As a WAHM myself, I know how hard it can be to find the balance between work and family life. On the one hand I wanted to be with the kids especially as they are still so little but on the other hand we were slowly sinking more and more into debt with only one income. Making the decision to work from home was an easy one and getting started was actually a lot simpler than you may think. There are an exciting number of opportunities for at home businesses, however if you have a flair for creativity then Graphic Design might be the perfect option for your new venture. This growing industry provides flexibility and opportunities for expansion.
One of the best things about graphic design from home is that you don’t need a lot of space to do it; all you need is a computer, an internet connection and access to the right software. Many graphic designers and WAHM’s like myself are able to work from home while the kids are in school, napping during the day or playing quietly by themselves (on the rare occasion that this happens). Right now Martin College is offering graphic design courses that can help anyone interested in web design, typography, graphic design and digital illustration.
Is Graphic Design for Me?
Are you a creative person? Do you love creating birthday cards, scrapbooks and photo books? Do you enjoy spending time on the computer and are you able to work under pressure and deadlines of potential clients? If so, then this could be the perfect professional path to take.
How to Become a Graphic Designer
Graphic design involves the creative process of translating concepts into a visual form. Graphic designers use their artistry and technical skills to visually communicate marketing ideas through mediums such as magazines, websites, advertisements and much more. Graphic designers can work for companies and on a team but many designers will look into starting their own home business and freelancing or contracting their services to a number of clients.
Becoming a graphic designer involves learning the software needed to create the layouts, artwork, images and designs as requested by the client. The Adobe Creative Suite is the software package preferred by the Graphic Design industry and most designers will operate on Mac computers. The range of graphic design courses offered at Martin College, such as the Certificate IV and Diploma of Graphic Design, teach students how to prepare layouts, present ideas, develop sketches and design briefs and work with a range of media including photography, illustration, computer generated images and computer aided design. Martin College students will learn to use the Adobe Creative Suite which encompasses Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator; Dreamweaver, Flash and Acrobat
Study and Work from Home
The best thing about working from home is the flexibility. You can choose when you work, how much you take on and how you balance your home and career. If the kids have a doctor’s appointment at noon, you can simply schedule work around it. Another great thing about becoming a graphic designer is that it is also possible to do all the training and gain certification by studying at home, at your own pace.
Once you have completed the course you will have a better idea of how you would like to proceed with this certification. You can find graphic design jobs online through various freelancing job boards or you can contact local companies, web designers and advertising agencies to see if there are any contracting opportunities available. It’s all about putting yourself out there which is terrifying but once you have the credentials to make a career out of this passion, the confidence soon follows.
For me, being a WAHM is still chaotic and every day is a struggle to find the right balance. But, I love knowing that I am able to watch my kids every day all the while earning a little extra in my spare time. Sure, the housework never gets done, my kids spend a lot of time colouring on the walls and there is barely a meter of flooring that is not covered with toys at the end of the day, but there really is no other work environment I would rather be in and having my kids as my ‘co-workers’ really does make it all worthwhile.
Turn your creativity into an at home business. Martin College are currently offering a $2000 saving on their Certificate IV in Design! Find out more here.
Jenna Gallina is SAHM’s advertising content writer. She lives in Cairns with her two young children, husband and dog and can often be found attached to her computer at play centres, coffee shops and anywhere that has entertainment for the kids and Wifi.
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