What to Expect When Working with a Purpose-Driven Freelancer
Maybe this is your first time outsourcing a creative project to a graphic designer, writer, photographer, or artist and you know you want to work with someone who shares your passion for sustainability and environmental protection. Or perhaps you’ve done this a hundred times before, but decided that this time you want to work with someone whose mission, values, and ethics are better aligned with your brand or organization. It can take some research to find them, but there are plenty of creatives out there who specialize in working with nonprofits, conservation groups, community organizations, and sustainable-minded, eco-friendly brands.
Working with purpose-driven creative agencies and freelancers differs from what you’d experience with any other project, but it’s also a great way to guarantee that you’re making ethical, sustainable, environmentally-friendly choices, and creating positive change through your marketing.
Here are some things to expect:
They’ll ask you about your mission and want to know if your values align with theirs. If your brand messaging feels inauthentic or misleading to consumers or supporters, they may question your mission. It’s important to be transparent with anyone you hire if you feel like there are holes or misalignments in your messaging – put everything on the table so they can help you fix your pain points.
Expect that the project will cost more to execute than it would with an agency or studio that doesn’t specialize in your niche market. These creatives have specialized skills that took years to research, refine, and implement into their creative process. But don’t let the price tag scare you! Hiring a specialist that aligns with your business or organization will likely save you money and time in the long run because of their ability to anticipate your needs, suggest improvements, work efficiently and guide you through their well-dialed process.
Because extra steps are required to ensure quality, alignment, and a proper approach, the project might take longer to wrap up. If you need a faster turnaround time on a project, you might not be able to find the most aligned person for the job – try to plan ahead to keep your options open.
Their portfolio should reflect work similar to what you’re looking to execute. If their work or client list includes brands that are actively doing harm to the environment, people, animals, or communities (i.e. gas and oil companies, big corporations, etc.), this might be a red flag that they’re not walking the walk.
Some creatives will ask you to sign an agreement requiring you to use eco-friendly production processes. They’ll offer suggestions for printing or producing your project using sustainable materials and processes such as recycled paper, plastic-free packaging, local printing, printing alternatives, etc. More and more printing companies are offering environmentally conscious options and if you’re curious to learn more, check out 6 Questions to Ask Your Printer About Green and Eco-Friendly Printing!
If you’re looking for somewhere to start looking to hire talent that will align with your mission, read 3 Tips for Finding a Conservation-Minded Graphic Designer, or check out the sites below:
I’m a graphic designer who works with conservation-minded nonprofits and brands on projects like logos & branding, annual reports, maps, and infographics. I work with my clients to create beautiful and meaningful design that amplifies the marketing efforts it takes to ignite action and change. If you need help getting started on your next project to save the planet, let’s set up a time to chat.