Exciting news Mark, good luck with the new venture!

Awesome, Mark. Congrats. Looking forward to seeing where you go from here.

Woo! Now is the best time for something like this. Congrats and best of luck. Welcome!

Ooh, big step.  Hope it all goes well.  Good luck :)

I know how much this must scare and excite you, but if anyone can excel alone, it’ll be you. Rate card to Agenzia whenever you can…

Good luck, you’ll do well I’m sure.

Keep this site regularly updated - its excellent.

Yay! Having discussed this with you over the weekend and knowing your uncanny ability to be bloody good at everything you do I know this is going to be a massively productive venture. Just as long as you don’t start chanting ‘Be the brand’.

Plus Emm might get a chance to see you now. : )

Good look bro from your proud best man.

Right on. Congratulations, it’s a big scary step, but you’re gonna love it.

Good luck Mark, doubt you’ll need much though!

Fantastic news (though not for the BBC it would seem).  I have every reason to believe you will be a hit in the world of freelancing - good luck!

Good Job and Good Luck! I did the same thing this spring, (albiet from a non-design job), and am starting a lot lower on the totem pole than you will, but it’s really great and I love it - as I’m sure you will too.

Wow, gutsy move. I applaud you. I’m still trying to muster up the courage to go it solo, or possibly with a group of guys I know. Best of luck to you in the future! Now that you’ve got more free time, I look forward to the inevitable increase in articles on typography and layout! :)

Nice one, it’s no secret you (along with many in the department) were wasted there. Hope your able to get plenty done. :)

Now, did they allow you to take a VR or was it just a plain bye-bye?

funny...the wall in my office is apple green as well!

Great Mark, I’ve been a lurker for some time now ? and I hope you get to work on some major projects in the future. You’ll do well.

Congratulations and best of luck!

Congrats and good luck, Mark! A tiny bit of advice: Maintaining the separation between work and home is absolutely key. Keep that in mind from the beginning and you’ll be fine.

Congratulations Mark!  I wish you all the best in the new phase of your career.  I know you’ll do great!

Congratulations Mark! You’re a great designer and you obviously know how to get work done, so I hope this works out for you. You’ve certainly put in enough hours to deserve the success!

I’m sure you’ll let us all know how it goes, and I look forward to hearing about it.

Good luck! :)

Excellent news. Congratulations on the momentus occasion!

i only wish you the best. you will make your way, because you do a great job ;)

bernd

Good luck! I know the feeling. I too am leaving my job on the 26th, heading to back to the mother-country after giving 5 years of my life to design in NZ and starting afresh. But, as they say out here, “She’ll be right,” and I am sure they know what they are talking about.

I’ve happy for you and wish you lots of luck with your new business. I doubt you will have problems getting projects with your expertise and good business as well as design sense! In any case, have fun and good luck!

Good luck in your new business, I think it’s a good new for you :)

Yeah Yo! Good move.

Can’t wait for the “Journal” bit of your move. It’s alright getting tips on how to be a freelancer, but I can’t wait to see how it actually pans out and the every day to day issues that crop up.

All the best for the brave move. Don’t overwork yourself, just enjoy the ride :)

Good luck with your new endeavor!  Taking such a big step can be very scary, but you have the support and experience to make it!

Congrats Mark, You’ve got the talent to make it work! Good luck and lots of fun :)

Excellent Mark. I’ll be looking forward to reading about your journey.

Good luck Mark! I remember we spoke about this at @media. Great to hear you’re striking it alone. I’m sure you’ll be a great success. We may have some work to pass your way and will make sure you’re in the ‘people to call on’ list.

Woot!  Big congrats, Mark!  Lookin forward to reading about the journey…

Congrats, love to see pictures of the new office!

My home office is blood red in 2 of the 4 walls so I know the feeling.

Welcome to the world of working for no one..

Been a while since pga ;)

If I ever needed a webjob done, I’d either contact you or andy rutledge, you guys are the best ;)

Mark, you rock. This is such an exciting time, and I really hope to collab on a project with you one of these days. Congrats!

Excellent! I wish you luck with your business.

I have no experience but I definately think that separating work from normal life by giving yourself an ‘office’ space is a good move. It must be a really exciting experience setting everything up.

