Not your average freelancing advice. No ‘10x’ language. No grindset gospel. Just honest insights for freelance designers — written from the UK, but useful anywhere.

What's this all about?

I'm Tom. I've been designing for 20 years and freelancing for the last eight. Long enough to ride a few waves, make a few mistakes, and nearly pack it all in once or twice.

Like many, I came into freelancing with creative ambition. But over time, that ambition widened. It now includes space, health, time — and a version of success that isn’t just measured in income, but enabled by it.

There’s no shortage of freelance advice out there. A lot of it’s helpful — especially if your goal is to grow fast, scale hard, or brand yourself like a start-up.

But not all advice travels well.

Some of it’s been flattened by the algorithm — designed to go viral, not go deep. It assumes your clients are in Silicon Valley, your taxes are in dollars, and your dream is to scale a personal brand.

That’s not always the case.

So while much of what I share applies wherever you’re based, I’ll sometimes lean into the UK angle — whether it’s IR35 headaches, odd pension rules, or just the cultural difference of freelancing from this odd little grey island.

Because where we freelance from still shapes how we work, and what we need.

Who's behind this?

I grew up in East London and now live in Brighton, working from a garden studio with my dog (who gets more compliments than I do).

Alongside client work, I run community events — including the UK’s most popular grassroots UX conference — and gently encourage other freelancers to price with confidence.

I’m a proud generalist (before it was trendy), and I happen to think the business side of freelancing is the most creative bit. Some people find this mildly alarming.

This newsletter is where I share what I’ve learned: the wins, the wobbles, and the thinking that’s helped me build a career with more balance, more autonomy, and space to aim higher on my own terms.

“It’s like a Radio Times for design freelancers. Calm, clever, and no one’s trying to sell me a productivity hack. Lovely stuff.”
— Alan Partridge, Broadcaster (Probably)

Freelancing doesn’t have to be frantic.

There’s space for clarity, calm, and a version of ambition that still leaves room to breathe.

That’s what I’m writing about. If that resonates — you’re in good company.

-Tom