A fresh perspective on the freelance scene from Francesca Levi Morenos
Here at YunoJuno, we actively celebrate freelancers with all kinds of experience whether they’ve been working for 40 years or 8 months, and when Francesca Levi Morenos was nominated for the Freelancer Awards 2021 having been freelance for just 6 months, we knew we’d get a fresh perspective.
Having been designing for over 9 years, Francesca felt confident enough to move into freelancing in the summer of 2021, starting her new path exclusively with YJ which she describes as being “a game changer!”. We spoke to Francesca about finding new freelance projects, how she keeps on top of her design skills and what advice she would give to someone else considering going freelance.
Being new to freelancing and finding new work, we asked Francesca how she manages client expectations when taking on a new project;
Research their work and style, and when you approach them, list one or two of their projects that you like and think would work well for yours.
When it comes to sharing some things that went well, Francesca was keen to share her love for the visual collaboration app Miro and how she encourages clients to work with it when she takes on their project;
I use it for every single project I take on, from the initial brain dump to final polished exports. Whether I’m working with a partner or solo, its such a great way to quickly and efficiently get all initial concepts down and watch them develop in front of your eyes. It's also a great tool when presenting to your client or running them through your ideas.
As artwork and design in general is very subjective, we asked Francesca as a fairly new freelancer how she incorporates her own style with client briefs;
I always go with what I prefer, and then take on the client’s amends as they come in.
When it comes to handling feedback on her own work, Francesca says;
I ADORE constructive criticism. Learn to have no ego about your work, and if you find it hard, it would benefit both your mental health and your career to build your self-esteem outside of your work. Therapy is a luxury we should all go for if we have the means.
As a new freelancer, Francesca’s advice to clients working with designers for the first time too is;
Trust your designer. You hired them because you like their work, so trust their journey.
We then asked Francesca to share the best piece of advice she’d had so far working as a freelance designer;
Know how much you’re worth and don't take anything less without a good reason. LinkedIn is not Ebay, candidates don’t just go to the highest bidder.
And finally, we asked Francesca what being nominated for the Freelancer Awards 2021 meant to her, as a new designer;
Considering I had only been freelancing for less than 6 months it was such an honour! Another confirmation I made the right decision going freelance. Super grateful!
If you fancy working with Francesca on your next design project, book her here today. Check out her work here.
| Old rule (2021 Independent Contractor Rule) | New Rule (Effective March 11, 2024) | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of classification | Relied on a simpler, more straightforward approach that may not fully capture the complexity of modern work relationships. | Restores a multifactor "economic reality" test that considers a wider range of factors to determine employment status. |
| Legal consistency | Criticised for deviating from established legal precedent and potentially leading to more misclassifications. | Aims to align closely with longstanding legal precedent, offering more clarity and consistency in classification decisions. |
| Impact on workers | Concerns were raised that it might make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors, potentially denying them employment benefits. | Seeks to reduce the risk of misclassification, ensuring workers who should be classified as employees receive the benefits and protections that they're entitled to receive. |
| Guidance for employers | Provide a simpler framework for employers to classify workers, which could lead to broader interpretations and confusion. | Offers detailed guidance through the economic reality test, aiming to provide a clearer path for proper classification and reduce misclassifications. |
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