The boring post about money —
It’s been 6 weeks since I started the programme. I’m really enjoying reading, learning, and hanging out with amazing people. I can feel myself changing, which is exciting. But I’m also changing in a way that separates me from the commercial world, which is scary. Education is expensive, and how do I make it back later if what I get out of it is a new hatred towards capitalism? Also, being on a 3-year youth mobility visa and having an anthropologist partner means I will probably not settle in one location anytime soon. So the money-making thingy has to allow for location changes! I definitely want to have fun with my final project, but realistically, I probably should have a preference for what I’m doing next and see if my project is a helpful step toward that personal future.
Freelance for Entrepreneurs
In one of the Interdisciplinary Futures readings, the author compared interdisciplinary scholars with entrepreneurs, as they both find gaps, combine things, and establish something new. I recently attended a freelancer’s workshop by Edinburgh Innovations and I can sense how a lot of resources are directed towards entrepreneurship. Maybe I can be the branding and communication person that helps entrepreneurs? With my past experience in a design agency, I was exposed to brand strategy, visual look and feel, tone of voice, etc. And this course can give me the ability to talk about brands in a wider context. Edinburgh is a nice name, which will be helpful too. But can I actually do that ethically? If I choose who I work for, and what I produce, I will probably starve — in the commercial world, it’s Coca Cola that spends millions on a campaign, not your neighbourhood organic farmer.
Get a Job
Find a company I like, that is hiring, in a country I’m allowed to work in, is probably quite hard. Hopefully my skills are diverse enough that it will be attractive to small businesses. Will remote working be possible if I move away?
Publication
I am trying to write a children’s book with my old colleague. Children’s books are a competitive industry, and we have been moving frustratingly slowly in the past year. I think I will do something on my own, as I am happy to make imperfect things and see what happens. On top of that, I got a lot of nice feedback for my zines, and I really enjoy making them. I also did some editorial illustrations for a university magazine, and I want to do more of it. There are design writers, too, but I think they are more location-dependent.
The above are some paths that my final project could help me with. I have to admit, part of the reason why I want to make something physical for my final project is to have something to show, have a talking point, attract attention, or at least offer something straightforward enough for people to consume, potentially in a commercial environment. We will hire her/invite her because she makes us look sophisticated in an obvious way.
Below are some other options that won’t be related to my project:
Art
I always think art will naturally happen if you find your truth and a language to express it. The readings I did in the past few weeks always spark art ideas, I think I need to set some time aside just to explore them. Here are some unsold rose thorn artworks I made last year, I enjoy making art when I don’t have to consider how well they can sell.
Craft and Illustrations
Side income, I’m doing a little bit at the moment, but will it ever scale to a point that I don’t have to worry about getting a job? For freelance illustration, I need to start contacting agencies in the UK. I am unable to commit to a single style though! For craft, I’m thinking polymer clay animal pendants or (tiny?) pet portraits. Can have an online presence only, not dependent on location. This will be mainly commercial work, something cute and unique. I want to make more personal/thoughtful illustrations for the publication industry or personal blogging. I wonder how these can co-exist.
Entry-level jobs
I don’t have much experience doing them, but it could be nice as I won’t feel like an bad person. Also easy to change locations.
This is just me writing to collect my thoughts. I definitely feel anxious about the future, but at the same time, do I even want a future that I can completely predict?
Thanks for reading x
