June 2005 Archives
At times I find myself at a crossroads, stuck in a quandary as to the validity of hanging a shingle from my desk bearing the title of “Graphic Designer.” Currently I have a degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with Distinction, garnered after four and a half years at the Alberta College of Art and Design where I managed to cram in five and a half years worth of courses. The additional courses came about partway through my studies when the college was given “degree granting status” by whatever agency decides these things and I decided that the words “university degree” carried far more appeal than a certificate of fine art. That, and because of some of the degree requirements I had the opportunity to take other courses outside the old curriculum that have rounded out my academic experience. Additional courses such as Cultural Anthropology and a variety of English courses which have gone a long way towards my being able to write more better(sic).
This is a re-exploration of something I’ve brought up before and still feel it needs to be expanded upon.
A number of months ago I was approached by a prospective client to do a project for them. I pitched my presentation, explained how it would help with their overall marketing goals and detailed the main areas of the work required. As these things usually go they eventually asked me about my rate. When this prospect found out what the project would cost them they balked. Their reply to the rate was how could I charge so much when they could get their nephew to do it for almost free.
