For this third edition of the Freelance Flavors series, we are highlighting the work of one of Saudi Arabia’s rising design star, Rakan! It is hard to believe, but outside of design he is still studying at school.
He is based in Jeddah and created a a strong presence in the niche of football designs. Currently his clients include the likes of Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Under Armor and the Saudi Women's Premier League among others.
Saudi Arabia's freelancing market for designers is experiencing rapid growth with the number of registered freelancers skyrocketing by 157% from 2020 to August 2023. Driven by the country's Vision 2030 initiative, which emphasizes digital transformation and economic diversification. The demand for creative talent in sectors such as advertising, media, and technology is on the rise, providing ample opportunities for freelance designers.
With an increasing number of businesses recognizing the value of high-quality design and the flexibility that freelancers offer, the market is ripe for innovative platforms like Sorbet that can connect skilled designers with clients seamlessly, fostering a vibrant and dynamic creative economy.
With over 53,043 views on his Behance and close to 13K followers on Twitter, Rakan has truly embodied the opportunity that exists for designers in the region as they leverage social media and modern tools to connect with clients globally.
Can you tell us a bit more about the kind of work you do?
I mainly work in the sports industry, but within that are many different types of work I've done; specifically within football, sports brands/leagues/teams all require different graphics to be done, such as kit-swaps for players transferring, matchdays for big games, and for bigger projects billboards/advertisements.
Tell us a bit more about when and why did you start in this field?
I started freelancing around 3 years ago, after designing as a hobby for a year I was approached for my client work, since then I've loved experiencing every aspect of it. The pressure of working on massive projects brings out an excitement and creativity in me like nothing else, the difficulty of balancing education and work forces me to be as productive as I can at all times, and the hours that fly by when designing a poster for my account are priceless to me.
What advice would you give to yourself?
If I could go back in time, I wouldn't change much honestly, as I am currently in a position that I believe is a result of every step taken, every mistake made, and every lesson learned. But if I had to advise a young upcoming designer, the one main thing I believe in is to never force anything upon yourself. Especially in an industry that requires creativity and personality, you should always be up for a task when taking it.
How did you land your first client?
My first client was an agent asking me to design him a poster for his player, who was moving teams during the summer, as a kit-swap design. It was through a referral from a video editor I was talking to at the time, which was really important because it taught me the importance of networking right from the beginning.
How do you stay connected with design trends?
The design industry is one that is completely different to any other, it thrives upon creativity like none else, and is the epitome of what I call "work smarter not harder". All it takes is for your idea to be eye-catching enough for it to reach millions. Personally I always make sure my social media feeds are always filled with design content from all sectors, not just sport, so I can always stay up to date with whats new and gain some inspiration along the way.
What makes you so excited when thinking about Sorbet?
The payment conversation is always an awkward one with clients, figuring out which method or agreeing on pricing is always a tense conversation especially when you work with international clients. Sorbet allowing freelancers to easily send over a request and simplify the payment process for clients is going to be a game changer.
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