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  • Home
  • what we do
    • we mentor
    • we research
    • we write
    • 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
      • Old HHBC
  • Design Business Review
  • Who we are
  • How we can help
    • …build financial knowledge
      • Financial mentoring for designers
      • ebook: Finance in a design studio ebook
      • ebook: Bookkeeping for designers
      • ebook: What’s a fair wage?
      • digital copy: the business of design publication
    • … grow your business
      • Business development mentoring
      • ebook: LinkedIn for designers
      • What’s a fair wage ebook
      • digital copy: the business of design publication
    • … build management and leadership skills
      • How to build a great creative business: good for people and profits
      • What’s the risk? ebook
      • What’s a fair wage ebook
      • digital copy: the business of design publication
    • Free resources
  • Connect
Design Business Council > risks for creatives
Our annual research trip: this time London, Amsterdam, Berlin and Munich
09
Jun

We combine travel with work and this year we’re heading to Europe. We work while holidaying, meeting with like-minded designers to investigate what’s happening in design businesses in other parts of the world.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
How designers can influence client behaviour (without being manipulative)
02
Jun

Good designers don’t just create great work. They create the conditions where the work gets approved and implemented. They influence client behaviour ethically.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
The client design ladder: moving clients from styling to strategy
26
May

The difference between clients who haggle and those who invest in strategic design? Their position on the design ladder. Here’s how to move them from “make it pretty” to “help us innovate”

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
Why clients resist change (and how to help them embrace it)
20
May

When clients resist your design, it’s rarely about the design itself. Understanding the “why” can help transform how you present creative and guide clients through change.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
56% of clients think agency websites lack clarity
12
May

Clients think agency websites lack clarity because they all look the same. They want to understand what we do better than another – that’s clarity in positioning. We’ve found 3 good examples …

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
Issues facing designers
The big issues for Australian design agencies
05
May

The biggest challenge facing Australian designers isn’t competition—it’s commoditisation. Here’s how to position yourself as a strategic partner rather than a creative supplier.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
Why are there no retirement parties for designers?
24
Apr

Most design careers end not with champagne and speeches, but with a gradual fade into irrelevance. Here’s why there are few retirement parties for designers

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
The freelancer dilemma: peer or assistant?
22
Apr

What kind of help do you need? Do you want a peer who can collaborate and work independently or an assistant with a deep skillset to help you get the job done?

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
What clients really think: 5 key insights from 2025 research
15
Apr

Analysis of what 680 design-buying clients said about their relationship with their design agency; from AI expectations to challenges and differentiation issues.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
How design business owners can use AI to help clients
08
Apr

The most valuable AI applications for designers aren’t about replacing creativity — they’re improving client service and delivering greater value.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
What type of creative business suits you?
21
Mar

Bigger isn’t the only way for a creative business to grow. Here’s 3 proven business models – the skill is to pursue the one that matches your skillset and needs.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , business strategy , creative business coach , design business , design business coach , Design business coaching , sustainable creative business model ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
Five signs your studio is actually a production house
17
Mar

Many studios are morphing into production houses. The work is steady, the income reliable, but the creative satisfaction and profit margins are shrinking.

Posted in: Business advice for designers , Business coach for designers , Business coaching for designers , Business of design , creative business coach , design business coach , Design business coaching ,
Tags: Business of design , design career , Design management , managing a design studio , risk management for designers , risks for creatives , risks for design studios , risks for designers ,
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