COMMENTS
I'm looking for some advice. I'm not quite 2 years out of school, with a 4 year fashion design degree. I've been working in the fashion industry, but so far only as a design intern and assistant designer where I didn't actually get to design anything but just do the normal gopher work, measuring specs, and tech packages. I have, however been designing on my own and keeping my portfolio updated.
I recently moved to San Francisco from New York and I've decided to go into freelance design because I really do believe in my talent. I posted my portfolio online, and put my profile up on a number of freelancer websites, and soon after someone contacted me about a job. He's starting a clothing line for young women and he's looking for freelance designers to design jeans, t-shirts, and other tops for the line. He lives on the east coast so the working relationship will be long distance.
My question is about price. He's asked me to give him my rates. I'm brand new to freelancing and have little idea what to charge. He says he'll probably just want 2 designs from me to start, as a kind of audition, to see if I can accurately represent his brand with my designs. For that I would just charge per sketch. However, do I charge him for the sketches whether he uses them or not, or do I only charge him if the designs go into the line? Also, what should I charge per sketch? And I know that I should charge extra if he wants flats, swatches, detail shots, and specs, but how much extra?
Also, I've been reading up on freelance rates wherever I can find info, and the consensus is that, when charging by the hour, a newcomer should charge no less than $40 per hour. Do that sound about right?
I'm really at a loss here. I don't need exact numbers because I know that the final decision will be based on what I believe my work is worth...but if someone could give me a ballpark to start with it would help me out a lot!
Well, Jess I see your dilemma, starting out as a freelance designer is always tough because there are so many unknowns. You have some great questions and I’ll do my best to help answer them. As a fashion designer or illustrator your price per sketch will vary. An average rate around the industry is about $200 per sketch. Of course this should be a guide, anywhere between $150-$300 per sketch should be reasonable. Now as far the doing a trial sketch I would not recommend that. He contacted you based on your design style and taste level; that should be enough for him to make a decision to hire you. Now if this is an established brand i.e. donna Karen, Michael Kors, or a fashion company you have a real interest in, where doing a project can be portfolio e booster , i.e.“ This is a project I did for Michael Kors” then a couple of trial sketches might be a good idea. Remember that your time is money. Fashion-incubator.com has a great article “working as a freelance fashion designer” that you should also check out.