Design Business Council > How to find higher-fee design work

Finding higher-fee design work

A half-day workshop to help design studios attract clients who value strategic thinking and will pay for expertise.

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This workshop is for creative business owners who:

feel stuck doing tactical, low-fee work,

know they could deliver more value, and

want to stop competing on price.

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What is design maturity?

Design-mature clients integrate design throughout their business, not just in marketing. They understand design’s strategic value and are willing to invest in expertise.

Generally, design mature clients pay higher fees for design because they understand the impact good design can have on their people, products and services.

In this workshop we will explain how to identify design mature clients and why they will pay higher fees.

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What you’ll learn in this workshop …

Evidence-based design frameworks

We’ll explore proven business tools used in MBA programs and show how they specifically apply to design services.

Identify design-mature clients

Learn to spot organisations that value strategic design and understand how they differ from clients seeking basic design execution.

See opportunities with existing clients

Discover untapped strategic design opportunities within your current client base, making growth easier than constantly chasing new business.

Map your design value

Learn how successful design businesses create and capture value beyond traditional design deliverables.

Ability to change the conversation

Learn to speak about design in terms of business outcomes that resonate with decision-makers.

Connect design to profit

Learn to articulate how your design work directly contributes to your clients’ business success and bottom line.

Build strategic partnerships

Move beyond project-based work to become a valued strategic partner to your clients.

Create your action plan

Leave with a practical roadmap to transition your practice toward higher-value strategic work.

 

Participating in DBC’s session marked a turning point for our business. The immediate impact was clear when, just a day later, I integrated its principles into a project discussion, resulting in a threefold increase in the project budget. … I highly recommend DBC’s value-based pricing training to anyone looking for bite-sized learning that can be tailored to your own business needs, and can be quickly and easily implemented (in my case, the very next day).

Sarah Gross, Creative Director, Partner, Storyfolk

What you’ll get from this workshop

 

  • A clear understanding of how design can impact all business functions, not just marketing – opening up new opportunities for strategic work
  • An understanding of where your existing clients sit on the design maturity scale
  • Tools to identify which of your current clients have potential for higher-fee strategic work, saving you time finding new clients
  • Practical frameworks to show how your design expertise can support your clients’ business models and drive their success
  • A new business vocabulary that helps you shift conversations from design outputs to business outcomes
  • A practical roadmap with clear next steps to transition your practice toward higher-value strategic work.
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    This approach aligns extremely well with the way our business is run. Great to see the opportunities for design. Please don’t release this to our peers. We want the chance to implement it with all our clients before our peers get to it :).

    Creative Director, Melbourne design studio

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    Why Design Business Council?

    We’ve spent over 30 years running design studios and 10+ years mentoring creative business owners.

    In 2019 we conducted self-led research into design maturity and how it related to the Australian market. We worked directly with 10 Australian design leaders and their key clients to define design within their practices and processes and rank how design impacted their business.

     

      Book a call

      This workshop is perfect if you’re done with clients who treat every project like a bargaining session.

       

      This workshop is perfect if you want to stop competing on price and start competing on value.

      This workshop is perfect if you’re ready to be treated as a strategic partner, not a vendor.

       

      The investment of
      $5,000 +GST includes


      a pre-workshop assessment to ensure you’ll get the most from the activity.


      the half-day workshop in your studio with as many of your team as you like.


      a bespoke workshop specific to your interests, skillset and pillars of excellence.


      a one-month follow-up session to answer any of those niggling questions.


      the frameworks, the tools and knowledge to implement what you’ve learnt.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Here's some answers to questions we think you might be asking... got another? Just email.

      How quickly will I see results?

      We’re realistic – it typically takes 6-9 months from first contact to landing that first strategic project. But the sooner you start changing your approach, the sooner you’ll see results.

      What will I have at the end of this workshop?

      You’ll leave with practical tools to identify design-mature clients, frameworks to demonstrate design’s business impact, and a clear roadmap for your next steps.

      How should I prepare for the workshop?

      We’ll send you a questionnaire about your current clients and pricing structure. This helps us customise the workshop to your specific situation. We’re happy to sign an NDA.

      Will there be ongoing support?

      Yes – we include a one-hour follow-up session one month after the workshop to keep you on track and answer any questions that come up as you implement the strategies.

      Where is the workshop held?

      We deliver this workshop at your studio, making it easier to discuss real challenges in your actual environment. While we’re based in Victoria, we regularly travel to other Australian states. Let’s discuss timing that works for your team.