of illustration projects.

 

What inspired you to enroll in the Aventive Academy courses?

I was inspired to enroll in the Aventive Academy course because I felt like I needed direction on how to operate a graphic design business. I’ve never worked for myself before, and I am still pretty new to the design world.

 

Aventive Academy appealed to me because it was tailored to women in the specific industry I want to work in. I was drawn in by the content I saw, and Kady addressed a lot of the feelings and concerns I had about starting a business.

 

How have the courses helped you become a better freelance business owner?

This course has given me an immense amount of confidence. Before I started I had never worked with contracts, I felt nervous to charge hardly anything, I felt overwhelmed by how to start, and I had no clear goals.

 

Now I have contracts, a business task organizer, financial systems in place, invoices created, an ideal client, organized branding, and clear-cut weekly and monthly goals. I finally feel confident in myself as a service provider.

What numbers have changed in your business since taking the Aventive Academy courses?

Since starting Aventive Academy, I have raised my rates for branding considerably. I now set my rates based on my monthly financial goals and the amount of work I can take on.

 

I used to offer logo design for $100. I now offer 3 branding packages for clients to choose from that range between $575-$990 (at the time of this writing).

 

What is your process for finding and landing clients online?

Before starting this course, I got a large majority of my clients through social media, but usually not the ideal client and demographic I was looking for.

 

Going forward, I plan on growing my online presence on Instagram and Facebook, as well as LinkedIn. I will be adjusting my content to better attract my ideal client and showcase the value of my services.

What is something that you’re most proud of when it comes to your freelance career?

I’m most proud of the fact that I quit my job of five years, and started a freelance business in a field that I had no previous work experience in whatsoever.

 

It’s been two years of trial and error, highs and lows, and lots and lots of learning. But it’s been all worth it. I now have built a small business that is my own and that allows me to provide a service I am passionate about. I’m very excited for the future of my business!

 

What are some of your long-term goals?

Some long term goals of mine is to earn enough money to support myself as a single person while working part-time so I can devote effort to my Christian volunteer work every week. I also hope to illustrate my first children’s book.

 

What is your number one piece of advice for aspiring freelance graphic designers?

Don’t expect anything overnight. It will more than likely take longer than you are expecting to see results — and then some. But don’t quit!

 

If something isn’t working in your process, your business, etc., then try something else. And never stop learning about your industry. That will only help you.

Design credit: Morgan at Mopa Illustration & Design

 

What concept from Aventive Academy’s courses would you suggest that every freelance graphic designer learn, and why?

I think I would say every freelance graphic designer needs to learn the true value of what a professional designer does for people and brands.

 

In a world where programs like Canva exist, we have to help people appreciate why they should pay us to do something they think they can do on their own for free.

 

For one, it’s because we are professionals and we have the skills. But, we’re also individuals with unique minds, senses of humor, likes, dislikes, tastes, and ways of thinking about things.

 

Every designer is completely unique because every person is completely unique. I think designers should learn to value their uniqueness and lean into it because ultimately people are inclined to hire people, not skills.

 

What do you consider your most successful design project?

l would consider my Alice in Wonderland book cover to be my most successful design project. It was actually done as a personal project, but I think it is my most successful project in the sense that it’s a great reflection of my style, the type of work I want to do, and my potential. And it incorporates both my design and illustration work.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?

I draw inspiration from all kinds of places! I love going to stores and looking at the current trends and the various branding. I’ll look at all departments, not just the products I focus on designing for.

 

I love bending genres so to speak, so I will look at food products, clothing, interior design, board games etc. I also go to book stores or libraries to seek inspiration from the variety of books. I also look at films, other designers and artists, comic books, and fashion and interior design magazines.

 

When you’re not designing, do you have a favorite free time activity you like to do?

I have lots! I love reading, being in nature, spending time with my cat, exploring my city, binging Netflix and spending time with my family.

 

Thank you Morgan for being part of our Aventive Academy community! We’re so happy that you have grown as a freelancer and created a business that supports your dreams and passions. We’re looking forward to seeing you continue to shine and help others.