Roadblock

I'm at a point in my design career (if you want to call it a career, it's more of a profitable hobby) where I have no motivation to keep designing. The clients I get are the same people all the time, the same (low) pay, and worst of all, I'm always designing the same things, over and over.

I just read a few threads about other people's projects and the budget they had to work on them. Where does everyone find these jobs? Are there places that I'm just not finding where I can keep business going, make some money and throw in some originality here and there to my work?

Right now the only sites I really visit are TalkFreelance and WHT on occasion.

Thanks for the help!

Tyler, you should check out SitePoint.com and perhaps local businesses, although businesses usually don't see 16 year olds as professional designers.

Originally Posted by Bas Tyler, you should check out SitePoint.com and perhaps local businesses, although businesses usually don't see 16 year olds as professional designers.

Exactly why I'm keeping away from local work for a little while, but I'll check out Sitepoint! Haven't been there in a while.

Thanks Bas.

This isn't quite what you ment i know but maybe it's time you move onto a new path, maybe come away from designing and into developing. . . . there are hundreds of ways you can go although some will ofcourse require you to have money to begin with before you can make profit. Research into it, maybe you could design aswell as something else web related. You've got a target audicance of what a hundred million? more?. Pick a section and go for it.

Local business and word of mouth,

I don't do any advertising at all and I have a constant work flow of clients that pay a good amount for each project. Having a professional fully functioning portfolio also works wonders.

I don't do any advertising at all and I have a constant work flow of clients that pay a good amount for each project. Having a professional fully functioning portfolio also works wonders.

I really do need to finish my portfolio, don't I

Thanks Anth.

What i think you should do is invest the money you have now into a business, not into a "web design graphics company" or whatever but into something that you know you'll be able to get a nice flow of income with. Something like online shop where you sell the latest technology/mobile phones or gadgets... There's loads to choose from.

Thats the problem, making the choice.

If you're a big risk taker, invest on a whim and hope for a return, but if you're new to it take the time to analyse the market, the growth in the past 6-12 months and then make your choice. The internet moves too quickly to walk into something blind.

I think you should continue to build a brand name, other than your own name.

Ignore almost what everyone else has said!

No-one has written any age/getting-design-jobs laws!

You may get rejected and not taken seriously, but then again you might get accepted! Learn to take the rejection and use it positively to build on your sales skills. Each rejection brings you closer to that acceptance!

Too many people concentrate on the negative side of rejection and don't even bother to try because it scares them too much. Failure is a big stepping stone you will have to get over, I suggest getting used to it now, embrace it, use it, learn from it!

Go out and have a go at getting some local clients! ask anyone and everyone, ask your family!

Set yourself a reasonable hourly rate and go out and get some clients!