How I Started My Freelancing Journey in Web Design

Discovering Freelancing

The first time I stumbled across the word freelancing was in one of Matt D’Avella’s YouTube videos, just a few months before starting university. At first, I was fascinated by his minimalism content — the idea of living simply to focus on what really matters. But the deeper I explored, the more I was drawn to his approach to freelancing, habit-building, and creating a life with purpose.

That’s when things started to shift for me. The architecture dream I had been holding onto suddenly felt too rigid, too corporate, too predefined. I wanted something flexible, creative, and full of possibility. While rereading the university guide one night, I came across the BIS Multimedia degree — a mix of computer science and graphic design. It felt like the perfect balance between creativity and technical skill, offering space to grow, experiment, and adapt. That’s when I decided to change paths, leaving behind years of architecture dreams for something that felt more open-ended and alive.

Life After University

Fast forward a few years, and I was walking away from university with a Multimedia degree, countless late nights debugging code, and plenty of unexpected memories with friends.

By the time I graduated, I already knew I’d be heading overseas for three months of post-university travel. My parents were adamant that I should get a regular job to save for it, but I was stubborn. I wanted to pursue freelancing. After a lot of back-and-forth, they eventually accepted that this was the path I was determined to take — with or without their approval.

Starting Out

The first few weeks were rough. I was building websites for almost nothing — just enough to start a portfolio and build a reputation. One of my first projects was Your Travel Friend Anna. I spent over a month on that site, and while it wasn’t glamorous work, Anna was thrilled with the result. She and I still keep in touch today, and I’ve become part of her community, which has been an unexpected bonus.

I also did subcontracting work to learn from others in the industry. Even when I left for my three months of traveling — from the Irish countryside to backpacker hostels in Italy — I continued freelancing as much as possible. It wasn’t always easy, but it kept me connected to something I was passionate about.

Finding Momentum

These past few weeks have been especially exciting. I recently completed one of my favorite projects so far: Feed Me Content, a site for Josh, a talented photographer and videographer with 30k+ YouTube subscribers. Seeing someone like him trust me to bring his brand online was surreal — and it reminded me just how much I love this work.

Josh has also become a mentor of sorts, offering encouragement and guidance as I continue learning the ropes of the freelancing world.

What Freelancing Means to Me

A lot of people assume freelancing is about the money. Sure, the potential to earn well exists, but honestly? Even if it didn’t, I’d still choose this path over and over again.

For me, freelancing is about growth, experimentation, and creative freedom. It’s about expressing myself through design and development without being boxed in by a 9–5 job or someone else’s limitations.

But more than that, it’s about connection. Every project is a chance to learn someone’s story, understand their vision, and bring it to life. That’s the part that excites me most.

Looking Ahead

I’m now about eight months into freelancing. It’s been a rollercoaster — progress, setbacks, lessons, and plenty of emotions. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

This blog is where I’ll share that journey — not just my story, but also tips, inspiration, and lessons along the way. The highs, the struggles, the projects, and the insights I pick up. It’s also a space for me to look back, reflect, and document how things evolve.

Whether you’re curious about freelancing, web development, or the creative process in general, stick around — there’s plenty more to come.