"You really should find your tribe"
Interior architect Gwen Dubois is a co-founder of The Lonely Freelance Club.
Gwen Dubois is an interior architect and creative activist. After she found her own freelance tribe, she started to connect other freelancers through events like Make a Mark, a creative marathon that pairs designers with non-profits, and The Lonely Freelance Club, a office party for freelancers. We got so excited when we heard about The Lonely Freelance Club that we wanted to introduce you all to Gwen.
How did you find your freelance tribe?
“My cousin met TV/art director and graphic artist Katrien Vanderlinden and later gave me a call to say that she had arranged a blind date for us. Katrien and I went for dinner and everything clicked from the first minute. We became friends and when I landed an assignment to do the Christmas decorations for a library in Brussels, I asked Katrien if she would do the job with me. By working together, we started talking about freelancing even more. Those conversations led us to realise that Nena Driehuijzen, a photographer I was already following on Instagram, was a friend of Katrien and that she lived really close to me. I was really curious about Nena and Katrien introduced us to each other. Not long after that, we started a WhatsApp group to support each other as freelancers.”
Gwen and her freelance tribe, photo by Studio Nunu
What do you tend to talk about?
“I’ve been a freelancer for longer than Katrien and Nena, which allows me to share obstacles I’ve run into as well as possible solutions. It’s simply not necessary for them to make the same mistakes. I on the the other hand also learn a lot from them – from photography tips, to how to combine motherhood with creative freelancing. Being a freelancer and a mom makes for a special situation that few people really understand. When you have a kid, you can’t always catch up on sleep after a taxing deadline; you have financial worries around giving birth … Those conversations really brought us closer. I already had close friends, but I didn’t have anyone who completely understood my financial situation. It may sound corny, but you really have to find your tribe – and I found mine with Nena and Katrien.”
Why did you launch The Lonely Freelance Club with Katrien and Nena?
“Towards the end of the year, we would always see festive photos of our salaried friends attending holiday drinks with their colleagues. We thought to ourselves: Where are our colleagues and where is our party? So we decided to throw our own party. That’s how the idea for The Lonely Freelance Club, a festive brunch for freelancers, was born in 2019. Each of us invited around 10 freelancers. Some were personal acquaintances; others we only knew from social media. Everyone was immediately excited about the concept.”
How did that first edition in 2019 go?
“It was a really nice day where new collaborations and connections were forged. As freelancers amongst ourselves, you sometimes hardly need words. You know that the other person has experienced things that you’re also running up against. It was nice to realise that the event created a sort of club feeling between people used to doing almost everything solo. We each also invited a wildcard – a person whom we considered to be a freelancer at heart who hadn’t made the leap to self-employment yet. Fun fact, one of those wild cards, graphic designer Jana Keppens, has since made the switch to the dark side, so to speak.”
The Lonely Freelance Club brunch in 2019, photo by Studio Nunu.
“Our talents as a tribe really came together in the event. I was able to go to town as a buffet decorator; Katrien created a logo that included a dressing gown – the ultimate freelance uniform – and Nena photographed everyone. We posted those photos to our Instagram page and were subsequently messaged by a lot of people telling us how much they would have liked to joined. So we organised another event in 2020. In the meantime, people keep finding our Instagram page. It seems to be functioning as a sort of public intranet that is helping clients find freelancers.”
Will there be another Lonely Freelance Club event in the future?
“The pandemic was a hectic period for Katrien, Nena and I. Luckily, work didn’t dry up for us, but we all had our kids at home. So we were forced to take a break from the event, but we hope to quickly organise a new edition. We’ll do a themed party around an issue that will be very recognisable to freelancers – but that’s all we’re saying for now.”
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a freelancer?
“A lot of people who study design will one day freelance, but this isn’t covered in the programme. Everything changed the day that I realised that I also need to see myself as a business. I discovered that so much depends on setting good boundaries. We generate so much output as creatives, but we also need input. You need the time and resources to be able to take care of yourself, to work out, to take a holiday every now and then, and to recharge your batteries. That’s why I tell new clients: ‘I want to be able to fully throw myself into the assignment and not have any financial stress. When that’s taken care off, I deliver my best work.’ No-one can really argue with that.”
Gwen Dubois, photo by Brussels Ketjep.
That’s genius. Where did you learn that?
“I drew a lot of these kinds of lessons from the book Design is a job by Mike Monteiro. It’s my bible. I’m always sending screenshots of the book to other freelancers. Anyone who does creative work will recognise the situations described in the book, not just designers. And the best thing about that book is that the writer gives all the solutions! Another example: when I work at a reduced rate for a non-profit, I include my real fee and the discount I’m giving them in my price quote and invoice. That way, clients are aware how much a freelancer really costs and what I’m giving them. These are the kinds of small things every freelancer should know.”
Do you see yourself quitting freelancing one day?
“Never say never, but as long as Belgian companies don’t understand how creative generalists can be put to use in a company, I prefer not to work in a salaried capacity. Life is too short and I haven’t sit through a useless meeting in 15 years – that’s something that means a lot to me.”
Interview by Selma Franssen.
Follow The Lonely Freelance Club on Instagram to learn more about their next events.