How to Be a Freelance Instructional Designer

Amy Spielmaker | NWeLearn 2024

My Background

  1. Environmental Science
  2. Financial Economics
  3. Nutrition
  4. Instructional Design
  5. Freelance Instructional Design + Web Development
Dead bees ☹️
Some light reading.
Finally B.S. degree complete.
EdTech M.Ed. program @ WOU.

Is Freelancing Right for You?

Category Freelancing might be for you if... Freelancing might not be for you if...
Autonomy You want to be your own boss You want external structure
Social Environment You like working solo You want a strong work community
Work-Life Balance You want a flexible schedule You want to “clock out”
Financial Needs You are okay with peaks and valleys You need a steady paycheck
Versatility You are comfortable doing all the jobs You don’t feel comfortable stepping outside your “scope”

Skills to Have

  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Creative Cloud
  • Accessibility (WCAG)
  • Visual communication
  • Copy writing
  • Organization
  • Design Thinking
wizard website magic
photo editing on couch
keyboard sound and phone
before redesign
after redesign
before redesign
after redesign
raindrop bookmark manager
Bookmark manager, raindrop.io
seek to understand
chair
It’s not “design a chair.” It’s “create a way to suspend a person.”

Starting Out

  • Start
  • Have a website
  • Do good work
  • Be ready to wait
  • Maintain a foothold
wetlands
Fictional project for class.
optimal living
First paying client.
amy website
My website. I like squirrels.
amy website
Use your website to showcase work, share your resume, and show your personality.
the secret: do good work and share it with people
From “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon.
waiting for jobs

Beginning a Project: The Meeting

Things I like to know:

  • What are you looking for?
  • What’s the point?
  • What do you have right now?
  • What’s your timeline?
  • How do you see this being maintained in the future?
  • How flexible are you with...?

Things they like to know:

  • How much will it cost?
  • What’s your timeline?
  • What’s your process?
  • What’s your background?

Red flags:

  • We already have all the content.
  • So and so will write all the content, you just design it!
  • You create it, and our team will take it over.
  • We need this done ASAP.
  • We just need a small change...

Beginning a Project: The Contract

contract
cost estimate

Working on Projects

  • Give people something to react to
  • Be transparent
  • Make time for training
  • Don’t forget about your portfolio!
what people want
spreadsheet with tasks
Google Sheets for tracking tasks.
padlet feedback
Padlet board for tracking feedback from multiple people.
course documentation video
Handoff documentation for instructors.
portolio page with screenshot
Take screenshots and write down successes.

Tricky Situations

  • You made a mistake
  • Your client wants to micromanage you
  • Your client is demanding
  • You disagree with a client’s request

Questions?