Ann Friedman: how long have you been self-employed?
Eight years. EIGHT! My business is a third grader.
AF: Before you went freelance, did you aspire to work for yourself?
Only in a fantastical pipe-dreamy kind of way. It seemed so fun! Like an episode of that show about a freelance NYC cartoonist, Caroline in the City. (Oh, soooo 90s!)
AF: What made you take the leap into self-employment?
It was not my choice initially. I was laid off, a by-product of the 2008 housing crash. The economy troubles trickled down to the mid-size design studio I was working and during this time they tried to grow too quickly and had to let a sizable portion of the staff go one day. There were no hints the company was in trouble. This was going on city-wide so I knew it would be hard to find another FT position right away, so that’s how I decided to go for the pipe-dream. At this point, I had about 1.5 month’s rent and a severance package of one month’s pay to my name, plus a pile of student loans, some pressing dental needs, and had made no other preparations in starting a business.
AF: What were your biggest complaints or issues with working a staff job? Have those problems gone away now that you’re self-employed?
The first place I worked in Chicago was run under an iron-fist level of management. They read our email and heavily monitored internet use as well as our time. The pay was miserly and there were some stunningly bad relationship dynamics that they tried to patch up by making everyone do personality tests and then leaked the answers people gave, yielding much gossip. That, and the issues related to my autonomy are much improved now, though I still work all the dang time.
The only other issues I’ve run into have stemmed from being the only female in a space, or on a team/project. Like the time, one of my guy workmates photoshopped my face onto the body of a swimsuit model and emailed it to the whole company. You know, cause, jokes are funny. </sarcasm> Gender issues still come up from time to time, because we live in a world where sexism still exists.
At this point, I don’t think I would “fit” in very many offices anymore. I’ve seen and heard too much bullshit through friends or experienced it personally to have much faith in that system. It would have to be someplace with an unusually flexible, non-traditional, non-hierarchical set-up with lots of women and gender non-conforming humans, people of color, queer folks, parents, and all ages of people who are empowered to make decisions about all aspects of the place. Such places do exist, but they are few and far between. I hope for more change here, for everyone’s benefit.
AF: Are there any struggles related to being self-employed that you feel have to do with your gender?
Anyone who isn’t a white cis guy tends to be more interested in my work, but generally, there is a struggle to be taken seriously. People won’t ask me about work and yet they will routinely ask my partner about his business. Cool, but it would be even cooler if people switched that habit up a bit. I’ve heard lots of women convey this. I’ve been also brushed off by lawyers or other business-adjacent professionals I’ve tried to hire. They’re all, “aren’t you cute with your little business”. Excuse moi, you don’t know what kind of money I might have for you. Same goes for negotiating fees. My women clients very rarely push back about my fees, but it happens with more frequency if I’m contacted by a male-driven business.
AF: Do you identify as an entrepreneur?
I don’t typically apply the term to myself, but I don’t reject it outright. It is technically true by dictionary standards. But it’s hard not to hear it without a heaping dose of over-confidence and snootiness (insert monocle and yacht). It’s also one of those words I can never spell correctly on the first try. Not my style. I use “self-employed” the most often because freelance doesn’t convey the grit and hustle it takes to start, grow, and maintain a business.
AF: I’m sure people seek advice from you about self-employment. Do you advise other women to go freelance? Why or why not?
Work is hard regardless if it’s for someone else or for yourself. It’s a tough haul to cobble together a growing freelance income just like it is to land a FT gig that isn’t soul-sucking.
I do advise women to go freelance, but with caveats, because it’s not for everyone. The financial risks are super real, but also it requires much alone time and constant self-governance. Some do better with the firm structure a 9-5 gig affords or do their best work among teams. Zero shame in that! However, there are lots more excellent business resources available now than when I started so it is possible to learn as you go. Other women-run businesses are critical to befriend, having a crew has been major through the hardest parts. And finally, no one talks about this, but so many small businesses are in debt and it’s not the end of the world nor is it something to be ashamed of. It is possible to have a successful business and be able to manage debt at the same time. ’Tis the American way, it seems. I recommend this book to everyone who has non-variable income. It fundamentally changed my entire relationship to money which in turn majorly impacted my income.
