Andrew Spies

Designer meets Filmmaker… Mad Scientist on Tuesdays… An avid climber and video game fan, I’ve spent my career working in very different parts of the design world. I’ve worked as graphic designer, illustrator, web designer & developer and UI designer. These days I work as creative director and filmmaker.

How did you started to work from home?

My career has taken a strange route. I started working as designer for a small media company, without any formal education in the creative field. I had taught myself some skills and came to find I was in over my head. After two years at the media company, having learnt a lot about the media industry, I decided to go ahead and study. It was during my studies that my mentor, one of my lecturers who really pushed me, she prompted me to freelance for added experience. It was her push that made me realise that I preferred freelancing to a traditional job.

How long do you work from home and earn a living to you or you must still go to work?

I work both freelance and on contracts, sometimes companies will ask me to come in and work in their office for a day or two a week. Other times it’s a single client who needs something designed or created to promote a service or product. Most of my work is done from home. 

What is your normal day?

My normal day starts much like any person who works from eight to five at an office. I’m up at around 6:30 in the morning and begin work around eight. At lunch I take a break, do any reading or research that is required for a project for about two hours and then proceed with the days work until six or seven in the evening when I try relax and review the days work. Typically I will need to go see my clients during the week. I try schedule meetings all on one day in the week, normally a Monday. 

How often you work from home? 

I work anywhere between seven and ten hours a day at home. Sometimes much longer depending on the project deadline and requirements. Somedays I have off if there are no projects I’m busy with, but these are rare. I try keep weekends free to spend time with family and friends. Every now and then a Saturday is booked for some extra work but these are normally for personal projects and experiments.

How to look your home office?

Currently I’m between houses, but I normally have a study/studio area or quiet place dedicated for work in the house. Currently I’m working out of a temporary spot at the dining room table until I move to a new place. That said, I’ve worked in number of situations and places before. It’s important to find a place that is comfortable to work from. Uncomfortable or noisey places lead to distraction.

What would you say to people who want to start working from home?

Do it! If your career or skills allow for it, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t do it. Technology has provided us with virtual offices, distances have shrunk, thanks to communication tools like Skype and Hangouts. Dealing with clients overseas may mean strange times to have a meeting, but the in my opinion the postives of working from the comfort of home out weight the negatives. Remember you don’t need to quit your job to work from home either. Many of my colleagues work for the same companies they joined four or five years ago but now just from home. I realise some jobs will always happen in an office, but if you are in that fortunate position, where your job or career allows for working from home, then there will be a way in which to make it happen. Speak to your boss about it, or maybe you already have great network, maybe it’s time to set out on your own? Whatever you choose, there are more options today than ever before and no reason why it can’t be done if you want it.

Thank you very much for your time!