We recently connected with Georgia Barrett and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Georgia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I am so grateful that I can support myself with my graphic design business. When I first graduated college in 2014 I thought the only way to succeed as a designer was to be part of an agency- there was no way I could support myself from my art!

Because of this, I stayed safe and worked my way up the corporate ladder of my 9-5 design job – from intern to designer to a senior-level position after 8 years. I learned about working with clients, interpreting edits and collaborating with others, but I felt totally stagnant in my career. Throughout that time I used freelance work as more of a side hustle – just exploring working with different industries and whoever would hire me for design work.

My 9-5 was comfortable, but every day, week, and year felt the same – I couldn’t stop wishing for the weekends! I knew it was time to shift.

In September of 2021 I decided to break away from the 9-5 path and put all my energy into my creative studio. A huge part of my initial success was the network of freelance clients I had built up over the course of my design career- once I was full-time freelance I leaned into larger projects, delivering the best quality work possible – and making it known to my peers and social networks exactly what I did and that I was available.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Georgia Barrett – I’m a graphic designer currently based in Rhode Island, USA, and offering services far and wide. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University – and recently launched my own creative studio after leaving a corporate design position that I held for 8 years.

Specializing in branding and website design, I help people bring a cohesive look and feel to their business through strategic design choices and creative identity.

I started my business in September of 2021 after leaving my corporate design job to pursue freelance full-time. Since then, I’ve been able to work with small businesses, photographers, and entrepreneurs around the country to help them build and grow their brands.

With the digital space, it’s so important to have a presence that’s not only eye-catching but consistent throughout the entire client journey- that’s where I come In. I help clients first craft a clear vision for how they want their branding to look, and then help them apply it- on their social media, their collateral, and most importantly their websites.

I understand the importance of being a strong communicator and building strong relationships with my clients. I believe that the key to producing successful designs is through collaboration and a deep understanding of the client’s goals and desires. That’s why I love taking the time to listen to my clients and learn about their business and the passion they have for it. This helps me gain a clear understanding of what they’re trying to achieve, and allows me to create designs that truly match their energy and vision. My communication skills play a crucial role in this process. I am able to effectively articulate my ideas and strategy for their business, and ensure that my clients are fully on board with the direction we’re taking. This helps to establish trust and a positive working relationship, and leads to a smooth and enjoyable design process for everyone involved. I believe that strong communication is what sets a good designer apart from a great designer, and I am committed to putting in the effort to build a strong connection with my clients. Whether through regular meetings, detailed presentations, or simply being an open and approachable person, I strive to create a collaborative and transparent design process that results in designs that truly reflect the client’s brand and vision.

As a designer, I challenge myself to have a fearless approach to my work. I believe that taking risks and being bold in my choices leads to truly memorable and impactful designs. This is why I’m not afraid to incorporate bright and vivid colors into my projects, or to experiment with playful and whimsical fonts. I find that the combination of these elements adds a sense of fun and personality to the designs I create. In addition to this, I also have a strong appreciation for traditional, hand-drawn design techniques. I love the organic nature and character that these techniques bring to a design. By blending these classic elements with more modern techniques and digital tools, I am able to produce designs that are truly unique and stand out from the crowd. My foundation in the arts also plays a crucial role in my design process. I understand the importance of having a strong conceptual foundation and a clear narrative in my designs. This means that every design I create is not only visually stunning, but also has meaning and purpose behind it. Whether it’s through the use of symbolism, storytelling, or simply creating a cohesive visual experience, I always strive to infuse my designs with structure and meaning.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I am deeply thankful that my side hustle has blossomed into a full-fledged career. Upon graduating college in 2014, I held the belief that the only path to success as a designer was through working at an agency. I never imagined that my art could sustain me on its own. As a result, I played it safe and worked my way up the corporate ladder at a 9-5 design job, eventually reaching a senior-level position after 8 years of hard work. While I gained valuable experience working with clients, making edits, and collaborating with others, I felt unfulfilled and lacked growth in my career. During that time, I used freelance work as a way to explore different industries and work with a variety of clients. Looking back on some of those early projects, I can see how far I’ve come as a designer. Although the designs may not have been my best work, the experience I gained from them helped me to perfect my craft and become a better designer.

The growth of my freelance work was a slow but steady process. At first, I struggled to balance a demanding corporate job with a growing number of freelance projects. I often had to turn down work due to a lack of free time. Although my 9-5 job provided stability, it was also stifling and lacked creativity. Several factors came together to help me make the transition to full-time freelance. I invested in a course by web designer Becca Luna, which provided a comprehensive guide to web design, development, and client management. The course gave me the knowledge and confidence to offer high-value services like website design. Additionally, I took on a part-time assistant position with hand-lettering artist Danielle Holleran of Details and Swirls. This position gave me hands-on experience and a consistent source of income while I built my freelance business. By leveraging these opportunities, I was able to support myself solely through freelance work within 8 months. A critical aspect of my success was the network of clients I had established over the course of my design career. Once I was a full-time freelancer, I focused on delivering high-quality work and making my services known to my peers and online networks.

Looking back, I stayed at my corporate job for so long because I could only think of the negatives if I left- I constantly was thinking “What if it all goes wrong”. Now, I try to live by the motto and mindset of “What if it all goes right?”

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a designer, the most fulfilling part of my job is the opportunity to bring a client’s vision to life. Each client and business has its own distinctive energy, and it’s a thrilling challenge for me to capture that essence in my designs. By bringing my creative ideas to life, I am able to connect with my clients on a personal level and make a real impact through my work. The moment when a client sees their vision come to life and says, “It’s better than I could have imagined!” or “This is exactly what I had in mind!” is what makes all the hard work and dedication worth it. These are the moments that truly make me feel proud of my craft and the impact I am able to make through my work. For me, the process of taking a client’s ideas and bringing them to life is both an art and a science. I use my artistic foundation and technical skills to create designs that not only look good but also serve a purpose and communicate a message. The end result is a unique and impactful design that truly represents the client’s brand and vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: gbarrettstudio.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamgeorgia.b
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgiawbarrett
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-barrett-9a002169/
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamgeorgiab

Image Credits
Marial Maher, Visual Manor