Design and Prosper - podcast cover

Design and Prosper

Design and Prosperdesignandprosper.co
Hey! We’re Kris and Donna, and we love having honest, open conversations about running a graphic design business. We’ve been graphic designers and educators for the past 2 decades and have both run multiple-six figure graphic design businesses. We have Experienced. It. All—the highs and the lows of success. In this space, we will share all things Graphic Design business. The do’s, the don’ts, tips, secret sauces, and a whole lot more. Bottom line—we are on a mission to help Graphic Designers thrive in business. Our aim with this podcast is to provide valuable insights and strategies so you can take them and apply them to build your own successful graphic design business. If you have a graphic design business problem that you'd like us to unpack in a future episode, email us at team@designandprosper.co. We'd love to hear from you.
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Episodes

25. How to offer value as a high-end brand designer when people can get logos for free

In a world where people are giving away logos for free, how can you position yourself as a high-end brand designer and get high prices for your work? In this episode, we discuss the systems and strategies you need to have in your design process in order to position yourself as a design leader and charge high-end prices. Click here for full show notes. Book your free 30 minute discovery call Download our free Pricing Guide for Graphic Designers Follow us on Instagram @designandprosper__...

Feb 11, 202137 min

24. 5 benefits of being a graphic design boss

In this episode, we are shining the spotlight onto YOUR happiness and discussing the joys and benefits of being your own graphic design business boss. Let's celebrate the road you've travelled to this point—your courage, your passion, your flexibility and freedom and the choices you get to make on the daily. You, beautiful designer, are an entrepreneur. Bravo! Click here for full show notes. Book your free 30 minute discovery call Download our free Pricing Guide for Graphic Designers Follow us o...

Feb 04, 202129 min

23. 10 ways to have happy graphic design clients

Happy clients = happy you. Repeat business, referrals to other like-minded businesses, with little to no dramas....what's not to love? Having happy clients is a win-win. Apparently, it is 7 times harder to get a new client than it is to keep an existing client. We have no idea whether this figure is true or not, but we're gonna run with it. Because after several decades of creating high-end brands for clients, it certainly feels true for us. You too can experience this as you show up with intent...

Dec 11, 202020 min

22. How to get your graphic design invoices paid

Having trouble with clients not paying your graphic design invoices? We've got the tips! There's nothing that's going to make you start hating on your graphic design business more than clients not paying. Sometimes our business finances require a delicate balance and when clients don't pay, it can push your graphic design business (and you) to the edge. In this episode: Kris shares when her client did not pay and she had to use a last resort secret weapon...and it worked! Don shares where she su...

Dec 02, 202033 min

21. 10 ways designers can make more money—now!

Have you thought about asking clients for more graphic design work? Let’s finish 2020 with a bang! We've got 10 ideas to bring in extra cash into your graphic design business right now. An untapped resource that we have seen this time and time again is that our lovely designers are not contacting their current and past clients to offer them their services. It is far more expensive and time-consuming to get a new client than to keep an existing one. We believe, highlighting promotional ideas and ...

Nov 26, 202027 min

20. 20 Ways to get graphic design clients

Getting clients for your graphic design business is actually not that mysterious, but in order for people to pay you, they need to know you exist. In this podcast episode, we run through some of the ways you can attract clients to your graphic design business—and yes, some of these ideas will require you to take a deep breath and put yourself out of your comfort zone. Lovely designer, we know it is going to take courage to show up fully, to make yourself visible. But it will be worth it, trust u...

Nov 19, 202048 min

19. The cost of rush work for graphic designers

Rush jobs, unrealistic deadlines, clients needing things yesterday! Sound familiar? Yup, we’ve all been there….It’s 5pm on a Friday afternoon and a client has just dropped a tight deadline bomb on you. They need it like, NOW! This is not a fight, flight or freeze moment lovely designers—you can be really ready for this conversation with your client. Let’s outline empowering strategies so you can feel empowered when you are thrown these types of curve balls. For full show notes visit www.designan...

