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  • Home
  • what we do
    • we mentor
    • we research
    • we write
      • An ebook about the business of design
      • Finance in a design studio
      • Bookkeeping for designers
      • LinkedIn for designers
      • What’s a fair wage
      • What’s the risk
    • we advocate
    • we run workshops
      • How to find higher-fee design work
      • How to manage and lead a creative business
      • How to explain the measurable impact of design
      • How to build a great creative business: good for people and profits
    • we share free resources
  • Design Business Review
  • Who we are
  • Connect
Design Business Council > Agile design business
Dealing with price sensitive clients
07
Sep

We talk to a lot of designers and many want to talk about their price sensitive clients. How much will it cost is a question often asked early in a client/designer discussion. Here’s what to say…

Posted in: Design business strategy ,
Tags: Agile design business , Design disruptors , Design management , Design strategies , Design strategy , Design value chain analysis , Empathy mapping , Rebrand , Studio management ,
Building a for-purpose studio
04
Feb

What exactly is a for-purpose studio? And working with for-purpose businesses the only way to build a for-purpose studio?
If that’s the case, I’ve think we have a problem.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy , Design index , design value ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , design , design business , design coach , design innovation , Design management , design mentor , design studio management , designers mental health , mental health , new business development , overheads ,
Take the money
24
Jan

Many accountants suggest studio owners shouldn’t be paid a wage. Instead, they suggest owners get paid whatever money is ‘left’ in the business at the end of the month.
We disagree…

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design index , design value ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , design , design business , design coach , design innovation , Design management , design mentor , design studio management , designers mental health , mental health , new business development , overheads ,
React or respond?
21
Jan

Creatives spend their life on the receiving end of feedback: from design directors; design managers; account service management and directly from clients. How we react or respond can set the vibe for a project and the relationship …

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design index , design value ,
Tags: Agile design business , capability building , design , design innovation , Design management , design studio management , designers mental health , mental health , new business development ,
Creatives making Morrison understand
13
Jan

While watching Australia burn, many designers have asked: what can I do? 
Not everyone can donate cash, time, or have skills to rebuild fences but there is a way designers can help…

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design index , design value ,
Tags: Agile design business , capability building , design , design innovation , Design management , design studio management , designers mental health , mental health , new business development ,
Embrace change – don’t just put one foot infront of the other
09
Jul

If you find work is a trudge perhaps it’s time to shake things up. Consider working different hours or in a different place.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy , Design index , Human centred design ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , design , design innovation , Design management , design studio business models , design studio management , designers , designers hours , designers mental health , designers pitching , mental health , new business , new business development ,
What I learnt from my side hustle
02
Jul

Last year I started a passion project with two professionals that I didn’t really know that well. The Clear Communication Awards have just opened and it’s time to take stock to remind myself what I’ve learnt along the way…

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy , Design index , Human centred design ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , design , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
Explaining design
18
Jun

It’s hard to explain design because it means different things to different people. And it’s hard to explain where design can be used. We think we’ve found a solution in our research. Read more about our Design Maturity Index…

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy , Design index , Design value chain , Human centred design ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
man in baseball cap
Explaining design debt
03
Jun

More people are using design. That’s a good thing. Isn’t it?
In reality it can mean more fingers in the pie. More people accessing and using assets. And that means the design you introduced as an asset can quickly become a design debt.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
Designers need validation
28
May

I think designers need validation. How often does a designer present a concept to a great reception only to be told the client will return with their thinking at a later date … they just need to ‘ask another’. The client needs the designer to be validated.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
Client relationships = new business development
21
May

In 2014 when I bought the newly published Value Proposition Design by Alexander Osterwalder, I quickly adapted the ideas and developed the Design Value Proposition. It looks at design from a clients’ perspective – what value we can add to their world.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
Forget about new business development
13
May

Last week I met with one of my regular clients – a studio where I perform the role of Chairman.
In this case, I’m there to help the studio develop new directions – specifically – help them get a swap of new business through the door.

Posted in: Business of design , creative business coach , Design business coaching , Design business strategy ,
Tags: Agile design business , Business of design , capability building , Design management , designers , designers pitching , new business , new business development , pitching , pitching to clients ,
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