Graphic Designer & Illustrator Itzel Islas

Graphic Designer & Illustrator Itzel Islas

Author: Steve Folland November 24, 2025 Duration: 34:46
Overworked as an in-house designer, Itzel Islas turned to Instagram as a creative outlet and visual diary. Not realising it would soon turn her days into a colourful freelance business. Rooted in her Mexican culture, she’s built a joyful career that reflects her style, values and personality. With multiple income streams - from branding clients, to her shop, sticker club, partnerships and murals; Itzel shows what freelance life can look like when you follow what's fun.

Stepping away from the traditional career path to work for yourself is a journey filled with unique highs and lows. Being Freelance, hosted by Steve Folland, delves into that reality through candid conversations with those who are living it. Each episode is built around a freelancer's personal story, moving from their first tentative steps to the ongoing challenges and triumphs of running a solo business. You'll hear authentic discussions about finding clients, setting boundaries, managing finances, and coping with the isolation that can sometimes accompany the freedom. This isn't about theoretical business models; it's the practical, often messy, human experience of building a livelihood from your own skills. Steve guides these conversations with empathy, drawing out insights that are both reassuring and actionable. The podcast serves as a regular reminder that the questions and doubts you face are shared by others navigating the same waters. Tuning in provides a sense of connection and a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, whether you're just considering the leap or are a seasoned veteran looking to refine your craft. It’s a resource that acknowledges the tough days while celebrating the incredible rewards of designing your own working life.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Being Freelance
Podcast Episodes
Webflow Expert Robert Smart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:47
Study, determination, and a knack for design were going to take Robert out of his poor upbringing in South Africa. But the death of his brother, drew him back again. To help young people see a brighter future for themsel…
Web Designer Hannah Dossary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
Hannah wondered how the people she met whilst travelling could afford to travel non-stop. It turned out, they were freelancers. And so began a journey into a new way of working, living, and looking for her niche along th…
Case Study Buddy Joel Klettke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:36
Joel was originally on the podcast in November 2015. Now it’s time to catch up on the intervening 8 years. As he’s gone from a single solo copywriter to being a married father… and founder of a company. A freelancing sid…
Graphic Designer & Illustrator Sam Minton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
Sam was drawn to freelancing when the bar he pulled pints for, asked him to design a poster. The writing was on the wall. Well, it wouldn’t have been a great poster otherwise. Sam became known as a designer/illustrator f…
Brand & Web Designer Kayleigh Hall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:04
For a long time Kayleigh didn’t even see what she had as a 'business'. She was trading time and skills for money. But a few years ago she embraced outside help. She polished her brand and found her niche. With this new c…
Copywriter Franky Shanahan - Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:59
8 years after Franky first shared her story on the podcast, it’s time to catch up. Franky shares how she had to dramatically reshape her life and business around a chronic illness, diagnosed less than a year after we las…
BONUS - LIVE Q&As with Prerna Malik, Beth Gladstone and Tom Garfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:31
In this special bonus episode of the Being Freelance podcast we take a selection of the regular Live Q&As that we host in the Being Freelance Community and let you soak up the wisdom once more. You can catch full video r…
Graphic Designer Liz Mosley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
When Liz left uni, she was adamant she didn’t want to be a freelancer. And yet here we are, via starting a stationery business and a family. A 9 year gradual process which has resulted in her switching from treating her…
Lettering Artist Jackson Alves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:15
This is actually the fourth time Jackson’s been freelance. He’s not just quit jobs, he even once quit his own company.But whereas the other times he was a ‘regular’ graphic designer, this time he’s spent a decade as a sp…
Copywriter Anna Rogan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
Anna had built a career across corporate and government comms in Melbourne. But if she wanted to move her family out of the city and that meant first meant transforming the way she worked. Anna set out to prove she could…