What if I Left Full-Time to Freelance? with Marisol Ortega | The Typecast Episode 61
In this episode, we sit down with illustrator, designer, and jill of all trades Marisol Ortega for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, hilarious, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating a creative career.
Marisol talks about leaving full-time work (again!) to return to freelance life, why office-centric culture doesn’t support the way many creatives actually think and work, and how being a parent shaped her career decisions. We dig into the reality of juggling big-name clients, managing energy, working with a rep, and building a sustainable freelance practice that doesn’t drain your soul.
She also walks us through her thriving, but intentionally chill, product shop, what she’s learned from vending at events like Adobe MAX, and why she reins herself in on new product ideas. We also get into plant obsessions, tattoo pain scales, imposter syndrome (yes, she feels it too!), and dreaming bigger with kids' apparel and creative collaborations.
All that and more when you listen to this episode:
Why Marisol officially returned to full-time freelancing this year
The challenges of in-office creative roles when you’re a parent
How kindness and not burning bridges led to years of referral-based work
What it’s really like working with major brands (Target, Pringles, sports teams & more)
Navigating freelancers’ “ebb and flow” without relying on social media
How a creative rep supports her business and workload
Lessons learned from vending at events and deciding what’s worth investing in
How imposter syndrome shows up even when you’re thriving
Why her dream projects now involve kids' apparel and playful design
The power of experimenting, staying in your lane, and keeping your head down at work
How plants, cooking, and hobbies outside design help her recharge
Connect with Marisol Ortega
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisol.ortega/
Website: https://www.marisolortega.com/
Shop: https://www.marisolortega.com/shop
Mentioned in this episode:
Adobe MAX https://www.adobe.com/max.html
AIGA Seattle https://seattle.aiga.org/
Renegade Craft https://www.renegadecraft.com/
Aqui Mercado Events https://www.instagram.com/aquimercado.seattle/
Aaron Draplin https://www.instagram.com/draplin/
Yoto Player https://us.yotoplay.com/
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