How to start freelancing from Nagaland
Tips & Turtorials
Freelancing can start small. One of the designers who works with us was an interior designer in Guwahati when a phone call led her to give two hours a day to graphic design. Those hours grew into Instagram posts, logos, posters, packaging, books and full branding projects, and recently into merchandise and EP posters for a band, The Electric Cool Kids.
Seven steps to begin
- Start with a few hours a day. You do not have to quit anything.
- Pick one service to offer first, such as logo design, social media posts or video editing.
- Build a portfolio from real or practice projects.
- Agree scope, price and deadline in writing before you start.
- Meet deadlines. As designer Sinlo Kemp puts it, deadlines are “a form of respect for both the client and the craft”.
- Explain your thinking to clients so they understand your choices.
- Keep learning. Research, reading and watching others’ work make your own sharper.
Our co-founder Namang T. Chang spoke about the freelancing and entrepreneurship mindset on The Freelancer’s Mindset shortcast, where innovation, adaptability and perseverance were the themes.
Source credit: “Kunu-o Chiero’s story; Sinlo Kemp’s essay (Annual Report 2025-26 ) and The Freelancer’s Mindset shortcast (Annual Report 2024-25)