Design is a Job

Who it’s for

Whether you’re in client services, or a freelancer, working at a startup, or a big company, you’ll learn something from this workshop. Heck, you don’t even have to be a designer to get something out of this. Whether you call yourself a visual designer, a graphic designer, a web designer, an interaction designer, a developer, an engineer, a product manager, a photographer, a casual blogger, or a modern dance enthusiast, there will be something in this workshop that will make you better at your craft.

What you’ll learn

We will look at ways to communicate and apply these fundamentals to every aspect of your job. The goal is to expand your view of your job as a designer to include not just your talent, but the business and communication aspects as well. It contains all the information about earning a living, selling design, and interacting with clients that your school should have taught you but didn’t.

We’ll go over basic conversation skills, common red flags to look for in client interactions, how to price your work and value your time. From contracts to selling design, from working with clients to working with each other, you’ll learn why navigating the business of design is just as important as the craft of it.

If you’ve read Design Is a Job, this workshop is the perfect complement. If you haven’t, it’s a great introduction.

We’ll have fun. We’ll laugh. We’ll cry. We’ll tell stories. And we’ll all leave with a better understanding of how to do this job better for both ourselves, our companies, and our clients.

Outcomes

• Explaining the value of design to others
• Getting clients
• Choosing the right clients
• Charging for your work
• The importance of contracts
• Sticking to your process
• Presenting your work
• Managing feedback
• Getting your money