[Lea]

Ok, I have a few questions to fellow-graphic designers, especially new ones

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?

5. Do you feel guilty charging money? (probs more of a question for the less confident graphic designer)

Thank you :D I shall answer below..

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
I am still not completely confident that I have what it takes to call myself a graphic designer

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
In my artwork, yes, in my graphic design, not at all

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
I work for myself, in spare time. Other than that, i'm stuck at home with my youngest child lol

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
I have nothing that can be put into a CV that represents design in any way.

5. Do you feel guilty charging money?
Yes.. This week i've had some work ordered with a local band and two websites from other clients, and I feel guilty even mentioning payment :(

[dogsbody]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
Always feel like i'm going to be found out

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
No

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
Both

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
Self taught

5. Do you feel guilty charging money?
I feel guilty charging for anything

Thank you :D

[Ozwaldo Sanchez]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
After 14 years of playing i feel i am now ready to say yes

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
yes for about 85% of the whole process - just need to work on the book-keeping side really.

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
Both

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
basic hnd qually to start then self taught/sponged bits and bobs off other work collegues (this does go both ways)

5. Do you feel guilty charging money?
Hell no… Don't think the bank feels guilty charging me for the mortgage, or the local gargae feels guilty charging me for an mot test!

[Pixels Ink]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
11 years of working commercially as a designer I think I have reached the 'i'm a graphic designer' status.

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
I am very self critical of my work but am confident with what I offer / produce.

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
I am Creative Director of a web / design business employing 4 staff.

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
I have an HND in Graphic Design and an Honours Degree in Animation.

5. Do you feel guilty charging money?
I don't feel guilty charging money, I just find it difficult charging the correct amount :)

[sarah_a]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
I still feel I am starting out to be honest. I have been trying my hardest to get myself set up. However
I have learnt a lot.

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
Yes. I am now. I didn't used to be.

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
I do both lol i work for myself and an agency

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
Both

5. Do you feel guilty charging money? (probs more of a question for the less confident graphic designer)
Yes and no

[Green Sheep Design]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
I still feel like were setting up, I think the status of graphic designer will come when i've had more experience.

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
Yes... I think you have to be. But I think i'm a bit like pixels in the fact that i'm very self critical plus I always think I can do better.

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
I am one of two directors of our web/ graphic design company. I have the design skills, he has the web development skills so together we make a pretty good team!

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
I have a HND in Graphic Design but i've learnt so much more from working in the industry.

5. Do you feel guilty charging money?
Not really, as long as we never undersell ourselves!

[iguana_02]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
After all this time..i really feel like i am a graphic designer

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
Absolutely, what i offer is what i can do.

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
I work in my office, it's the only work i can do.

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
I got a graphic designer degree in Italy, but its just a piece of paper...i learnt all by myself working in different places when i was just a kid.

5. Do you feel guilty charging money? (probs more of a question for the less confident graphic designer)
I ask what i ask...and i offer quality...if the client thinks its too much...well...google a graphic designer...there's plenty in there...and cheap....and crap..;) and they come back to me...it happens always...:)

[Munni]

1. Do you still feel like you are 'setting up' as a graphic designer, or do you feel you have reached 'i'm a graphic designer' status?
I'm a graduate but still don't class myself as a designer yet...I'd say Junior or Trainee Designer, as I'm still on the bottom end of the learning curve.

2. Are you confident with what you have to offer?
It depends on what it is...sometimes I'm totally confident and proud of what I'm doing, other times I 'crash' I'm wondering what the hell have I got myself into...

3. Do you work for yourself, for an agency etc etc? If from home, do you have other jobs?
Work from home designing on an as-and-when-basis...I co-run another business (events) and so this keeps my really busy.

4. Do you have any qualifications or are you self-taught?
HND Graphic Design, BA (Hons) Graphic Design...About to embark on a postgrad...Most of what I know I've learned from practise on the computer, people around me, and books. NOT college/uni ironically!

5. Do you feel guilty charging money? (probs more of a question for the less confident graphic designer)
HELL NO!!! I've spent years training for this!! Does a solicitor feel guilty for charging £250 an hour? I dont think so!!