Week 01 - Planning, strategy and Management
Weekly Learning Objectives
You will be working towards achieving the following learning outcomes detailed in Brief 1:
LO1: Research – select and deploy appropriate research methodologies to inform the needs within a project.
LO4: Distil – position a creative strategic insight that has been distilled and refined through an informed investigation.
LO9: Communicate – communicate effectively in a range of contexts and situations to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
L10: Manage – demonstrate applied planning and organisational skills to support self-directed project work and inform ongoing professional development needs.
Studio and Entrepreneurship
Business foundations - Week 1 lectures
Part 1 - Practioner case studies
Question: What do you think are the essential logistical and practical requirements to set up a design studio /business?
Simon Manchipp, SomeOne
Simon stressed the importance of having clients. He said it’s all very well having all the kit and the studio, but if you have no regular income coming in it will kill your cash flow. He also said as soon as he could, he had an in-house accountant to cover all the practical financial aspects.
He also discussed ‘over delivering’ in the early stages of setting up a business, rather than ‘over promising and under delivering’. He talks about building a relationship with early clients and quoted, “Repeat business is the best and easiest business, as you have already formed that working relationship”.
Sarah Boris
Sarah also stressed the importance of an accountant for good financial help and having a financial cushion in case you need to replace some studio equipment or travel for a project. She also discussed having a ‘great group of supporters’, especially if you are a small business so you have a group of people you trust as a soundboard or people who know your industry who you can discuss and help you evolve your practice and inspire you.
Julian House and Adrian Talbot, Intro
Firstly, they reminded you that you need to be a good designer, as if you’re not, nobody will want to buy your designs. They also stressed how important it was to listen to what the client wants and even if you don’t agree with what they want you to create, you have to find a way to get your ideas across and sell it as their own creation. I think this comes with experience and confidence in how to manage your clients and business relationships.
Simon Winston
Sam talks about his own experience in setting up by renting a desk space in a studio and how this was his first experience of studio culture which he really enjoyed. From this, he’s spent the last 20 years building up his own practice through hard work and now has complete control in his work/life balance with more freedom to choose the projects he wants to do. Trust and integrity are also two of the biggest assets, when it comes to making a living.
Tom Finn and Kristoffer Soelling, Regular Practice
Discussed how important their own space was for them, instead of working from a coffee shop or living room but keeping your expenses to a bare minimum in the beginning when setting up.
They stressed how important it was to ‘keep making things you love’ even if it’s not commercial. This will show that at least you’re still in love with what you’re doing and that is important when you’ve chosen design as a career.
So, in a nutshell, these are the reminders I have taken on board
Prioritise getting (and retaining) clients - all the fancy kit and kaboodle can be added when finances come in
Keep overheads low till you get (3) clients in place
Keep creative (even through hobbies) when paid work isn’t that creative. Remember why you chose this career
Client relationships are key to future work. As clients move on, hopefully, so will your working relationship
Financial cushions are good for the unexpected costs that may occur - new tech, etc.
Build your support network for outsourcing/taking on projects that are out of your remit
Lecture Part II – Interview with Gem Barton
The second part of this week’s lecture is a written interview with Gem Barton, author of ‘Don’t Get a Job, Make a Job’, published by Lawrence King.
I downloaded the guide, which introduced and considered the business framework for practice and explored the core knowledge for managing work and defining roles as a practitioner.
As students, we will put theory into practice as we write a business plan for our own business, project or creative initiative. We will focus on their interests, background or future career scenarios, whether freelance, studio or in-house opportunities.
Question: In this first week, the students are asked to write an ‘about paragraph’ - an elevator pitch on their current positioning or one they would like to establish. What advice would you give to them to help with this process?
There is a very simple answer to this – you must be honest with yourself. At the start of the course, it’s about getting to grips with yourself and understanding your position and what you might like to change about it. To do this effectively – you need to be honest – and patient. That’s not to say, you cannot dream big, but make sure those dreams really are yours, and not a construct of society, your past, your family – it may be a short elevator pitch, but it will take much longer than you think to write it.
Read | Watch | Listen - Video Insight, How to run Design Studio
From the lecture material, I watched a video interview with Michael C. Place, David Bailey, Ian Anderson, Nick Bax and Matt Pyke sharing their secrets for launching and running a successful design studio, employing people and structuring your team. (and when to stop growing!).
They discuss how their businesses how to grow quite organically and how they put a business structure in place
How to launch and run a design studio
In this video interview, Michael C. Place, David Bailey, Ian Anderson, Nick Bax and Matt Pyke share their secrets for launching and running a successful design studio, from how to employ people and structure your team to when to stop growing.
The most interesting aspect of all these videos, were that their businesses grew organically and the designers found themselves taken from everyday working in a studio to running a business.
References - The Panel
How to launch and run a design studio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4USCXMS7BY
5 Feb 2016
Summary to take on board for my practice - Their advice was to be true to yourself and take on the work you want to. Embrace failure as well as success and work hard! If you love doing it you will have a natural enthusiasm and this will come across in your work.
NOTE TO ADD TO MY PRACTICE: Work hard, embrace failure, be brave to try things out!
ustwo studios
Founded by two best friends, “Mills” In 2022 ustwo studios became employee-owned. Their studio culture is a big happy family of very talented people who create call interesting stuff. They have been looking at creating a manifesto and thrive on feedback from their employees to set the framework for their business going forward. Their heart and good values are the frameworks of the company. The values they run their business by is employing people who they genuinely get on with and know they have the same drive.
Summary to take on board for my practice - A great business ethos that makes it look like a fun place to work and thrive.
NOTE TO ADD TO MY PRACTICE: I love the friendship aspect and employing people with the same values
Chris Do and Melinda Livsey
Chris coaches her on how to run her creative business to achieve focus, raise her rates and delegate work to others. This is an in-depth breakdown, especially for freelancers who want to start their own business.
I watch a lot of Chris on Instagram and I thought in this video he was quite brutal with some financial aspects of how Cara was running the financial aspects of her business. But it did make me think about the home truths about project management and allowances for time process.
Summary to take on board for my practice - I already use Harvest for my Estimates and invoicing and, must get stricter with time management, and say ‘no’ to the smaller non profitable jobs. You are not going to be the right fit for everyone.
References:
Talis resources:
The process of setting fees | Eva Domain Bruck, available at
https://content.talisaspire.com/falmouth/bundles/5cd424db69df505bd5634ef4
millsustwo (2017) Inside ustwoLinks to an external site., [online video]. [Accessed 4 June 2023]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7sAt4LnefQ
The Futur (2017) How To Run A Creative Business: In-depth breakdown w/ Melinda LivseyLinks to an external site., [online video]. [Accessed 4 June 2023]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8BN2YSyYkg