Interview with Brad Hussey

When did you realise you wanted to be a designer?

When I designed my personal website in iWeb in 2007, Apple’s drag and drop website building software from way back in the day! It inspired me to design and build for the web, which led to me enrolling in a 2 year college program for Interactive Design, which launched my career as a web designer.

How did you get started and what was the biggest hurdle you overcame?

I enrolled in a 2 year college program called Interactive Design, and we learned all aspects of design at the time, including web, graphic, branding, and software development. I started freelancing during this program in 2009, and started getting paid to build websites for my clients. The biggest hurdle I overcame was when, after working for a boutique agency for one year, I quit my job to start freelancing full time. I’ve never looked back.

What’s been your most successful way of getting clients?

The most successful method for me has been building my own distribution through email marketing, via my video content I’ve created on YouTube, and on course platforms like Udemy. Second to that would be to deliver exceptional value and service to my clients, which often leads to referrals.

How do you get clients to stay with you and use you for more work?

I rely on automated email marketing and building my personal brand through my content. The email marketing keeps my clients in the loop of what I’m working on and what I can offer. The content shows my relevancy and skill.

Do you ever have issues with clients paying late? How do you manage that?

Rarely is that a problem for me. In the early days of my freelancing, I would have to chase a few late payments down, but if you ensure you sign a contract, and use automated payment reminders, you’ll reduce this issue.

What does your typical work day look like?

Coffee, meetings, inbox zero, first thing in the morning. Then I’ll do my best to block out a few hours of uninterrupted time to focus on one single, high value creative task, like a client project, or content creation. Afternoon is typically reserved for business, development, interviews, planning, and administrative work.

Any piece of advice/wisdom that you’d like to give the readers at This Design Life?

Learn business skills! Pricing, negotiation, sales, and relationship management are often far more valuable than just being a good designer.

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Interview published on: Jan 24, 2025

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