[jeffery]

Hi everyone,

I have been given the task of gathering market research related to freelance graphics/illustration/art before I can join a lucrative government-sponsored small business program. I only have 48 hours to get the info!

Here's the survey I put together. Hopefully a few of you can take a few minutes to share some information with me. I'd be forever in your debt! PS. If you prefer, you can always email your answers to me at [email protected] .

Thanks in advance!

Survey
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Do you work full-time artist/illustrator/designer?
If so, how long did you spend in the industry before you could make a full-time living at it?

What activities led you to working as a professional?

What's your highest level of education?

What is your most typical type of client:

a) graphic designer or design firm
b) entertainment company (game or movie graphics)
c) small business or individual
d) publishing house
e) other _________________

Is the majority of your business:

a) local (within easy travelling distance)
b) national
c) international

If you answered b) or c), how did you gain clients outside your area?

Do you actively advertise your services? If so, how?
Has this method changed recently? If so, explain the changes, & the reason behind them.

Do you rely more on your print portfolio, or your digital portfolio?

Which part of the industry do you think is experiencing the most growth?
Which part of the industry is experiencing the least growth/most decline?

Do you expect to be doing the same sort of work 5 years from now?
If not, what might the changes be? And why?

[strata]

web design count?

[jeffery]

web design isn't 100% on topic for me, but if you focus more on the graphics side of it than the development side, go for it. the more information the better, from my viewpoint.

[Waldo]

Check your e-mail. I, along with a number of others I'll bet, would be curious as to your results if you are able to share...

Good luck.

[jeffery]

well time's up now. thanks a ton to the 2 people who responded from here, i really appreciate the great answers that you guys gave. i got a few submissions from other sources, so hopefully combined, it'll be enough. i've got a $10,000 business grant riding on this.

i didn't really gather enough results to establish statistical trends, but a few things were made clear thru my survey:

1) illustrators/designers don't tend to advertise much. word of mouth & submission of portfolios seem to be the only two avenues used to gain recognition & work.

2) traditional illustrators tend to work locally, while people involved in digital or new media work are much more likely to work nationally or internationally.

3) becoming a full-time professional artist is a process that involves years of practise as an amateur, a fair amount of education, and then a slow steady build in clients and income.

4) the quality and quantity of traditional media work (magazines and newspapers) is diminishing.

thats all the time i have for now, i have to go iron my suit.