Creative Freelancing in the Wake of the New Election
Donald Trump will be our next president. This is the reality, and it’s a reality a lot of us are afraid of. To most of us, Trump’s victory is a wake up call, a sobering end to an extremely polarized political campaign.
I’d be wrong if I didn’t admit to feeling defeated. But with all of this confusion and fear, I’m determined to figure out ways we as creative entrepreneurs can work well, and work together, during difficult political times. I believe we can unify, make a difference, and respond.
Inclusion in Design
My mission is to make my clients feel empowered by designing them fresh and fearless brand identity and websites. This stems from a sense of empowerment I believe all of us deserve to feel.
When I was young, I remember a lot of the discrimination my parents received. 60 years ago, when my parents immigrated to America, they were very much the “other.” Italians were thought of in horrible terms, marginalized and discriminated against. Particularly my mother, who has an accent that sounds like someone un-American—even though she married a US veteran, raised 2 American children, and ran a small business. My mother would often come home with stories of people making fun of the way she talked.
Even in the face of the discrimination, my mother treated all others with respect, no matter who they were. My parents ran their own business for almost 30 years, and my mother would always hire immigrants and others who had challenges finding work: those with learning disabilities or older people who needed an income.
I know that was an uneasy bridge for my mother to cross. I know she was saddened and upset with people who teased her for her accent. But those real-life lessons on discrimination made her more compassionate, not angry, towards others in her community. She wanted to raise up those in her small town. I believe we as designers and creative business owners can learn a lot from this action
“Design should be a welcome mat. It should reach out and shake hands. … It’s time to double down on inclusion in design, even if it means reaching across that uncomfortable divide.”
Donate time and resources.
We are part of the entrepreneurship revolution. As creatives, we have the skills, ability, and privilege to offer our time and resources to organizations that can deeply use help. This was beautifully exemplified by Portland, OR branding and web design firm The Beauty Shop. The day after the election they decided to offer branding and websites free of charge to organizations representing LGBTQ, Women, People of Color, Hispanic, Muslim, and Immigrant communities. They did not have a plan for this, but felt the need to help others in their community. “We want to help your voice be heard,” is what they said.
It is often artists and art that can shine a light on being human, both its struggles and its joys. Poet E. E. Cummings said “War and chaos have plagued the world for quite a long time, but each epoch creates its own special pulse-beat for the artists to interpret.”
The consequences of a nation under new leadership are unknown. However, we can use empathy to communicate with others. We can also use our creative voices to help and be heard.
- Organizations that can use your help
- Freelancer’s Union post-election dispatch
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I work with creative entrepreneurs and I realign their brand identity so it feels fresh and fearless. My clients finally feel empowered to share their business look and feel with the world.
Do you want to be fearless when you show your business to the world? Do you want to share your passions and talents to a broader audience? Do you want your business image to be as fresh and creative as what you offer to your clients? Do you want to be the professional on the block, and stand out from the rest of the crowd? Let’s work together.