James Frewin
James Frewin
Designer / Photographer / Content Creator
Shoreditch, London, United Kingdom
www.heyimjames.cool
instagram @jamesfrewin
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a freelance UI Designer, Content Creator/Marketer and Photographer. ”
I also help run and build communities!. I specialize in App and Brand Design but with a really strong focus on Social Media Strategy and helping companies improve how they appear on Social and also helping them create better content through workshops, exercises and 'cheatsheets' that I create.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
Self-taught Photoshop from a pirate copy aged 13 (2007)
Learnt UI design by screenshotting websites and recreating them pixel for pixel, 1:1
First client projects aged 15 doing YouTube channel backgrounds for who are now some of the biggest YouTubers in the world (KSIOlajidebt etc)
Dropped out of school aged 16 to become an IT Engineer and work in a Hospital to earn money to buy a Macbook to do App Design and continue learning UI/UX on the side and get money to fund University tuition
After 2.5 years at the Hospital went to University to study one of the first App Design courses available
Finished top of my class in the first year and was nominated for student of the year, got frustrated with the lack of up-to-date teaching I took a 1 year internship at an Omnicom digital agency to learn faster, returned to uni for my final year and worked for both Yik Yak and Snapchat on the side helping on Design, Marketing and Community Growth projects.
Graduated uni and got a low-paid job as employee number 2 at a science-tech startup, couldn’t afford rent in London so moved back in with my parents in Oxfordshire and commuted 3hrs to work and 3hrs home from work per day. Handled a full redesign, all marketing efforts, rebranding and community growth while there.
Head hunted by Google for Startups to become a community ambassador in London so quit my job to become a freelance designer and work on the side for Google building their startup community.
Also co-ran a community of Entrepreneurs in London with a focus on Diversity in Tech called YSYS (co-ran for almost 2 years) and helped multiple black, female and lgbt founders (amongst others) raise over £10million in investment. Stepped back from Community to travel, work on projects I was building, learn photography and plan for my next bigger move (2020 onwards)
Asked by Israeli Education startup Jolt to become their youngest teacher and one of the first 6 in London, to teach a course on Design and a course on Social Media - achieved average ratings of 9.4/10
Joined Backed VC - a seed investment fund in London as a Venture Scout to help them broaden their access to startups, dealflow and help with hiring.
Worked for LinkedIn, Unilever, Saint Jhn (Rapper), TRIM-IT, Government of the UAE + more freelance
Taught for 1 year on the side at the University of Gloucestershire, lectured at Kings College London, London Business School and Coventry University London becoming the youngest person to lecture at each of the above (aged 24)
Named in The Next Web.com's Top 500 Creatives 3 years in a row ('17, '18, '19)
Pretty much up to date now.
How do you stand out in your field?
By being super honest and real, building relationships, always offering more than I receive in any relationship and constantly learning new things that keep me ahead of the pack.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Building the foundations of an agency, 2 separate apps, 2 separate websites, a course, learning photography, learning TikTok, advising 3 startups, helping Backed VC invest.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I jump between bold, colourful yet still minimal designs and more subtle, detailed designs a lot.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Photography & Filmmaking! Maybe Cooking too
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Growing my personal audience across Twitter, Instagram and my Email List.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Handle some of the more boring tasks for me that would enable me to focus on the really valuable things that will help me get to the next level.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
If you get a bad vibe about a boss or a potential client - listen to it! You'd save yourself a lot of time, money and headaches by avoiding these jobs and projects.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to build an agency or clothing design company.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
UI Design, Brand Design, Social Media Strategy
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
I'd love to work with really forward-thinking media brands, people like Complex, GQ, Condé Nast etc, and also work and partner with artists and rappers to help them be better on social and grow faster.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Generally £350/day.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email, Instagram DM or Twitter DM! Budget, Examples of what they like already, Scope ideally, Gifs are great! haha Emojis too - don't word it tooo seriously. Talk to me like their friend but let me know you're serious and you're serious about wanting something good (i.e. have the budget for it)
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Learning new stuff, experimenting with different things like photography or cooking or fashion design, traveling and seeing people that energize me.
This member profile was originally published in January 2020.