I remember staring at my screen one evening, thinking, “How on earth am I going to get a client if I’ve never had one before?”
It felt like a loop: I needed experience to get clients, but I needed clients to gain experience.
If you’re there right now — stuck in that awkward beginning — I get you. I was you.
But here’s the truth no one tells you enough: you can absolutely start working with clients even if you’ve never done a paid job before. And no, you don’t have to lie or pretend. You just need to approach it differently.
Let me show you how I did it — step by step.
What really matters (hint: not your résumé)
When I began, I thought clients wanted to see a list of former employers, big-name brands, or impressive degrees. But you know what I learned?
Clients want results. They want to know you understand their problem, can solve it, and will communicate clearly along the way.
That’s it.
One of my first “gigs” was helping a friend’s mom redesign the flyer for her small hair salon. I didn’t get paid. I didn’t have a contract. But I treated it like it was a major campaign for a big beauty brand — because for her, it was.
That attitude got me a testimonial, three referrals, and a ton of confidence.
Start with a solid base (even if you have no clients yet)
Before pitching anyone, I made sure I had my essentials ready. You should too:
- Know your tools. Whether it’s Canva, Figma, Photoshop, or WordPress, pick one or two and practice until you feel comfortable.
- Define your service. Don’t say you “do everything.” Be clear: Are you offering logos? Website design? Social media graphics?
- Build a starter portfolio. Yes, even if it’s all personal or fictional. I created three fake brands from scratch — full with mockups, colors, and messaging — just to showcase what I could do.
Pro tip: Label them as “concept work” so no one thinks you’re faking real clients.
Fake it (ethically) with personal projects
When no one is hiring you yet, you create the work yourself. That’s exactly what I did.
I picked one of my favorite local bakeries (they didn’t even know me), redesigned their menu and Instagram grid for fun, and uploaded it to my portfolio.
Then I emailed them:
“Hi! I admire your bakery and love what you do. I created a free concept of a visual update for your brand, just to practice. Feel free to ignore — I just wanted to share!”
Not only did they love it — they asked me to design some real posts for a holiday campaign. That was my first paid gig. 🎉
It wasn’t luck. It was initiative.
Talk like a pro, even if you’re brand new
This one took me a while to learn: it’s not just about what you say — it’s how you say it.
From the start, I made an effort to write and speak clearly, confidently, and kindly.
Here’s what helped me sound professional from day one:
- Emails: Short, clear, and warm. “Hi Ana, I’d love to support your project. Here’s what I’d suggest…”
- Proposals: I used Notion or Canva to create simple one-pagers outlining what I’d do, how long it would take, and what the client would get.
- Calls: I smiled, I asked questions, and I always took notes. Listening more than I talked made clients feel heard and understood.
You don’t need a big vocabulary. You need clarity and heart.
Don’t overpromise — especially at the start
This was a hard lesson.
I once said yes to a WordPress project, thinking, “I’ll figure it out as I go.” Spoiler: I didn’t. The client was disappointed. I felt awful.
From then on, I learned to say things like:
- “I’m still growing my experience, but I’m confident I can deliver X. If something is outside my scope, I’ll be transparent and offer alternatives.”
That honesty didn’t push people away — it made them trust me more.
Start small with freelance platforms (but be strategic)
I know sites like Upwork and Fiverr can feel crowded, but they work — especially if you treat them like your starting ground, not your forever home.
What I did:
- Built a clean profile with just 2 strong projects
- Wrote short, specific proposals tailored to the job (no copy-paste!)
- Focused on communication and quick delivery
My first job was $15. The next was $50. A year later, I was charging $500+ for the same work.
Every small win adds up.
Ask for feedback — and use it wisely
After every project, I asked clients, “What worked? What could be better?”
Most gave helpful answers. One client even told me my proposal had too much text and not enough bullet points — I fixed that for the next pitch and got hired right away.
Use feedback to:
- Improve your portfolio
- Tighten your process
- Sound more confident when explaining your value
And yes, collect testimonials! Even from unpaid projects — they build trust like nothing else.
Keep learning — always
The truth is: clients can tell when you’re growing.
They feel your energy, your hunger to improve, your dedication.
What I did (and still do):
- Watched 30 min of YouTube tutorials every day for a month
- Read blogs like UX Collective and freelanced in online communities
- Followed creators who shared their behind-the-scenes process
Every time I learned something new, I applied it to my work immediately. That’s how you turn learning into income.
Celebrate the journey — even the small steps
I still remember the first time a client sent me a thank-you message saying, “You made this so easy.”
I printed it and stuck it to my wall.
Because starting without experience is not about pretending you’re something you’re not. It’s about showing up, learning fast, caring deeply, and doing your absolute best.
That’s more than enough to get hired.
Final encouragement from someone who’s been there
If you’re doubting yourself right now, I want to leave you with this:
- You don’t need a perfect portfolio to start.
- You don’t need a degree or 10 years of experience.
- You just need to care about doing great work and treat people well.
Clients notice that.
So take the leap. Send the message. Build that portfolio project. Offer your help. Learn out loud. The first step is the hardest — after that, it gets easier and better. I promise.
From zero to design hero — keep creating!
by Cris.