Beyond Design: Practical Tips for Freelancing and Creating Your Brand
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How do you build a professional personal brand without losing the personal part? You may often feel like you need to be someone other than yourself when you're in a professional setting. Building a personal brand can be organic but the best ones are built authentically and strategically.
Once you know who you are and what you stand for, your reputation will speak for itself. Whether it's where you go to find clients, what your client onboarding process is or what clients you choose to serve, all aspects of your freelance business matter.
In this Master Class, Nakita M. Pope will show you practical tips for freelancing and building your own brand.
You’ll learn:
- How to think like a brand even if you’re a solo freelancer.
- How to apply the elements of an effective brand (like storybranding, brand voice, messaging and design) to create results.
- How to define your niche and define your audience.
- How to genuinely connect with your colleagues and clients.
- How to get and keep clients.
- How to develop a workflow, process and communication structure that makes working with you a pleasant experience.
No matter where you are in your design career, building your own personal brand authentically and strategically will always give you an advantage! When you learn how to think like a brand, what makes you unique and how to better connect with clients and stakeholders, you’ll be able to open up new and exciting opportunities for yourself!
Your Speaker and Industry Expert
Nakita M. Pope is the Chief Chick and Principal Brand Strategist of Branding Chicks, a boutique branding agency in Atlanta, GA with clients all over the United States. Over the past 25 years, she has worked as a strategist, graphic designer, creative director and brand manager which has given her experiences that inform how she works with her clients.
Her passion for brand strategy also extends to her advertising strategy, branding and design professorship at The Creative Circus for the past 13 years. In 2019 she also took on an additional role there as their Diversity & Inclusion Advisor and a year later the Design Department Chair role. In 2020 she was also named one of Graphic Design USA Magazine’s People to Watch. Nakita is involved in several professional and non-profit organizations including AIGA where she was named an AIGA Atlanta Fellow in 2021 for her contributions to AIGA and the local, regional and national design community. She is a core team member of African-American Graphic Designers (AAGD). She is also the Vice President of the Board of Directors of Smart Girls on Campus and a board member of Good Thinking Atlanta.
She is also the Co-Founder of Bella Boss, a subscription box for Black women business owners. Along with her work and passion projects, she now gets to share her knowledge and experiences with diverse audiences on the international speaking stage for organizations like The Female Founders Network, BBDO Atlanta, Phoenix Design Week, The One Club, Public Relations Society of America and the Georgia Tech College of Business. As always, her goal is to wield her crayons for good. You can connect with Nakita on her website or LinkedIn.
Build High-Impact Design and AI Skills
- Learn from industry leaders.
- Practical 1-hour Master Classes.
- Apply what you learn right away.
- Already a member? Log in to get your 90% discount.
Get a Certificate
You get an industry-recognized IxDF Certificate after each Master Class you complete. Add it to your LinkedIn profile and résumé to show managers and clients you learned your skills from the best.
Questions? We've Got Answers
Why are design skills so important right now?
Design skills are valuable for both you personally and for your company.
For you personally, design skills are important because:
Design roles are growing faster than average. The World Economic Forum ranks human-centered design among the fastest-growing skill areas through 2030.
Employers increasingly expect design skills across roles, not just from designers. Knowing design thinking, user research, or UX principles makes you more competitive in any field.
Designers who combine human-centered skills with AI expertise are in especially high demand.
For your company, design skills are important because:
Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.
I’m not a designer. Why should I learn design and AI?
Design and tech skills can open up career opportunities.
For example, if you’re in a field such as:
Marketing, communication, HR, software development, customer service, business management, healthcare, teaching, and many more.
Why can design skills make you valuable in these jobs and industries?
That's because:
Design skills help your team increase sales, retain customers, and improve customer satisfaction. Better customer experiences lead directly to better business results.
Companies that invest in design outperform the S&P 500 Index by 228% (Design Management Institute, Design Value Index).
Design is more than aesthetics. It's how teams make products easier to use, services more efficient, and technology more human. These skills create value across every department.
Do I need any prior experience in design or tech?
No.
Our courses, master classes, and career programs cover everything from the fundamentals to advanced topics.
Whether you're completely new to design or an experienced professional, you'll find courses, master classes and career programs at your level.
Will I receive a Certificate?
Yes.
After you finish, you’ll receive an industry-recognized IxDF Certificate to prove you've completed an evidence-based curriculum taught by industry leaders.
Add IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps.
You can download your certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. Certificates are always valid.
How do I add the IxDF Certificate to my LinkedIn profile?
That's easy.
Add your IxDF Certificates to your LinkedIn profile, resumé and job application in a few easy steps:
Click “Add profile section” on your LinkedIn
Tap “Recommended”
Select “Add licenses or certifications”
Enter your IxDF Certificate details
Hit “Save”
You can download your IxDF Certificates as .jpg files, so they are easy to share. IxDF Certificates are always valid.
Need more detailed instructions?
How can the global and local IxDF community help me?
We can help you in several ways.
Join meet-ups in your city: Join the regular meet-ups in your city in a nearby cafe or office building to have fun and learn with people just like you. You get full access to IxDF Local Groups where you can build your network, find new opportunities, or simply enjoy yourself in the company of people who are passionate about design. The meetings are completely optional and are spread across app. 500 cities worldwide.
You can also get instant help and career advice in the IxDF online members-only forums. Here, you can build your global network through our supportive community.
I just signed up for a live Master Class. What's next?
Wonderful! When you sign up for a Master Class, you’ll receive an email from Zoom with a link to join the live Master Class.
This email is sent from [email protected] - please check your spam folder.
If you can’t find the email, please reach out to [email protected], and we’re super happy to help you!
Great news! You’ll also get an on-demand version of your Master Class a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page.
That way, you can view the Master Class on-demand at any time. As many times as you wish.
Will the live Master Class be recorded and become available on-demand?
Absolutely!
When you sign up for a live Master Class, you’ll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you’re an IxDF member. If you’re not a member, you’ll receive your recording by email.
You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.
What if I can’t attend a live Master Class?
Great news! We’ve got you covered.
When you sign up for the live Master Class, you’ll automatically receive the link to the recording a few hours after the live event ends.
A few days later, the on-demand Master Class will show up on your private profile page if you’re an IxDF member. If you’re not a member, you’ll receive your recording by email.
You can enjoy your Master Class on-demand at any time, anywhere. Watch it as many times as you want.
What if I have more questions?
We’d love to hear from you and help you!
Reach out to us at [email protected] or use the online contact form.
High-Impact AI and Design Skills
What the Design Industry Says
Everything you learn at IxDF is evidence-based and designed to create actual results in your job and career.
Hear from designers, career switchers, and product leaders who share their experience with IxDF.
– Forbes.com
– UXPin
– Petal Health
– UxManiac
– Don Norman
– UsefulUsability.com
– Future Product Days
– Employed World
4.8/5 “Excellent” (based on 2,341 reviews)
– Trustpilot
– Critical Techworks
– Sagicor South Africa
– Leads.Lab
9/10 “I highly recommend it for anyone.”
– UX Mastery
– NextGen Healthcare
– Toools Design
– AiGA Design
– Core77
– IBM
– UX Planet
– George UX Conf
– SAP Community Network
– Canon
– UI Gradient
– UX Salon Barcelona
– Paul Boag
– Allied Irish Banks
– UX UI
– IDZ Berlin