The Ultimate Guide to My Design Newsletter
Let's review all the most valuable and most read articles...
I wanted to make sure you guys all had a chance to read through some of these lengthy and info packed articles about design I wrote this past year. I also wanted to provide you guys with some news and updates.
I will be pinning this to the top of my substack newsletter so newcomers can see the full list of articles and their descriptions (and will keep it updated as new ones are added!)
First a bit of news:
I use to offer paid subscriptions on my substack newsletter and many of the articles were locked, I decided to make my newsletter completely FREE to read so that this info can benefit thousands!
(Monthly payments for those who had premium subscriptions I canceled last month and thank the people who supported me in helping me experiment and try new things. Your support counted so much!)
Some of these articles are pretty intense and took many many hours to write. My main goal was to go beyond what most articles online do as it was originally created as premium content.
I hope you enjoy the list below but lastly a few notes: (Because these and future articles for free, I would appreciate your support by checking out what I offer below)
Make sure to check out my website for links to my best selling design courses and other things I offer.
Note: I offer pretty discounted unique Udemy coupons for my courses that give you a big chunk off the price. Link here.
My design theory pdf book is now 50% off for substack subscribers! It also comes with high rez files for all of my design theory posters!
Now on to the good stuff…
1.) Everything I know about portfolio building in one mega article.
I spent the most time on this one. I wanted to create a masterclass in creating a really solid portfolio that will help you land new work and jobs. This was a pretty popular article as almost any creative needs to have one.
2.) How to make Passive income as a creative.
Most of you are interested in turning your creativity into cash. I go over my personal experience with producing passive income using my design skills and I am honest about which methods worked out best.
3.) Let’s talk about AI and how it will change the design industry.
I get asked about this every day. Will AI take over my creative job? It can feel this way with AI getting better and more accurate each month. I talk about my thoughts on the topic in the article below in FULL.
4.) How do I price myself as a creative?
I decided to turn my pricing guide into a full length article. If you want to know how much to charge clients then this is a MUST READ. I go over hourly and fixed rates as well as a few other methods.
5.) Finally a place with a full design brief!
One thing that I was disappointed with online is the lack of good realistic design briefs so you can start building a good design portfolio. I took the time to write these 5 with as much realism as possible and as much detail too! I even posted student work at the end to give you some ideas and inspiration.
6.) Very honest stories about working with clients.
This one gets really personal as I share a tough story about working with a client. I also share other experiences of other students who went through tough times with client work with real life stories. Lastly, I share how to navigate each situation with care.
7.) Can you copyright a logo? What are the copyright rules with logos?
Another concern is the lack of education and knowledge of copyright in the creative industry. I wanted to create a article that helps get give you a crash course in copyright issues with a focus on logo design.
8.) Gender-neutral design
There are some neat history lessons in here for those interested in design theory! This one got a little controversy when I first posted it. Do not miss reading this as I do NOT get political with this one and try to stay focused on what we can do as designers to best connect with our target audiences visually.
9.) Interested in going freelance? Are you ready?
This one goes into detail about figuring out if switching from salaried work to freelance work might be for you. We go over the daily schedules of each type of worker.
Hoping to add more articles with time!
Let me know which topics in the comments you would like to see me write about next!
Make sure to check out my website for links to my best selling design courses and other things I offer.
Note: I offer pretty discounted unique Udemy coupons for my courses that give you a big chunk off the price. Link here.
My design theory pdf book is now 50% off for substack subscribers! It also comes with high rez files for all of my design theory posters!
Lindsay, every time I read one of your articles, I'm reminded of why I chose to take your design courses in the first place. Your transition from paid to free content not only shows your dedication to spreading knowledge but also your commitment to helping creatives at all levels. Your course on branding and graphic design has been particularly transformative for me!
As one of your students, I can't recommend your courses enough to anyone reading this. The depth and practical insights you offer are invaluable, especially with the discounts on Udemy making it even more accessible.
Looking forward to seeing what topics you tackle next. Keep inspiring us, Lindsay!