My Freelancer Career
From a Bachelor in Psychology to make a living as freelance designer and illustrator, I couldn’t tell you how or when it all started, it just happened by chance… in this timeline I share my path.
1979 - 1998: Childhood
- I was born in 4th January of 1979.
- I’m 5, I love drawing and everybody tell me I do it pretty well.
- I’m 15 and I express myself with drawings.
- I’m 19… I keep on drawing I’m very perfectionist and improve fast.
1999 - 2003: College
- I’m in College studying Psychology. I get good marks even though I’m not a good student.
- I abandone art for some years.
- I like Psychology but not dealing with mental health… I look for other options: Criminology.
2003: I discover Digital Art
- I get access to a PC for first time, I love Counter Strike!
- I’m 24 and I discover by chance the magic of Photoshop 6.
- I create my first mascot designs just for fun (with a mouse) but my skills are mediocre.
- My girlfriend insists I deserve my first Wacom Intuos 2 and I give it a try as a comic colorist.
- I’m preparing myself to join the Police Forensic Investigation Department… Not really convinced.
2004: I move into design
- Comics are fun but not profitable… bummer.
- I’m 25 and I’ve managed to sell my first logotype in exchange for hosting.
- I get into logo design and I realise that, while my drawing skills are not good enough for the comic industry, they are above average for the design industry. I see an OPPORTUNITY!
- I’m determined to learn proper English.
- I get a low budget but steady client list thanks to WHT.
- I create my first “web page” and I’m determined to learn HTML and get into web design.
2005: I focus on Design
- I give up on Criminology and focus on design.
- I give up the comics and focus on design.
- I sleep during the day and work at night 12 hours, 7 days a week. My priority is not money, just learning.
- I’m 26, I work a lot from a small room in my parent’s roof and I’m short in money but for first the time in my life I’m determined!
2006: My first big gig
- I’m 27 and at last I’m having a decent wage for the first time… stability, long term plans. I move to Madrid to learn 3d animation.
- I design SOSFactory V1, my first -almost- professional web portfolio.
- SOSFactory gets its first big client: Funrise Toy Corp.
- I create a team of 13 artists all around the world.
2007: I start blogging
- My contract with Funrise finishes without prior warning… no clients, no income! Depending on 1 source was a bad idea.
- I’m determined to learn CSS. A whole year designing SOSFactory V2, fancy but not usable, it will never come to light.
- I get into blogging as promotional tool, SOSNewbie is my first blog.
- For personal issues I move to Berlin and give up on 3d… too slow and technical.
- Hard work and self-promotion, I’m 28 and I don’t look for clients anymore, they come to me.
2008: I become an authority
- Universe gift me with a Wacom Cintiq, I start drawing for real.
- I design the first of many MMORPG.
- My blog doesn’t generate direct income but Smashing Magazine hires me as a guest blogger.
- Envato hires me as a guest blogger.
- I’m 29 and my popularity grows exponentially.
2009: I focus on myself
- Peritonitis knocks me out for 2 months:(
- Rheumatic fever knocks me out for 10 months 🙁
- I’m 30 and I slow down and take care of myself, I manage to overcome the year the best I can.
2010: I want to be premium
- More knowledge I have harder I find dealing with clients.
- I find all clients whimsical, I hate freelancing… my first burnout! ???
- I take some time off, I need a new approach and energy.
- I’m 31 and I redefine my strategy: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook…
- I finish SOSFactory V3, my first website designed for a targeted audience: premium clients.
2011: SOS goes incorporated
- SOSFactory V2 attracts the targeted client profile: several important clients knock at our door.
- I start creating a source for passive income: stock designs and premium tutorials.
- More health issues: pulmonary embolism, I quit a long term relationship and leave Berlin 🙁
- I move to Pokermania’s offices in Cologne, my first business partner, lots of projects, lots of fun, lots of money… lots of success… and a dream: creating my own company.
- I’m 32 and hire my first staff member joins SOSFactory at Pokermania offices.
2012: I get trapped
- I hire my second staff member.
- SOSFactory goes great financially but my staff is not reliable, as time pass, I tend to assume more a more responsibilities… stress, bad habits, overwork and health problems again… my second burnout ???, I finally give up.
- I’m 33 and go back to my relaxed freelance lifestyle, more focused and organised… I fall in love with Cologne and stay there.
2013: I take a breath
- Pokermania works for a while but investors step back so our roads won’t cross again. I continue freelancing for them for a few months.
- I’m 34 and have worked really hard for 10 years, I take a breath… the rest of the year work is not a priority and I focus on a personal research and spiritual growth! ???
2014: Celebrity in Middle East
- Pokermania goes bankrupt so back to the jungle!
- After a few months of hard work and low profile clients I got hired by Toyota in KSA to design Jameel mascot, opening the door to middle east emerging sport market.
- I’m 35 and a long time dream come true… I can afford freelancing while traveling, I spend 2 months in Australia.
2015: zombie mode is on
- Pixlwise hire me on full time for the whole year.
- I focus on Startup Alley game, great idea, great art but not the best execution.
- Income is good and the job is fun… SOSFactory is in zombie mode for the whole year.
- I move to Mac and I go HD.
- I’m 36 and have spent 10 years in Germany, I leave Cologne and get back home, Málaga! I want to settle down.
2016: I settle down
- SOSFactory zombie mode is OFF, not many clients and competition is fierce… time to trash everything and reinvent myself.
- I transfer from my 3d glossy style to a simpler and a more modern vector look.
- Lots of kids selling fancy logos that are not usable in the real world. Crowdsourcing is a virus… I focus on offline businesses.
- I start designing SOSFactory V4 (the current version). My first fully functional WordPress based website targeted to creative agencies.
- I’m 37 and I invest most of my savings on real state in Torremolinos.
2017: long term thinking
- SOSFactory V4 is published!
- The year starts unstable and I get into vacation rentals as an alternative source of passive income. It works great!
- I got hired by KSA professional football league to create their team mascots.
- I’m 38 and my financial and emotional situation is rock solid.
2018: becoming a Football Star
- I got hired by Pyramids FC team in Egypt to design their logo and mascot.
- I got hired by Al Wehda in KSA to design their logo and mascot.
- For first time I run personal projects just for fun and research, like my sculpture projects and my Worldcup mascotization for Russia 2018 that brings me a lot of exposure.
- I’m 39 and 100% focused and committed to my art.
2019: Coming soon...
- Currently designing a few mascots for Maersk, the largest container ship and supply vessel operator in the world since 1996…
- Currently designing SAN DIEGO 2019 BEACH GAMES mascot design.
- Currently designing some cool stuff for Retrosix.
- I’m 40 and got bald but the year couldn’t start better… 🙂