Fungi left university as a scientist. But it was her experiments with Photoshop that had unexpected results. She now wanted to be a designer.

Whilst working full-time in science, she designed on the side. By changing her entire persona online, she began to turn what started as a passion project, into a full-time freelance career.

Fungi’s focus is in lifting African culture and narratives to the forefront of her design. From the ‘Sunshine City’ Harare, Zimbabwe, she’s brightening brands, packaging and websites the world over.

designer, graphic designerSteve Folland17 July 2022work life balance, niche, Africa, career change, passion project, pricing, webflowComment

Illustrator Levi Jacobs

Levi left art school with no job, but worse, no love of art.

Eventually he started creating and experimenting. Finding his style, he also found an art director and his lucky break. Going from flipping burgers to turning over big meaty clients.

Still Levi has worked hard to keep the ‘play’ of art in his life. Joining a studio and forming a collective. He’s not going to let getting paid to create detroy his love for it.

illustratorSteve Folland10 July 2022work life balance, instagram, community, collectiveComment

Graphic Designer Frankie Tortora

Over 10 years ago Frankie crowd funded her training as a graphic designer. It’s fair to say she doesn’t look at problems the same way everyone does.

And when pregnancy took her flourishing freelance career a few steps back, when she felt isolated amongst parents with full-time jobs, she didn’t settle. She searched. She got creative.

As her first child was born, so was ‘Doing It For The Kids’. Through a blog, Instagram, award-winning podcast and thriving community, she’s forged a second family of freelancers juggling kids & business.

graphic designerSteve Folland3 July 2022work life balance, instagram, community, clients, family, comentoringComment

Photographer & Creative Director Bal Bhatla

Bal loved his job in advertising, but posting on Instagram as ‘Mr Whisper’ changed the course of his career, leading him to work not only for himself, but with some insanely high profile brands from the off.

As an early ‘creator’, Bal has had to adapt as social media has evolved, to make sure the brands and the full-time rates kept coming. But despite the competition, he has his blinkers on. He’s only in a race against himself.

photographer, creative directorSteve Folland26 June 2022work life balance, instagramComment

PR Consultant Michelle Garrett

Although Michelle had a brief fling living the nine to five life in Silicon Valley, there was no chance of her resisting being her own boss.

In two decades she’s grown a successful business, a family, a Twitter community and ridden out recessions and tough spells. It’s the long game and she’s got plenty to share on how to play it.

PR, writerSteve Folland19 June 2022work life balance, twitter, community, marketing, authorityComment

Designer & Illustrator Andi Best

After graduating with a degree in illustration, Andi moved back to his hometown.

Renting an odd-shaped office with no windows might not have given him great views. But it did give him amazing business connections that would set the first of many freelance plates spinning.

With a varied career, Andi’s also enjoying the challenge of mastering freelancing with his latest clients…his children.

designer, illustratorSteve Folland12 June 2022side project, coworking, work life balance, twitterComment