Idea files: Abitare Design Magazine
You know those days when nothing seems interesting? Just totally uninspired and blah. Easy to feel irritating, right? If you look at the internet (like you’re doing now) everything and everyone is supposed to be motivating and inspiring 24/7. It’s insufferable sometimes. We tell young creatives to learn to be inspired by LIFE MAN, cause the more places you can find LIFE the better. But do you like, buy it at a store? Does it come from Snapchat? Is it in my genes? How do you get from point zero to idea? Stubbornness was the answer today. I forced myself to find something at home. I sat on the floor in front of a bookshelf and didn’t move until something sparked. My hand eventually found this vintage Abitare issue from 1997. How is this even in my house and I didn’t know? My apartment and home office are a decent size, at least by city standards, but still there aren’t that many spots things can hide. How much is right under our noses!
Anyway. This magazine?! Gorgeous Italian design magazine, Abitare? I’m happy I know you now even if you are no longer in print. I don’t even mind that much of it is in Italian, which I don’t read. The ads are all hilariously 90s and the actual editorial content is still STUNNING. Here’s some of my favorite spreads and photos.
I clearly have a thing for libraries and this one is no exception! Multi-tiers of books! Spiral staircase and skylights. Okay. Sure. Have at it.
This desk/workspace! Parquet floors and that wall art!! I love it when people straight paint the walls in a bold way. Not something you see every day since it’s certainly not everyone’s style or interest, but damn, it’s for sure mine. And if it’s yours too, please can I come over? I’ll bring the strawberry rhubarb crisp I’m going to make tonight.
Gray paper text section in the middle breaks up the flow well and color blocked text catches the eye. I’ve always loved when paper changes inside a publication.
This one for this great geometric mosaic in all my favorite colors. This cobalt blue appears in many places in the magazine and it’s great. Feels Mediterranean, cool, happy.
This is an architect designed flat, which explains the mix of textures and materials. How fun is that sculptural built in? And painting those flea market chairs helps unify their different styles. Oh, and there’s that blue again.
Holy moly, isn’t this place the literal definition of swank? DAMN GINA. I’ve never seen a staircase quite like this before. I also love the mix of eras with the furniture and décor, always nice to see things from different times go well together. And it looks like the second level is full of plants and greenery. Because of course.
And here’s the last index page. Total graphic designer geek fest right here. Clearly someone who cares about type did this layout and hoo lands, did they ever. Large oversized letterforms, ftw.
If you know about Abitare, tell me! How did and what made you like it? Photos to share?!
Wage gap newsletter
Usually, I don’t post here the weeks that I send out my newsletter, but the topic of this one is so important it warrants a bit of a repost. Because I read recently that at our current rate it’ll be NINETY years before we fix the wage gap. We can do better than that. I believe in us! Here’s the link to view the letter.
Playlist: Classy Tunes for Small Folk
New (modified) Pomodoro Technique playlist for you! These are kid-friendly tunes for if your day’s to-do list also includes any littles, maybe try this. It’s mostly music not expressly made with kids in mind, but the songs still have a child-like quality to them. Got some timeless familiar crowd pleasers in it too, but nothing someone with some more years on ‘em (ahem) can’t get into either.
Anxious Anticipation
How about these images, eh? I’m not the hugest Kinfolk fan per se, but I came across these photos by Aaron Tilley when a potential client referenced the Kinfolk blog and knew I had to investigate them. The shots are from series which explores our current relationship with anxiety and stress in a digital culture. More than the importance of the topic, which is clear, I’m interested in the playful nature of them. So often anxiety is considered a shameful and grave topic because it can truly feel that way, perhaps debilitatingly so. But what if we viewed it with more lightness, absurdity, or humor? Taking a good solid look at anxiety and then flipping its effects both absorbs the intensity of the feeling and normalizes the experience. Something to practice in this modern world. Just knowing this possibility exists is a happy thought, that even if every stress hormone attack can’t be compartmentalized in this way, a more soothing response does exist on some level. A comforting thought indeed. More on Kinfolk’s site and in their upcoming issue.