Nov 12, 202021 min

18. Client Changes Suck

The dreaded client change...there’s no sugar-coating it, this can be a pain in the rear of your graphic design business. If not managed correctly, client changes not only affect your motivation and self-esteem as a designer, it impacts your financial bottom line and your work-life balance. For full show notes and FREE SCRIPTS to use when clients ask for changes, visit https://www.designandprosper.co/clientchangessuck Resources If you are struggling with the confidence to charge what you're worth...

Nov 04, 202030 min

17. Beautiful Designer, do not work for free

Do you feel like you need to work for free to get ahead with your graphic design business? We’re noticing a negative trend in facebook groups where graphic designers are offering their creative and intellectual property for free. We felt compelled to reach out and say...please don’t! We are super passionate about this topic, and have jumped on our soap boxes to share why. Free work is disguising itself in a few different ways and today we uncover a few of those sneaky ways, and discuss how you c...

Oct 23, 202027 min

16. Oops! What to do when mistakes happen in your graphic design business

Have you ever made a mistake that has negatively impacted your graphic design business? And, at the time, you wish the world would swallow you up whole? We’ve all been there, felt that deep pit of despair in our stomachs about the potential financial repercussions—wondering if our client will ever trust us again! In this episode we talk about what to do if and when this happens. To err is human—and at Design and Prosper we are very human ; ) We share how our biggest mistakes became our most valu...

Oct 15, 202044 min

15. 5 Essential Chrome Extensions for Graphic Designers

Here at Design and Prosper we are all about making the design process easy, quick and seamless for graphic and brand designers. Did you know about the hidden gems hiding in your google chrome browser? Trust us, you need to know about them and use them in your graphic design practice. The google chrome extensions discussed in this episode are amazing little resources that help to speed up and optimise your workflow and best of all, they are totally free, which we love. Be sure to head to our full...

Oct 08, 202014 min

14. How to be a graphic design time management boss

Are you one of those graphic designers who are constantly busy yet don’t seem to be getting anything done? Time management can be our Achilles heel. We enter our week or our day with the very best intentions. And then, before we know it we are consumed with low priority tasks—or we are easily distracted with a new ‘urgent’ issue that arises. In this episode, we chat about ways to help you prioritise the curveballs, batch your days, block your time and so much more. A really balanced schedule is ...

Oct 02, 202046 min

13. Things we wish we knew before starting a graphic design business

This is not a case of “for us to know and for you to find out”...these are the things all entrepreneurial graphic designers need to know now! In this episode, we're sharing some of the key things we wish we knew before we started our own graphic design businesses all those years ago. Lucky for you, we're not the type of people to keep the mysteries of running a graphic design business a closely guarded secret. We don’t want you to have to struggle for many years like we did. Let our hindsight be...

Sep 25, 202032 min

12. 5 easy lead-magnets to reach graphic design clients

We’re all looking for opportunities for expanding our businesses, whether it be to grow larger, or to grow into other areas of interest and activity. The great news is, you already have access to one of the most powerful tools for creating targeted marketing and promotions there is? Yay! It’s your Mailing List. In this episode we chat about the strategic use of lead-magnet opportunities as a way of building your mailing list—and your client base. Along the way, we’ve got some tips for using thes...

Sep 18, 202027 min

11. Does your graphic design portfolio convert to sales?

How’s your portfolio looking? Is it kicking you goals? Does it really represent you and what you want to do? Is it bringing in the people you want to work with? Your portfolio is one of your most essential business tools. This week we discuss the key features of a winning portfolio, and it’s not as complex as you might think! Join us as we discuss the ins-and-outs of portfolio creation and how a carefully curated portfolio can really open doors for your business. For full show notes visit https:...

Sep 15, 202029 min

10. Say NO to free pitching

It’s a big NO to Free Pitching! So our title gives us away…it’s no secret that we are against free pitching. In fact we want to shout it to the roof tops, because we think it’s a risky business and something you should avoid at all costs. Yes we all have to quote, however we don’t have to give up our intellectual property for free. It’s important that we designers, as a collective, say no for the good of our industry. Free pitching undermines and devalues both our industry and ourselves as profe...

