Morgan Light

Morgan is a freelance designer and creative consultant who aims to create design that makes a difference—to propel brands with soul and substance who are passionate about what they do.

First question: Do you consider yourself a freelancer or a founder

Freelancer.

You've had an incredible career so far – working with some of my favorite brands. Can you give us a brief overview of how you got started?

I moved to New York immediately after high school and have been based there ever since. I went to the School of Visual Arts and studied design. Being in New York and studying at a school with so many professors who are still in the field, I was fortunate enough to able to intern a lot. I think I had 14 in-house freelance gigs and internships by the time I graduated. I stayed busy in school, and I think it's helped me a lot now. I have worked on a wide variety of projects and with a lot of super cool people.

What has surprised you most about working for yourself?

I would've thought that I would be lonely or feel isolated working for myself, especially when I'm working remotely, but I find that I have a good amount of resources to ask for feedback when I am stuck, and enough work to keep me busy throughout the day.

How do you find and maintain your clients?

It's always so random! Sometimes it's a friend of a friend or a studio that I've worked with in the past who passes me a project they couldn't take on.

“Be a self-starter. Don't wait for work to come to you, but actively seek the work you want. Don't hesitate.” – Morgan Light

You're currently freelancing for Apple. Can you tell us about your experience there so far?

Apple has been a fantastic place to freelance. I've lived in New York for the past seven years, and it's the only city I've been a designer in. Coming to California and being able to work with such talented people from all over the world—it's been a really eye-opening experience.

What are your non-negotiables when it comes to taking on new work?

I definitely require a contract up front—and usually a 50% deposit, depending on payment structure.

How did you decide how to price your services and how do you negotiate your worth?

Working in smaller studios, where I often had to pitch estimates as well as work, helped build my confidence when it comes to charging and having money talks.

Do you have a work-day routine?

Quarantine has definitely changed what my typical "routine" would be, but I'm a very structured person when it comes to my day-to-day. I usually wake up and force myself to work out (otherwise it won't happen). Answer some emails, jump on a morning call or two, and spend the next 2-3 hours in deep work mode. I always start by doing the things that I want to do the least, first, so I have the headspace to be more creative and free in the afternoon.

Where do you look to for inspiration?

I have an are.na board where I collect cool resources. Otherwise, I love to buy old design books. If possible, I turn to them before the web.

What is one project that you've worked on that pushed you creatively?

Joule. I worked on Joule for more than two years before we were finally in a place to produce bars and packaging. In that time we went through countless iterations, partnered with a few different bakeries and factories, and eventually had a finished product.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to aspiring creatives?

Be a self-starter. Don't wait for work to come to you, but actively seek the work you want. Don't hesitate.