< Interview 010 >
< Name > Stephanie Specht
< Jobposition > Freelancer and Founder Specht Studio
< Based in > Antwerp
< Date > 07/01/2026
< MT > Can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?
< SS > My name is Stephanie Specht. I am a graphic designer and have been working independently since 2006. I studied graphic design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
< MT > When you first started working independently, what were the main challenges you faced, and how did you manage to create a practice that could sustain you over time?
< SS > I was very afraid of going bankrupt, so I said yes to every assignment. I showed all of that finished work on my website, even though I didn’t enjoy more than half of it. As a result, I kept attracting the same kinds of jobs. It took me seven years to realize this. I removed everything from my website and only showed personal work that I truly enjoyed, plus a few paid projects that I liked as well. That’s when things really started to roll. The same principle applied: I received more of what I showed.
< MT > Did you have other sources of income in the beginning or were you able to live off working in the design world directly?
< SS > I teach occasionally, but I’ve realized that it’s not the right path for me because it takes up a lot of time that I need for my own practice.
< MT > How do you approach pricing your work, and what have you learned about communicating your value to clients? How much do you get paid? Is there an average you set, or does it change drastically from client to client?
< SS > Everything is adaptable per client. Some clients clearly state their budget upfront, and then it’s up to you to decide what you can and want to do within that budget. With smaller clients, it’s often a shared search. There isn’t really a fixed price.
< MT > You’ve lived and worked in places like Cape Town, Brussels, Princeton, and New York. Do you think it’s important to work on projects abroad or take on an internship in another country to expand your knowledge in the design field? How have these different environments influenced your design approach or way of thinking?
< SS > Yes, absolutely. Your view of the world will change. Your adaptability is tested, and I think that is crucial in the design world. You have to examine your position in the world: how do you relate to your work in another country? These are all very interesting learning experiences.
< MT > Which skills do you think are essential to succeed in the design industry today – and how important are soft skills like communication or negotiation compared to creative abilities?
< SS > See the answer above! :)
< MT > How do you deal with clients whose design ideas differ from yours? Do you have strategies for finding common ground?
< SS > I’m open to conversation, but if it’s clear from the start that it won’t be a good match, I don’t take on the assignment. I prefer to work with or for people who understand and value my vision, and who come to me because of the results I deliver—not for purely executional tasks without any creativity. That’s not what I went to school for.
< MT > How do you manage to keep your creative process from becoming repetitive and continue producing fresh, original work?
< SS > This is something I naturally seek out and can’t easily explain. My urge to do something different every time is very strong.
< MT > What has been your biggest reality check or turning point in your career so far, and how did you deal with moments of doubt?
< MT > Should designers feel responsible for the impact of their work?
< SS > Yes, of course. You are placing something visual into the world. There are, however, factors you can’t control—such as a client deciding years later to show your work in a different context.
< MT > You give talks, workshops, and have taught design. What do you enjoy most about sharing your experience with others, and how did you get your first teaching or speaking opportunities?
< SS > It all happened quite organically, through people I knew and through the network I built abroad. The responses you get when sharing your work or perspectives are always a learning experience for myself as well. And seeing a student suddenly have that “aha” moment is priceless.
< MT > What do you wish you had known before graduating that would have made starting your career easier, and what advice would you give to young designers entering professional life?
< SS > Learn project management and accounting so you don’t constantly worry about going bankrupt :)
< MT > I see you have a website, an Instagram account, and you also use LinkedIn. How do you approach self-promotion as a designer, and what has worked best for you for getting attention from new clients and presenting your work?
< SS > My website and Instagram are very important. Instagram perhaps even more for networking.
< MT > Do you have any tips for a good portfolio?
< SS > Only show work that you genuinely love doing.
< MT > What role do personal connections and networks play in your career? Do they influence the kind of clients you work with – and is it possible to start out in design without them?
< SS > They are extremely important. Every person can potentially become a link to a great project in the future—that’s something I strongly experience. Even people who don’t work in creative fields can be meaningful to you later on. On top of that, understanding people is invaluable as a designer. You need to be able to read and assess your clients well.
< MT > Can you share a piece of work that represents you – a kind of self-portrait through design?
< SS > All of my personal work, really. There’s something of myself in everything
< MT > If you could tell your younger designer self one sentence:
< SS > Never stop experimenting and learning new things.