by Aaron Mahnke

As a freelance graphic designer, I spent a good amount of time wrestling with the idea of bringing an iPad into my workflow. As the device exists today, it’s not designed or equipped for complex creation. Without tools like Illustrator or Photoshop, the iPad lacks the software that I use the most for my client work. I also rely heavily on MarketCircle’s business accounting app, Billings, as well as the oft-praised Dropbox. But with no Billings for the iPad in sight, and the ability to edit and re-save the contents of my Dropbox in the iPad more than likely months, if not years, away, I was fairly doubtful of the use that Apple’s new magical device could be to me.

My wife, however, knew that the iPad would be perfect for her needs. She writes prolifically, browses the internet, communicates with friends and family via email and even spends a small amount of time on a well known social networking site. And so it was easy to pre order her a wifi model knowing it would fit her lifestyle perfectly. But having the device in the house allowed me to become acquainted with the power and usefulness of her iPad. And after one opportunity to take it out for a work-related project, I was sold. And so I’d love to share with you the list of uses I have found for an iPad in my freelance business.

Digital Portfolio

If your freelance work centers around visual work, you’re in for a treat. A large bulk of my business is logo design, print materials and page layout. And just about everything I create can be displayed on the large, rich screen of the iPad. In the Ye Olden Days (a month ago) I would prepare for a new client meeting by grabbing my printed portfolio book and tossing it into my bag. But over time, the pages have picked up a few scratches, the light never seems to treat the photos well, and there’s just something awkward about flipping through pages of a small “photo album” to view digitally-created logo artwork.

Enter the Photos app on the iPad. With a simple template in Illustrator, I’ve taken all of my logo projects and created iPad wallpaper-sized images, imported them all into iPhoto, created an album for them and then set iTunes up to sync that album with my iPad. And BOOM - instant gorgeous portfolio. The vibrant screen, bright backlighting and beautiful glass make the iPad something I can be proud to put in front of a potential client.

Observation: when demonstrating my images to a client, something amazing happens. The iPad melts away, vanishing from our perception, leaving the client and I starring at the pure art. It’s - well, Apple says it best; it’s magical.

Client Educational Tool

I’ve learned over the years that the more a client knows about the process, the smoother the project flows. Because of this, I’ve created a number of educational documents to guide them through the different types of projects I can tackle with them. All of these documents are living, breathing things that grow with my business and change over time, but they all exist on in my Dropbox’s “public” folder in PDF format. This allows me to email them to anyone, from anywhere (my office Mac and iPhone included). My design contract, logo project guide and print project request forms are examples of files I share weekly with clients.

But imagine my surprise when I realized that the size of the iPad’s screen would allow me to open the specific PDF I need to reference for a client, on screen, in person. All of a sudden my Dropbox account started to pay off in dividends, thanks to the new life the iPad has breathed into it. Now, if I’m meeting with a client to discuss a logo project, I’m able to open my logo design PDF and walk them through the document, explaining the process and fielding questions as we go. It’s an interactive experience. Where I used to email a document to a client and then wait to hear if they have any comments or questions, now I can show it to them in person, read it with them, and walk away confident that they fully grasp the depth of the services I’m offering them.

My Magical Moleskine

I’ve been a Moleskine notebook guy for years (softcover, XL, and plain pages in case you were wondering). But the iPad is my Moleskine plus so much more. Between the plethora of sketchpad apps available for the iPad, and the ever-handy SimpleNote, I’ve been able to leave my notepad at home for the last month. But with the features that my MobileMe account bring to the table, I also have my calendar, address book and Safari bookmarks with me at all times. Sure, my iPhone had those, but now they are part of my “notebook”.

You might think that this isn’t as big of a deal in the potential client’s eye, but I disagree. When you hire a designer to brand your company, you are hoping to hire a professional. Talent, results and experience play a big part of our ability to convince a potential client we are a service provider worth investing in, but our ability to appear professional, organized and equipped for the job are selling points some freelancers forget. The iPad helps me project those traits.

Summary

The iPad is amazing. If you’ve held one, you know what I mean. And for many people, the pure joy of using one is enough to convince them to buy one. But as a freelancer who wants to be equipped with the proper tools for the job, I can tell you that the iPad rises above the level of “casual device”. With the ability to present my work, educate clients and serve as a portable resource center, the iPad has become an essential part of my freelancer toolkit.

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About the Author

I’m a freelance graphic designer from the Boston area where I live with my wife and daughter. You can see my work here, and follow me on twitter here.