Freelancing
Sometimes referred to as freelancer, contract, or consultant, this role has the ultimate freedom to build your own career path. Hear what Mallory Evan has to say about what it’s like to be self-employed In ID.
As a self-employed freelancer, I find, manage, and design a wide variety of products. Working as my own boss means I am in control of what projects I want to take on and which companies I want to partner with. It allows me the freedom to flex different creative skill sets. As a freelancer, your project roster can include a wide range of different products and disciplines. I can be an Industrial Designer, UX Designer, Researcher, Marketer, and Illustrator.
Mallory Evans, a Self-employed Industrial Designer & Our Women In Industrial Design Co-Founder based in Chicago.
A little about Mallory Evans, Freelance Product Designer & our WIID Co-founder.
Mallory is a Chicago-based Freelance Product designer. In her time as an industrial designer, Mallory has worked on a wide range of products from health and medical to consumer packaged goods. She brings strong ideation and empathy to the design process, creating honest and simple user experiences. She believes at the intersection of technology & human emotion is true innovation.
She uses her background in Industrial Design to help push the boundaries of IoT [Internet of Things] products, designing intuitive customer experiences for everyday appliances. Mallory is one of the Co-founders of Women in ID Chicago, an organization founded to empower women in the design industry. She believes the success of a product is directly related to the diversity of the product team making it.
A photo of Mallory’s home office, provided by Mallory Evans, our Women In Industrial Design Chicago Co-Founder & Self-employed Industrial Designer based in Chicago.
“I am in control of what projects I want to take on and which companies I want to partner with.”
Freelance is great for the ability to create your own hours and your own clients.
You are able to work with many different teams and learn different approaches and techniques from so many talented designers. I don’t know of any other kind of job that allows the flexibility freelance does.
If you are interested in packaging, you simply reach out to your favorite brand about packaging. It is truly incredible to work with brands that align with my values and share common goals.
Provided by Mallory Evans, our WIID Co-Founder & Freelance Industrial Designer based in Chicago, Illinois.
“This project was the ultimate problem-solving situation, bringing beauty and high-end experience at a low, throw-away cost.”
Some quick sketches used to explore an idea. Ideations provided by Mallory Evans, our WIID Co-Founder & Freelance Industrial Designer based in Chicago.
A glimpse into one of Mallory’s projects from this past year.
This year I was able to work on reinventing packaging for the meat industry. It was an exciting project because our buying and cooking habits have changed, but meat packaging has stayed the same for years.
The team was able to have a ton of ownership, from the design to the business, the experience, and even the packaging. This client understood the importance of clean unwrapping, portion control, and resealable packaging but still needed to hit a profitable price point.
This project was the ultimate problem-solving situation, bringing beauty and high-end experience at a low, throw-away cost. There were many different facets to the project, from shipping and packaging to sustainability to the in-store presentation.
An example of one of Mallory’s projects: a smart sink system to help change cleaning behaviors. Render by Mallory Evans, our WIID Co-Founder & Freelance Industrial Designer based in Chicago.
“Being your own boss is great for designers looking to control their own schedule, pick their own projects, and be in control of their business.”
THANK YOU, Mallory, FOR GIVING US A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR CAREER & WORK AS AN INSPIRING WOMAN IN DESIGN.
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