Matt
Do you stay pretty busy as an indie designer… is the work consistent or sporadic?

me
I suspect you’re asking about paid work rather than personal work. Paid work is occasionally consistent, which is probably better characterized as sporadic.
Sometimes, there are projects that last a long time. Sometimes, there are back-to-back clients I’m working with, where one client contacts us at Parakeet while we’re working with another client.
But there are absolutely stretches where incoming work doesn’t exist.
I’ve heard actors talk about this too, where there will be times they are not working, just waiting for the next gig. Likely, it exists in virtually every independent line of work.

Matt
How do you find most of your work?
Do you think the icons and stuff help find you work or just other designers?

me
For over 20 years now, I’ve made icons for personal computer customization. Though it was just for fun, I received attention from developers who needed icons for their apps.
That’s when I realized the role of personal work doesn’t have to be solely for fun; it can also be a form of marketing.
Over the span of my professional career, I’ve tried to continue making things outside of paid work, and I attribute the leads get to that effort.
Not everyone will have the reason or means to hire me for work, but some do. And others might still influence others who can. Someone might download icons or a wallpaper from me 15 years ago and finally have a reason to hire me, which is so cool.
Past clients become recurring clients. People who worked at one job will get a new job. And at their new job, they might need new icons.
I don't think I’ve made my hobby into my job, but I have made my hobby into marketing.

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