Looking to move into freelance service design?

I'm launching a course to help you

Have you been thinking about taking the leap into freelance service design?

I made the move over two years ago. Since then I’ve worked with public, private and third sector clients helping design services that work better for the people who use and deliver them.

Through this course, I will share everything I’ve learned along the way in my usual open and honest way. I’ll cover the logistics and hard facts, along with the emotional aspects - sharing my personal experiences to highlight common pitfalls.

You can find out more about me and my experience on Joy’s website and via my LinkedIn.

Places are limited and they are being released first to my Substack followers. You have 24 hours to secure your place before the course will be promoted on LinkedIn.

Logistics

The series will be delivered in 2 x 1.5 hour sessions covering four topic areas per session.

Part 1:

1. Building a network

2. Different ways to freelance

3. Setting up

4. Finding work

Part 2:

1. Money

2. Marketing

3. Managing relationships

4. How life will change

The course will run over two consecutive Monday evenings:

• Monday 15th January 5 - 6:30pm GMT

• Monday 22nd January 5 - 6:30pm GMT

Groups will be kept small with only 12 places available in each cohort. This will allow us to keep the sessions intimate, with people sharing and learning from each other through discussion along the way. You'll also start to build your network by meeting 11 other people looking to make the same move you are.

Prices

Tickets cost £90 + VAT. This covers both sessions, so 3 hours and 8 topic areas (with slides supplied), plus the opportunity to submit your questions in the week in between to ensure everyone’s questions are answered by the end of the second session.

To keep the costs down for everyone involved, I have decided not to use a ticket sales platform.

If you want to secure a place, please fill out this form. Places will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Places will need to be paid for in advance, I will send you an invoice and payment will secure your place.

If you don’t make this cohort I will be creating a waitlist for future courses.

If, for unforeseen circumstances, you find yourself unable to attend post payment - you can defer your place. I wont be able to offer refunds.

1:1 Mentoring

If you join the January cohort you will also become eligible for the 1:1 mentoring aspect of the course. This is an optional add on that you can choose to purchase additionally.

If you sign up for 1:1 mentoring you will get 3 x 1 hour 1:1 mentoring sessions with me covering the following topics:

1. Building your confidence

2. Developing your proposition

3. Selling yourself

These are activity-based sessions with homework in between. The subject areas have been selected to help tackle the biggest barriers I see people facing when they are deciding whether to move into freelance. You will leave with:

• Ways to test your assumptions around confidence-based barriers, with a view to breaking this down and getting you ready to take the leap

• A clear articulation of what you offer to the market

• A personalised plan for how you’ll approach marketing yourself and building up your personal brand

Mentoring costs £250 + VAT - that’s a 15% discount on my usual mentoring prices.

There is no obligation to commit to mentoring upon sign up, you’ll be asked if you’re interested and after the course I’ll follow up to confirm who would like to book in. Everyone who attends the course is eligible for mentoring - there is no limit on spaces. Mentoring will be delivered in February 2024.

FAQs

Can I join anonymously?

If you are currently working in a full time role I will notify you if someone from your company signs up to the same session and you'll have the option to join the session anonymously with your camera off or defer your place.

Do you offer funded places?

For each cohort, there is 1 space made available for free for someone from a group under represented in service design. This includes people of colour and/or anyone who identifies as transgender and/or disabled. These places are offered on a first come, first served basis - no questions asked.

Is this course relevant to people working outside the UK?

I live and work in the UK only. While the course hasn't been designed to be market specific, some topics will be less transferable than others.

I'm already freelancing, is the course suitable for me?

This course has been developed specifically for people who haven’t made the move yet. While some of the content might be relevant if you are now to freelancing, some of it might be stuff you already know. If you’re in this situation and are unsure, drop me and email.

I don't see myself as a service designer, is the course for me?

The course is suitable for anyone wanting to freelance in the user centred design space. As I work as a service designer I have a depth of knowledge around that sector specifically but a lot of the content is transferable.

Do you go into detail about the differences working in public, private, third sector etc?

The course doesn’t cover this in detail but it does touch on it. I have experience working in all sectors and draw on my experience throughout the course.

Do you cover best practice service design methods?

The short answer is no, this course is not about how to work as a service designer - it's about how to be freelance. Obviously discussion will venture into that space in the sessions but there is plenty of training out there on methods.

If you have any further questions please drop me an email and I’ll add the answers onto this post: hello@designforjoy.co.uk.

Please fill out the signup form if you’d like to join the January cohort.

If you know someone who might be interested in this course please do send it on to them.