Going Global

It's easier than ever for you to get your work in front of art directors and editors of foreign publications and agencies with the wonders of the newfangled intraweb, so don't just consider the UK when promoting yourselves.

Get hold of magazines etc published abroad and start to contact the art directors.

Art directors love to work with illustrators in other countries it makes them feel exotic (even if you live in Manchester) Considering the size of the market for images is outside of the UK you'd be foolish to ignore it.

In the last year I think I've only done two jobs for clients in the UK but I've been pretty busy with freelance work (considering I only have 3 days to do it in) from Germany, America and Japan and I'm not even trying ;-)

Its also interesting to consider what doesn't sell in one market or country sells well in others.

See Zeegans advice on this also:


4. Make international connections
Networking without borders
With the UK economy apparently in free fall, what better time to start looking for opportunities further afield? Networking on a global scale isn’t tricky these days with a plethora of blogs, wikis and websites widely available, but why not go one better. Rather than spending the money on a new tent and a ticket for a rain-sodden summer festival, trade up and fly budget to a design conference. Make new contacts, add to your CV and meet with representatives of international design organisations to boot.

5. Going global
Working abroad can pay off
International study trips and exchange programmes have given many former students a flavour of the opportunities abroad. A number of UK design schools and the general design scene are held in high esteem internationally, so it’s relatively easy to get access to companies – assuming work permits and local employment restrictions aren’t an issue.

Moving from Dalston to Dubai may not be plain sailing, but the potential rewards and career prospects can outweigh the drawbacks. As with any new initiative, plan carefully and get advice from others who have taken the same route.