In the bustling creative hub of Glasgow, freelance graphic designer and facilitator Phoebe Willison thrives amidst a dynamic landscape of artistic expression and collaborative endeavours. With a diverse portfolio spanning editorial design, branding, and digital media, Phoebe’s journey through the design world has been shaped by a passion for variety and a commitment to excellence.
With a foundation in art and design, Phoebe honed her craft at Central Saint Martins, where she completed a Foundation Diploma in 2011-2012, followed by a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Graphic Design Communication from Chelsea College of Art in 2012-2015.
Operating from the vibrant co-working space at SWG3 Studios in Finnieston, Phoebe’s work reflects a fusion of creativity, strategic thinking, and client-focused solutions. From crafting compelling branding for small businesses to curating publications for renowned institutions like The Skinny and Glasgow School of Art, Phoebe’s versatile approach to design has garnered acclaim and recognition within the industry.
In this exclusive interview, Phoebe shares insights into her multifaceted career, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of freelancing, the dynamics of collaborative workspaces, and her vision for the future of graphic design in the age of artificial intelligence. Join us as we delve into Phoebe Willison’s world, where creativity knows no bounds and innovation is always on the horizon.
Can you tell us about your experience working as a graphic designer and facilitator in Glasgow?
I work as a freelance graphic designer in Glasgow for various clients. These include small businesses that may need branding or promotional materials, creating publications for companies like The Skinny, and working in-agency for short periods of time on a project basis. Most of my work is done remotely, and I work from a co-working space at SWG3, which is a creative hub with artists studios, shops, workshops, and venues in Finnieston. I also facilitate creative events or learning, bringing people together through workshops, exhibitions, talks, and some teaching.
What drew you to working across various disciplines such as editorial, branding, and digital design?Could you share some insights into your process when working with clients like The Skinny, Glasgow School of Art, and others?
It was more of a natural journey to where I am with my practice rather than being particularly drawn to working across disciplines. I enjoy the variety of the industry, so I guess I’ve tried to take advantage of that. I try just to do jobs that I enjoy! As for my process, each client and job will be different. Sometimes, jobs already have specific processes that I follow, like at The Skinny, or if I’m running the job myself, I’ll use my own schedules and processes. Again, each job is different, but often, I’ll start with a period of research before going into sketching and, finally, design. If the job allows timing and budget, I prefer to workshop with the client for the first couple of stages, especially if it’s a new client. This means having a session over a couple of hours helps me understand the brief and the client’s needs.
What challenges have you encountered while freelancing, and how have you overcome them?
Loneliness can be a big challenge for freelancers, which is why having a desk space is great for me. Also of course having money worries, but having regular monthly jobs (like The Skinny) really help take some of the burden of that.
Can you discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renting desk space at SWG3 Studios in Glasgow?
As above, it’s great for combating loneliness and boredom through the day if you’re working alone from home. It’s also good for meeting other creatives with different practices and skills, and means if a job comes in which requires copy/photography/illustration etc, theres probably someone you’re sitting next to who can help out. Disadvantages – it costs money! And you can’t wear your pyjamas all day.
What strategies do you employ to promote yourself and your services as a freelancer?
I’m actually not very good at promoting myself, I’m terrible at keeping my instagram or website updated. So honestly probably mainly word of mouth, I guess always trying to be on time and delivering good work is the best chance you can give yourself.
How do you approach networking and building relationships within the design community?
Again, this isn’t really my bag. I’m not a networking girlie, and I think in general the creative industries can be a bit weary of that because we all have quite a low cringe threshold. So I think for me my best ‘networking’ is my friends and people who I share the studio with. Also, putting on (and attending!) creative events is a good way of meeting new people in the industry, so running a lot of them has naturally expanded my network.
What software tools or resources do you find essential for your work as a graphic designer? What are your thoughts on the future of graphic design, particularly in the digital landscape, especially now in AI (Artificial Intelligence era)?
I use the usual Adobe Creative Suite, but mix in some free tools like Figma and Blender. Of the future of design… well, I actually hope AI does get better at graphic design cause quite honestly theres plenty of boring uncreative things that I wish were automated so I didn’t have to do them anymore. I think humans will always respect and value the human touch in creative work, so I’m not that worried about robots making art. And I could live in a gorgeous socialist paradise world where we all did 3 day work weeks, doing fun creative stuff only, and (solar powered) AI could just take over the boring tasks.
What advice would you give aspiring graphic designers looking to start their freelance careers?
Don’t be worried if you need to start out by supporting your freelance work with another job in e.g. retail or hospitality first, thats what I did and it helped get me off the ground.
Do your tax return as you go, and consider a co-working space.
Go for it!!
Images rights reserved by Phoebe Willison.
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