My name’s James Engerbretson.
I’m a skier and graphic designer from North Idaho.
I work in-house at a publishing company based in my hometown, and freelance on the side.
I specialize in logo and branding design, a little illustration, and some web and UI/UX design.
I have sprinkled some examples of my work throughout this article to keep things exciting.
Id like to spark a conversation.
I want to challenge the norm.
Finally rebel against the way things have been done for a long time.
When I started accepting freelance design work I did what every young creative does.
I (the idiot,) tracked my time andbilled by the hour.
Because, as far as I knew, thats the way it has always been done.
For creatives, trying to bill by the hour is insane.I say we kill the billable hour.
Thats the wrong freaking question to be asking.
How could I even track that?
I thought, The hours I clocked at my desk dont even begin to account for it.
You cant account for the amount of time you actually spent thinking about that project.
As creatives we provide valuable solutions to problems.
Our clients buyvaluenot time.
We have got to start focusing on howeffectivewe are, not on how efficient we are.
Putting a price on our time automatically commoditizes what we do.
You want clients to come to you for your unique insight and experience because they value that.
Charging by the hour will devalue what you bring to the table in the clients eyes.
Thats not something Im stoked on doing.
It doesnt matter how many hours you spent yesterday, or when you took your lunch break.
What matters is whether or not the final product iseffective.
Stop BSing your time sheets.
Start meaningfully representing the service you provide.
