In the iterative stages of creating designs for clients, I've always found that getting that first idea pushed out always takes the most effort. After that idea is on a canvas, iterating and developing further concepts becomes a lot easier.

Leaning on the side of quality comes from quantity, I

From Good to Great: The Importance of Iterative Design

https://thegig.synthandhue.com/the-first-idea-is-always-the-toughest/

Typography gives design the emotion and voice we need that wraps a unique characteristic alongside of the colors, forms, and images included in any composition.

It's the clothing and face of our design experience.

Dress it fancy, use display serifs.

Dress it corporate, use a neutral sans-serif

Dress it loud,

The Fashion Of Type

https://thegig.synthandhue.com/the-fashion-of-type/

As a seasoned website, brand, and digital product designer with a decade-long specialization in Squarespace, Justin Mabee creates sophisticated, high-end designs to elevate your business. By leveraging his creativity as a neurodivergent designer and his robust knowledge of Squarespace, he brings cla

Justin Mabee Design | Freelance Squarespace Website Designer [for Hire]

If you're a freelancer, the journey we embark is best to be seen as a marathon rather than a sprint. In both endeavors, pacing, adapting, and staying focused is crucial to ensure we are moving forward effectively without burning out.


Setting a Sustainable Pace

Pacing for us freelancers is difficult

Pacing Yourself: A Marathon Approach to Freelancing

https://thegig.synthandhue.com/pacing-yourself-a-marathon-approach-to-freelancing/

What a year.

I was laid off 5 months ago and I’ve been able to win one small freelance gig since then. It’s been rough.

Maybe 150 applications later and nothing has worked out yet.

I would love to use this network and my friends to help secure a FT role.

Let me help you! 🙏

Why does posting anything on LinkedIn feel so cringe?

Fell asleep at 9:30 pm on New Year’s Eve.. so I’m not totally convinced it’s 2024 yet.

Designers, if you applicable, what are some good things to determine when setting 30-60-90 day goals after starting a new job?

What’s been a successful side gig for you to earn some extra income?

Y’all the only consistent social app that brings the cozy is this one!

Y’all, after almost a year of being laid off; I got a job offer. 

My goodness. 

So many feelings right now.

We're hiring a Frontend Engineer at Composer! Looking for someone with a design eye, detail oriented and comfortable with lots of responsibility and autonomy.

https://composer.trade

Came here to hang because X is consistently drama.

Sorry, last post about job searching 🙏 

Any Enterprise/SaaS product designers here interested in learning about new opportunities at an a16z portco?  💕

All ❤️🙏 to those affected by the Airtable layoffs.

Does the fear of getting laid off again ever go away?

Today was my last day at Google. If youre looking to hire a new illustrator, animator, or art director, feel free to hit me up!

6 months+ post lay off. You get really used to doing your own thing. When and if that changes, it’s going to be an adjustment.

Back to the daily writings



Iteration is important, but getting past the first idea is always the hardest.



https://thegig.synthandhue.com/the-first-idea-is-always-the-toughest/

You can only choose two, what do you choose?

1) Amazing Salary 
2) Fulfilling Work 
3) Extraordinary leadership

In my experience  No team will be perfect, some teams will be worth it

LAYOFFS NEED TO LAYOFFF

LIKE WERE BARELY THROUGH JANUARY

CHILL

Daily newsletter/publish for the day.

Typography is my favorite piece of design, so I had to share some thoughts about it.

https://thegig.synthandhue.com/the-fashion-of-type/

Anyone else have constant dread of being laid off again?

Freelancers, what’s stopping you from going back to fulltime employment?

I know a creative director, art director, designer, and copywriter who recently become available for work. If you're looking, or know someone who is, please let me know and I will send these amazing people your way.

I want someone to hold me like Ben Affleck holds his Dunkin iced coffee.

🚨 Attn friends and colleagues 🚨
Forge Studio is actively seeking new clients and projects for the remainder of 2023. 👉 http://www.forge.is 👀

Clients: Instacart, Salesforce, Guideline, Airtable, Grammarly, Affirm, Handshake, AWS, Caper, Workrise, and startups of all stages.

I hope posts and Bluesky can co-exist. 

I can see different vibes happening on each. 

Posts will be way more chill than Bluesky

Still think Posts is one of the most cozy and fun communities for designers  

Sure it's niche, but I hope to see things thrive here

Hey everyone 👋 I'm looking for remote product design roles ✨ long or short-term.

Reality: I’m actively looking for work. My pipeline is down, and many of my existing projects have stalled. 

If you need a Squarespace designer, or someone to consult on product strategy or brand direction, reach out. I'd love to chat with you  

justinmabee.com

Who are your favorite female animators / motion designers?

Self promos welcome! Looking to hire someone for contract work / short marketing animations : feature explainers.

Job, no job, different levels of stress  Always stress no matter what

Who’s hiring brand/web/marketing designers here?

I’d love to chat.

Freelancers, it’s a new month. 

Whats in for May?

Me:
– Getting a retainer client 
– Keep writing/blogging 
– Send out at least 25 job applications
– Cross $10k in monthly revenue from new clients for Webflow/Framer/Brand work (3 clients)
– Finish my new portfolio

Freelancers, it’s Monday!

What are we focusing on this week?

Me:
– Trying to push through the final stages of projects 
– Work on a job interview assignment 
– Scope out some other projects 
– Pray that I can somehow someway revise my portfolio

You know you’ve made it as a designer when you just have words in your portfolio. 

No case studies. No galleries. 

Just a freaking list of name drops.

The painful inconvenience of getting any Apple device potentially repaired is as terrible as figuring out which laptop to replace it with.

Freelancers,

How do you handle projects where clients go sour or the work turns a wrong direction? 

What advice would you give other freelancers where they can still find success?

Is Config fomo just as deep here as it is Twitter?

Freelancers, it's all about the long game.

https://thegig.synthandhue.com/pacing-yourself-a-marathon-approach-to-freelancing/

Any other freelancer has the constant dilemma of deciding if you need to learn play, rest, or work at any given moment?