Sep 03, 202022 min

9. Take your time back! 8 things to start outsourcing today

In this episode we’re talking about ways to create space and time in your day. We want you to be very protective of your time and truly understand your value. We chat strategy to help you protect your creativity and the energy needed to do conceptual work. Where are you expending your energy? Are you being sucked dry by all the to-dos? Burn out is very real. The good news…there are some very strategic and easy ways to safe guard against it. We share our 8 key areas that you can confidently outso...

Aug 27, 202037 min

8. How to present one concept with confidence

We believe you should only present one concept to your clients. Yep that’s right, one—just one…with confidence! So how many concepts do you present? Does presenting one concept feel too scary? We have tried and tested our theory and we want to shout to the rooftops… “single concept delivery IS a successful approach!”. All you need is the right ingredients in your process and your delivery. We uncover the why’s, the how’s…we share the two key ingredients to make this a reality for you. Let’s do t...

Aug 19, 202016 min

7. How much to charge for logo design

Does pricing a logo do your head in? Throughout our long careers as graphic designers, pricing has generally been shrouded in mystery and secrecy. Leaving designers in the dark and confused about their worth—and playing a crazy game of guesswork each and every time they quote. Just the mere mention of pricing your work can give you a punch in the gut feeling (or at least, that’s how we used to feel). Pricing is definitely multifaceted, but it shouldn’t be hard and it shouldn’t take all day to cr...

Aug 12, 202022 min

6. Should Graphic Designers Learn to Code?

Should graphic designers learn to code? Are you feeling the pressure to have to learn to code? Today we unpack the pros and cons of learning a new skill. Specifically, whether a graphic designer should learn to code. We unpack what ‘coding’ is and how a graphic designer would use it. We discuss ROI (return on investment) and we ask you to ask yourself…does this light me up or does this make me feel heavy? We are in a time of sophisticated and stunning platforms for web design. Designer built and...

Aug 05, 202030 min

5. 11 ways graphic designers can avoid client problems

Today we talk about our top 11 tips to make sure your clients feel safe and secure in your process while allowing you to feel in control and empowered. Working with a client on their vision is the ultimate creative collaboration—and if you are lucky enough and if your systems are strong enough—you’ll have client relationships that will last decades. The perfect client relationship is a combination of mutual like, respect and trust. The key ingredient pulling it all together is healthy boundaries...

Jul 29, 202035 min

4. 7 profit pillars for business success—with Angela Henderson

Today, we are so excited to share our chat with our special guest, the sensational Angela Henderson—an international award-winning business coach for women , international keynote speaker and podcaster who helps women in business get all the pieces in place to have consistent 5 figure months and then onto 6/7 figure years without burning out in the process. And most importantly to us, she’s our business coach. We love all that Ange brings to the table. Ange walks the talk—she invests in her own ...

Jul 22, 202051 min

3. How to price your work as a Graphic Designer

Today, we are talking about money, money, money and getting paid! To be paid what we are worth we need to price our work appropriately. But, oh goodness, pricing our work is such a big issue for so many designers. It all starts with understanding the power of ‘you’, that transformation value that only you have, that ‘wow factor’ that comes from your unique offering. It’s a collection of your experience, your talent and your vision. It’s your intellectual property—your MOST VALUABLE asset. We dis...

Jul 15, 202027 min

2. Why Graphic Designers need a business coach

In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of a Graphic Designer working with a business coach and the results that can be achieved. Maybe you are struggling with isolation, or committing to your goals and showing up consistently. You might need a sounding board to float new strategies or business systems. The list goes on…regardless of your challenges, it’s so important to have a coach or a mentor in your corner to hold you accountable. The most beautiful reward that comes from engaging a bu...

Jul 15, 202027 min

1. Love your graphic design business

Welcome to the design and prosper podcast. We are Kris and Donna and this is our very first episode—how to love your graphic design business. We've been graphic designers and educators for the past two decades and have both run multiple six figure graphic design businesses. We have experienced it all—the highs and the lows of success. We want to share with you, the good, the bad, and the messy. All the tips and secrets, the bits that worked, the bits that didn't to help you create a thriving and...

Jul 15, 202027 min

Design and Prosper Trailer

Welcome to the Design and Prosper podcast. https://designandprosper.co Come chat with us on Instagram :)

Jul 09, 20202 min
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