The Design Break
Unlock your path to creative success with the Design Break podcast, hosted by
@RockyRoark—owner & design director of Blue Cyclops Design Co.
Breaking into the creative world is hard enough. Making it as a freelancer is even more challenging. If you're currently considering jumping into a creative field or looking for freelance opportunities, this podcast is for you.
Topics include creative community, design, branding, freelance, job searching, career advice, actionable advice, and more.
- Update frequency
- every 8 days
- Average duration
- 34 minutes
- Episodes
- 68
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2024
067: Freelancer vs. White-Labeling
In this episode of the Design Break Podcast, Rocky Roark tackles the challenges of relying too heavily on agency partners as a freelancer or white-label contractor. While agency partnerships can prov…
066: Rethinking Design Subscriptions: From Villain to Hero
In this episode of the Design Break podcast, host Rocky Rock takes a fresh look at design subscriptions, a business model he was initially skeptical about. He shares how he rethought the concept and …
065: 5 Questions to Help You Grow Your Freelance Business
For years, I was blindly running my freelance business, not fully understanding what was working/not working, what wasn’t leading to actual results, and more. Then I started asking myself—daily, week…
064: The Simple Secret to How I Landed $12K in New Work
In this episode of the Design Break podcast, host Rocky Roark explores a game-changing approach to freelance client acquisition—the Bounty Method. He begins by addressing the common challenges freela…
063: Design Disasters: Learning From Our Biggest Blunders
Rocky Roark explores his personal design blunders to help you avoid making the same mistakes. He dives into one big mistake he made with Cards Against Humanity, the effects of going on a freelancing …
062: Creative Crossroads: Pivoting Your Career Across Disciplines
Rocky Roark dives into how to handle changes in your career path. On this episode he talks about:
- The inevitable evolution of a creative career
- How to navigate a shift in your career
- What it takes to m…
061: How the Pandemic Affected Creative South with Mike Jones
Rocky Roark is joined by Mike Jones to talk about how the pandemic affected Creative South and what the event will look like going forward.
Want to level up your freelance business? Check out our ne…
060: Creative South Deep Dive with Mike Jones
Rocky Roark is joined by Mike Jones for a deep dive into Creative South. They discuss how Creative South was started, what's changed with the event over the years, and why community is so important.
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059: Design Subscriptions: Great Idea to Horrible Fad
On this week's episode, Rocky Roark dives into the world of design subscriptions. Topics covered include:
- What exactly is a design subscription?
- The pros and cons for freelancers and design businesses
- T…
058: Maximizing Impact: The Designer's Role in Client Success
In this episode, we embark on a fascinating exploration of a designer's multifaceted influence, unwrapping the layers that make our role pivotal in the realms of storytelling, innovation, and strateg…
057: Navigating the Maze of Bogus Leads
In this eye-opening podcast episode, we dive into the alarming rise of scams targeting freelancers on popular platforms like Dribbble and Behance. Host Rocky Roark shares personal experiences and sto…
056: Mastering Goal-Setting for Creatives
In this podcast, the transformative influence of goal setting in freelancing and design is explored across various dimensions. The initial segment emphasizes goals as intricate blueprints, driving mo…
055: Creative Fuel: Unpacking the Importance of Inspiration in Design
In today's episode, we dive into a topic that has ignited debates in the design community—“Why inspiration is important for designers and their creative process.” This special episode challenges the …
054: Mastering Post-Project Communication
Welcome to the finale of the Design Break podcast's communication mini-series. In this episode, host Rocky Roark emphasizes that the end of a project doesn't mark the end of communication—it's a new …
53: The Value of Non-Creative Feedback (Mini-Series)
In this episode of the Design Break podcast, host Rocky Roark highlights the significance of non-creative feedback in the freelance design industry. He explores how this type of feedback can reveal h…
052: The Right Tools for Freelance Communication (Mini-Series)
In the fourth episode of the series on how Communication Can Make or Break Your Freelance Business, host Rocky Roark dives into the crucial topic of choosing the right communication platform for a su…
051: Being Transparent in Process and Progress (Mini-Series)
In the third episode of the series on how Communication Can Make or Break Your Freelance Business, host Rocky Roark explores the crucial role of transparency in the success of a freelance design busi…
050: The Contract and Scope of Work (Mini-Series)
In the second episode of the communication mini-series on the Design Break podcast, host Rocky Roark explores the critical topic of the contract and scope of work. Rocky likens a well-defined contrac…
049: Initial Client Communications (Mini-Series)
In this episode of the Design Break podcast, hosted by Rocky Roark, we embark on a journey into the often underestimated realm of initial client communication. This digital handshake, as Rocky puts i…
048: Turning Clients into Partners: Keys to Successful Freelancing
In this episode, we're delving into the vital world of client relationships for freelancers and design professionals. It's no longer sufficient to be just another freelancer; you need to become a tru…