Welcome to the world of self-employment. Having just made the leap myself in February, I can empathize with the mixed feelings of sheer joy/sheer terror. On the whole though, I’m really glad I did it and this community does such a good job of supporting its members. I couldn’t ask for better colleagues. Welcome to the fold and shoot me a rate card while yer at it.

PS - I’m on my second green office. The first was more apple, this one’s a bit more subdued because it’s a bit darker in the basement.

Oh, I wish I could. Good luck and congrats.

Good luck Mark, some employers just don’t know when good staff are staring them in the face. Or bad staff, for that matter!

Shame you didn’t take my name suggestions though ;)

BBC’s loss. 

Wonderful move.  All the best for every success!

Crikey, another person leaving the BBC…

Good luck in your new venture!

Congrats on making the leap—the BBC’s loss is everyone else’s gain :)

I’ll join the “send me a rate card” group, as Alex and I are trying to increase our workload over the next few months, and I’d love to be able to use you if the right projects come along.

Hi Mark, you seem to be suffering with an acute condition of ‘pat on the back syndrome’ at the moment so I’ll put a temporary hold on my wishes of good will. You’ll be happy with that as I’m currently suffering with elephantistis of the hands.

Keep in touch and if you should need any pointers for temporary freelance work in dear ol’ Kairdiff town feel free free to give me a shout.

Good luck, Mark. I’ve no doubt that this is a great time to take the leap. Congratulations!

Nice One Mark! I’m sure your moving on to bigger and better things.

Mark,

on behalf of everyone at pMachine we wish you the absolute best! That Colly guy needs some good competition anyway.

Yeah all the best Mark, having just made the jump I can tell you its crazy, exciting, scary and lots and lots of fun :D

Nice one. Good luck.

All the best Mark. It’s a decision that I doubt you will regret. :)

Exciting!

Do well.

Good luck, and as someone who’ll be taking the plunge too one of these days I already look forward to the articles!

My future office will have one orange wall.

Hi Mark, I always follow your journal, so proud of how well you are doing.  I wish you lots of success in your new venture.  I had a strange experience on Friday night, I visited a spiritualist church, and was chosen by the medium, I was hoping for guidance with our situation here.  But instead I was asked if I knew someone called Mark with a celebration or birthday in May, I was dumbstruck, I said yes, and was told there is a lot of spiritual healing around you and that you are much loved and that all will be well.  Shuttup, talk about spooky!!!

Good luck!

Best of luck on the new venture, I look forward to reading a follow-up soon.  Will you be sharing your journey as you go along?  I’m quite curious as to how you’re marketing and managing yourself.

I know this will be a great move for you, mate.
I don’t know if I could do it, with the constant temptation of a fresh brew and Richard and Judy!

Si

Well done Mark, takes guts to make the move. I did too and I am so glad I did. It can be hard at times but soooooo rewarding.

All the best for the future.

Lee

wish you best of luck !

C’mon Mark that’s enough now of this thread, there’s only so many nice comments and ‘spirtual headling’ a guy can take?

congrats and good luck Mark !

I’m looking forward to read about your new adventure as a freelancer! Cheers!

Good Luck! | Buena Suerte!

Congrats mate, my Wife & I started up on our own 2 years and at the time with no web experience at all.  Its all going great now so stick with it and good luck.

Spooky.I was just reading your comments about refurbed imacs when I spotted this piece. I resigned from my Senior Art Director position two weeks ago to go freelance after a severe case of office-politics-itus.

My first official day of freelancing is 21st August and I’m also scared as hell. Just wanted to share some solidarity. I’m also currently busy buying a new mac, sorting out my office at home and thinking company names etc. Hope it all goes well for you (and me!).

Woohooo! :D
All The best Mark!
Good luck!

C?mon Mark that?s enough now of this thread, there?s only so many nice comments and ?spirtual headling? a guy can take?

lol… hehehehe

Congrats Mark,
Go for it fella. Reap the rewards. Enjoy.

Take a look at http://www.6721.co.uk in Cardiff.

All the best Mark! You have more than enough talent to make this work. And clearly, you have a huge network of talented people here to help you if you need it.

Can’t wait to see your success and new projects!

I have some advice: Make sure you take care of your body k? If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that office ergonomics are worth investing in. While you might not think a good chair is a worthy purchase, it really is. Working for a company, we don’t really have to worry about that stuff, but working at home we totally do.

Good luck Mark. I have been reading this blog for a while and really enjoy it. I am eagerly awaiting the ‘blow by blow’ account!