What to put in your first message to a studio
Short beats clever: who you are, why this studio, one project that fits, and a link that opens without a login.
Many of the best design jobs are never posted. Studios hire when a good person writes at the right time, and a short, well-aimed message can open a door that no job board shows. It can also be ignored in three seconds. Here is how to write one that gets read.
Write to a person
Find out who leads the studio or the design team and write to them by name. A general hello@ address works too, but a message to a person is more likely to be answered. Keep it professional and friendly: no long introductions, no flattery.
Four things, in this order
- Who you are, in one sentence: your discipline, your level, where you are based. "I'm a brand designer with five years in agencies, based in Hamburg."
- Why this studio, in one or two sentences. Name a specific project of theirs and what you liked about it. This is the part most people skip, and the part that shows you are not sending the same message to fifty studios.
- One project of yours that fits their work, with one sentence on what you did. Not your whole portfolio, just the best match.
- What you are asking for: a full-time role, freelance work, or simply a short conversation. Be clear, and make it easy to say yes.
That is it. Four short paragraphs fit on a phone screen without scrolling, and that is where most people will read your message.
The link matters as much as the text
Link to your portfolio or straight to the one project you mention. Check that the link opens without a login, loads quickly, and looks good on a phone. Avoid large PDF attachments; if you send a PDF, keep it under 10 MB and name the file with your name.
Subject line
Keep it plain and specific: "Brand designer from Hamburg, interested in freelance work" is better than "Hello!" or "Application". If someone referred you, put their name in the subject.
Timing and follow-up
Tuesday to Thursday mornings tend to work better than Monday mornings or Friday afternoons. If you have not heard back after about ten days, one short follow-up is fine: a line or two, ideally with something new, like a recent project. After that, let it rest and try again in a few months.
An example
"Hi Anna, I'm a brand designer with five years of agency experience, based in Hamburg. Your identity for the Kunsthalle caught my eye, especially how the grid works across print and the website. I recently led the rebrand of a regional theatre (link) and would love to bring that experience to your team. Are you open to freelancers this autumn? Happy to send more work or have a short call. Best, Lena"
It is under a hundred words, it names a project, it shows one piece of relevant work, and it ends with a clear question. That is all a first message needs to do.