I built Varelo into a small agency. A team of 4. I thought that was the goal. It sounds good when...

I built Varelo into a small agency. A team of 4. I thought that was the goal. It sounds good when...I built Varelo into a small agency. A team of 4. I thought that was the goal. It sounds good when...

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Jelmer Hoekstra

• Jul 23

I built Varelo into a small agency. A team of 4.

I thought that was the goal. It sounds good when you say it out loud. "I run a team." "I have people working for me." For a while I believed that was the version of this business I actually wanted.

Then I looked at the last few months and noticed something. I had barely designed anything myself. The team did the design work. I did project management, client calls, keeping things moving. All useful, none of it the reason I started this in the first place.

So I sat with that for a while and got honest with myself. What I actually love is sitting with a client, understanding their vision, and turning that into something real. A website, a brand, a feeling. That process is the entire reason I got into this. Not managing a team. Not scaling headcount. The making.

So I am going back to that. Varelo is becoming a freelance studio again, me doing the design work directly with clients, not handing it off and checking in later.

If you are a business owner with a real vision for your website and you want to work directly with the person actually designing it, not passed between account managers, send me a message. Let's see if we are a fit.

freelancerlife webdesign Figma

Abdullah Eroğlu

pro

• Jul 23

Thats a decision only a vision owned man can make, i understand and feel your point, big respect!

Jelmer Hoekstra

• Jul 23

Thank you! 😊

Sohrab Khan

• Jul 26

I really respect this decision. There's a lot of pressure to grow into an agency, but success looks different for everyone. Choosing the work that gives you the most fulfillment, and letting clients work directly with the designer, can create a much stronger experience. Wishing you all the best with this new chapter!