This helpful guide provides startup and experienced design business owners with dozens of useful, creative methods for achieving profitability. Updated throughout with additional material on time management, expanded coverage of Web and multimedia pricing, and numerous new interviews with leading designers, this third edition is an invaluable industry guide focusing on these crucial aspects of running a graphic design business. Coverage includes how to set rates, deal with competitors' pricing, use different pricing methods, prepare estimates, draft proposals, establish and manage budgets, negotiate, and position the brand of the firm. Graphic designers will find the clearly written, practical advice indispensable to professional success.
This second edition is updated throughout and includes additional material on time management and numerous interviews with leading designers. Empowered by the step-by-step guidance in this book, interior designers will be able to establish prices and budgets that make their clients happy and their businesses profitable. Written by a designer and veteran expert on pricing, estimating, and budgeting systems, the book provides practical guidelines on how to value the cost of designing commercial or residential interiors, from the designer's creative input to the pricing of decorating products and procedures. The book shows how to determine a profitable and fair hourly rate, balance the client's budget with his or her wishes and needs, negotiate prices with suppliers and contractors, write realistic estimates and clear proposals, manage budgets for projects of all sizes and types, and position the firm's brand in relation to its practices. Interviews with experienced interior designers, case studies, and sidebars highlight professional pitfalls and how to master them, from daily crisis management and self-organization to finding the perfect office manager.
Williams (graphic design firm founder, author, teacher, lecturer on graphic design theory and business issues) provides useful information for beginning and experienced owners of design businesses, about achieving and increasing profitability. Topics include new trends in technology and communication, project proposals, rates, budgets, estimates, negotiations, financial management, software, and work environment. Written in a personable style to appeal to the creative professional who is mystified by the financial side of the design business. c. Book News Inc.
Here is the perfect volume for graphic designers who want real-life advice for long-term success. Renowned designer Ellen Shapiro reveals time-tested tricks of the trade—for making sure the clients you want to work with know about you, become your clients, and work with you productively. Then, in a series of one-on-one interviews, leading designers such as Milton Glaser, April Greiman, Mke Weymouth, Drew Hodges, Marc Gobé, and partners in Pentagram reveal their personal experiences and insights on how to uphold creative standards while fulfilling clients’ needs. Their advice will help you: Identify what is distinct about your services Market yourself effectively Meet and court clients Learn the lingo of corporate strategy Make effective presentations Believe in the work you do and sell the work you believe in Obtain referrals from existing clients Keep clients coming back for more CEOs and design managers from nineteen marketing and design-savvy clients—such as Klein Bikes, The Knoll Group, Barnes & Noble, and Harvard University—offer their own candid perspectives on the challenges solutions, and triumphs of working with designers. Whether you are courting your first clients or seeking fresh insights for achieving even greater success, you cannot afford to be without this crucial resource. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
Visual-thinking graphic designers sometimes struggle to express themselves clearly and effectively in writing. Now there’s help! The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Better Business Writing teaches graphic designers how to write compelling business communications. Created especially to address the needs of graphic designers, this handy guide breaks the writing process down into simple, easy-to-understand stages and offers practical writing and presentation models that designers can put to use immediately. Real-life examples cover an array of essential topics: writing winning resumes and cover letters, landing accounts, writing polished letters and reports, creating design briefs, and much more. As a bonus, the authors include time-saving insider tricks of the trade, gleaned from interviews with design professionals and creative directors from across the country. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
Do what you love and make money! The Designer's Guide to Marketing and Pricing will answer all the common questions asked by designers trying to stay afloat in their creative business - and also successful designers who want to put a little more thought into their operations. Whether you're a freelancer, an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned small-business owner, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to market and price your services. This book shows you how to: learn which marketing tools are most effective and how to use them create a smart marketing plan that reflects your financial goals plan small actionable steps to take in reaching those financial goals determine who your ideal clients are and establish contact with them turn that initial contact into a profitable relationship for both of you talk to clients about money and the design process - without fear figure out a fair hourly rate and give an accurate estimate for a project You'll learn the ins and outs of creating and running a creative services business - the things they never taught you in school. Plus, there are useful worksheets throughout the book, so you can apply the principles and formulas to your own circumstances and create a workable business plan right away.
"Provides definitive guidelines on all aspects of the graphic design business."—FYI. * Newly revised and expanded version of an industry classic--5,000 sold! * Up-to-the-minute! Includes web, interactive, and green design, new legislation * Each chapter written by an authority on the subject. Here’s the definitive guide to professional business practices in graphic design, now fully revised and updated for the digital age. Up-to-the-minute coverage of web, interactive, and motion graphics; green design; potential repercussions of legislation on Orphan Works; protection of fonts and software; managing creative people; using professional help such as lawyers; and much more. Each in-depth chapter, covering such topics as professional relationships, fees, contracts, managing large projects, copyright and trademark issues, electronic uses, and more, has been written by an authority in the field. The newly revised AIGA Standard Form for Design Services is included for the convenience of readers, along with a complete resources section. No designer should do business without this comprehensive, authoritative book. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
The must-have business and legal reference for the graphic design industry, now updated for the next generation. This classic industry tool, now in its fourth edition, brings together more than fifty essential and ready-to-use forms for graphic designers. All forms are accompanied by thorough explanations and are made available on CD-ROM so that they can be easily customized. Business and Legal Forms for Graphic Designers also provides step-by-step instructions, advice on standard contractual provisions, and unique negotiation checklists so you can deal correctly with clients and manage your office efficiently. Included are: - Project plan and budget - Proposal form - Credit reference form - Job index - Job sheet - Time sheet - Studio production schedule - Estimate request form - Artwork log and digital file management - Project confirmation agreement - Website design agreement - Contract with illustrator or photographer - Employment agreement - Applications for copyright registration of designs - Trademark application Commercial lease - And many more New to this edition are forms for arbitration, general and mutual releases, employee warning and dismissal letters, and promissory notes. Don't get stuck paying expensive lawyers' fees or accepting less than what your designs are worth. Whether you are an established designer or just starting out, this guide will help you to save money, protect yourself, and negotiate for maximum profit. Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.
Numbers can tell an exciting story. The trick is to know what story to tell and make it understandable. This compact, practical guide will show everyone who must design numeric data how to transform raw data into readable, relevant information. The Designer’s Guide to Presenting Numbers, Figures, and Charts brings together the guidelines established over the last forty years for making effective presentations of figures, tables, and graphs. Included are the straightforward steps designers and other professionals can take to make their tables and charts the most meaningful. The authors define and discuss a range of graph types, from simple bar and pie charts to contemporary “data visualizations,” offering explanations of the intended application of each. Readers will learn when to use a table, when to use a chart, which chart is best to use, and how to make all numeric presentations as comprehensible as possible. Specific topics include: Rounding numbers Table construction Chart design Guidance on numbers and page layout Color Reference and demonstration tables Presenting figures in PowerPoint Ordering numbers for decision-making Multiple comparisons Grids And more Communicating information effectively is an increasingly important skill in the digital age. People find numbers persuasive, and well-executed visual presentations of information will influence more people and even shorten meetings. Complete with a glossary and helpful exercises, this guide offers everything needed to create more-effective presentations.
