killer-clauses-for-contract

Being a freelance designer or developer gives you the chance to do what you love with a degree of flexibility and creativity that you may not have with a more traditional 9-to-5 job. To that end, you still have to take care of the business side of freelancing to save yourself headaches on down the road.

That’s right — I’m talking about contracts.

Working without a contract is an invitation to be exploited and swindled. A good contract protects you and your client and establishes a strong business relationship from the beginning. You can streamline your work around a set schedule, and offer clear details of the scope of the project. Whether you are just starting your freelance career or you have years of work experience under your belt, here are a few must-have clauses to include in your contract to make sure you cover your butt and get paid fairly for your time.

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300-nicole-dominguez

Nicole Dominguez, senior product designer and front-end developer for Sawhorse Media, is the design powerhouse behind both The Shorty Awards and Muck Rack. She’s a lover of code, an amazing designer, and has also been featured in The New York Times for her work. Dope!

Learn more about Nicole in this interview!

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code2040

CODE2040 is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for underrepresented minorities with a specific focus on Blacks and Latino/as. CODE2040 looks to close the achievement, skills, and wealth gaps in the United States. We had a chance to talk with CODE2040’s program manager Iris Gardner to learn more about their summer fellowship program and to learn ways that the community can help them achieve their goals.

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mentoring-future-black-web-professionals

Mentoring the next generation of Black designers and developers is essential to ensuring that more Black people join these fields. It can also be a great way to expose them to opportunities that they may not have known about otherwise. Whether one on one or in a classroom full of students, having some guidance on how to effectively mentor someone is important. Here are a few tips to get you started.

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caribbean-islands-map

Working in the beauty of the Caribbean is an enticing option for people who are looking for design or development opportunities. There are numerous Black entrepreneurs who are either from the Caribbean or have either emigrated to these countries to provide these much needed services. Here are  five design and development companies from a variety of islands in the Caribbean that we’d like to highlight.

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