The document provides advice on how to succeed in business as a designer and make money doing work you love. It emphasizes that there is no single formula for success and advises trying different approaches. It recommends offering products/services, pricing work based on industry standards, using contracts to set clear expectations with clients, communicating well, meeting deadlines, and exceeding expectations. The document stresses finding work you're passionate about, working hard, focusing on one task at a time, being authentic, learning through real-world experience, and collaborating with experts.

1. THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN
OR HOW TO GET $ FOR DOING WHAT YOU ♥

2. A formula for success

3. A formula for success
• There is none

4. A formula for success
• There is none
• Don’t believe anyone who tells you there
is

5. A formula for success
• There is none
• Don’t believe anyone who tells you there
is
• Try a lot of things

6. A formula for success
• There is none
• Don’t believe anyone who tells you there
is
• Try a lot of things
• Always be learning

7. Get $

8. How to make money

9. How to make money
1. Offer a product or service

10. How to make money
1. Offer a product or service
2. ??

11. How to make money
1. Offer a product or service
2. ??
3. Make profit

12. How to make money
1. Offer a product or service
2. Have a price!
3. Make profit

13. Pricing your work

14. Pricing your work
• Industry rates

15. Pricing your work
• Industry rates
• Web design: $80-$150 per hour

16. Pricing your work
• Industry rates
• Web design: $80-$150 per hour
• Application design: $100-$200 p/h

17. Pricing your work
• Industry rates
• Web design: $80-$150 per hour
• Application design: $100-$200 p/h
• Start lower at first

18. Pricing your work
• Industry rates
• Web design: $80-$150 per hour
• Application design: $100-$200 p/h
• Start lower at first
• Pro bono is a great way to learn

19. Graphic Artists Guild Handbook:
Pricing & Ethical Guidelines

20. Basics

21. Basics
• Never start work without a contract

22. Basics
• Never start work without a contract
• Even if it’s for your mom

23. Basics
• Never start work without a contract
• Even if it’s for your mom
• #1 mistake of young designers

24. Basics
• Never start work without a contract
• Even if it’s for your mom
• #1 mistake of young designers
• Always* collect some payment up front.

25. Basics
• Never start work without a contract
• Even if it’s for your mom
• #1 mistake of young designers
• Always* collect some payment up front.
• Normally 30%-50%

26. Why?

27. Why?
• Protects you legally

28. Why?
• Protects you legally
• Sets clear, documented expectations

29. Why?
• Protects you legally
• Sets clear, documented expectations
• Helps the client feel committed and
invested in your work

30. Why?
• Protects you legally
• Sets clear, documented expectations
• Helps the client feel committed and
invested in your work
• Accountability for yourself and the client

31. A Basic Contract

32. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project

33. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing

34. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing
• A detailed list of “deliverables”

35. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing
• A detailed list of “deliverables”
• A detailed list of what you will need from
the client

36. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing
• A detailed list of “deliverables”
• A detailed list of what you will need from
the client
• A schedule with disclaimer

37. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing
• A detailed list of “deliverables”
• A detailed list of what you will need from
the client
• A schedule with disclaimer
• A place for a signature

38. A Basic Contract
• Description/purpose of the project
• A list of services you will be providing
• A detailed list of “deliverables”
• A detailed list of what you will need from
the client
• A schedule with disclaimer
• A place for a signature
• Legal terms/fine print

39. Misc. Things

40. Misc. Things
• Pay your taxes

41. Misc. Things
• Pay your taxes
• Track your time

42. Misc. Things
• Pay your taxes
• Track your time
• Communicate constantly

43. Misc. Things
• Pay your taxes
• Track your time
• Communicate constantly
• Hit your deadlines

44. Misc. Things
• Pay your taxes
• Track your time
• Communicate constantly
• Hit your deadlines
• Exceed expectations

45. Do what you ♥

46. “Your work is going to fill a large part of
your life, and the only way to be truly
satisfied is to do what you believe is great
work. And the only way to do great work is
to love what you do.”
- Steve Jobs

47. Be passionate

48. Be passionate
• Find something you love and do it.

49. Be passionate
• Find something you love and do it.
• What would you do on your free time?

50. Be passionate
• Find something you love and do it.
• What would you do on your free time?
• What kind of “work” are you motivated by?

51. Be passionate
• Find something you love and do it.
• What would you do on your free time?
• What kind of “work” are you motivated by?
• Align your work to your interests

52. Be passionate
• Find something you love and do it.
• What would you do on your free time?
• What kind of “work” are you motivated by?
• Align your work to your interests
• It may not be anything related to your major or
existing job.

53. Work harder

54. Work harder
• If you love what you do then this is “easy”

55. Work harder
• If you love what you do then this is “easy”
• If not... practically impossible.

56. Work harder
• If you love what you do then this is “easy”
• If not... practically impossible.
• There is no substitute for hard work.

57. Work harder
• If you love what you do then this is “easy”
• If not... practically impossible.
• There is no substitute for hard work.
• Start practicing this now.

58. Focus

59. Focus
• Multitasking is bad most of the time.

60. Focus
• Multitasking is bad most of the time.
• Don’t focus on things you don’t care about

61. Focus
• Multitasking is bad most of the time.
• Don’t focus on things you don’t care about
• Hard to do (especially online)

62. Focus
• Multitasking is bad most of the time.
• Don’t focus on things you don’t care about
• Hard to do (especially online)
• Pick a direction and go.

63. Focus
• Multitasking is bad most of the time.
• Don’t focus on things you don’t care about
• Hard to do (especially online)
• Pick a direction and go.
• Do one thing and do it really well.

64. Be yourself

65. Be yourself
• Personality trumps formality

66. Be yourself
• Personality trumps formality
• Be personal and friendly

67. Be yourself
• Personality trumps formality
• Be personal and friendly
• Don’t use the editorial “we” when it’s just
you.

68. Be yourself
• Personality trumps formality
• Be personal and friendly
• Don’t use the editorial “we” when it’s just
you.
• Don’t pretend to be something you are
not.

69. Learn for real

70. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing

71. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing
• Most real learning does not happen within
a classroom

72. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing
• Most real learning does not happen within
a classroom
• “Hack” your education.

73. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing
• Most real learning does not happen within
a classroom
• “Hack” your education.
• Do real work

74. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing
• Most real learning does not happen within
a classroom
• “Hack” your education.
• Do real work
• Dive in way over your head

75. Learn for real
• A diploma gets you nothing
• Most real learning does not happen within
a classroom
• “Hack” your education.
• Do real work
• Dive in way over your head
• Work with people who are incredible at

76. Act now.