68. Pretty design: is it enough?

Join us for episode 145, our final episode of Design and Prosper. 💛 After five incredible years, we’ve made the bittersweet decision to bring our podcast journey to a close. In this deeply personal episode, we share: The pivotal moments that shaped Design and Prosper The joys and challenges of creating an online course Why we’re saying goodbye and what’s next for us This isn’t just a farewell—it’s a celebration of YOU, our beautiful design community. Thank you for listening, learning, and growing with us. Want to spend one last year together? 🌟 We’ve opened enrolments for The Academy’s final round. With monthly group coaching, accountability, and our full course toolkit, let’s make 2025 your most extraordinary year in business. This is your chance to soak up everything we’ve learned over decades of design business success. Ready to join us? https://www.designandprosper.co/theacademy Register for our 3-day training, Pathway To Profit, and fast-track your design business success & build a life you LOVE. https://www.designandprosper.co/pathwaytoprofit Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Got more q's about the Academy? Book in a free chat here: https://portal.designandprosper.co/public/appointment-scheduler/624bbcd8488098abbdc40915/schedule

It’s official—we're opening doors to The Academy for the very last time, but, we're going out with a bang and would like to invite you to spend the entire 2025 with us! Join The Academy — it's your very last chance! https://www.designandprosper.co/theacademy We know you've got a lot to think about, so in this episode, we’re answering all your burning questions about The Academy: Q: Even though my business just started two weeks ago and I'm not super clear on my ideal business, would the Academy still be something I should consider at this point, or should I wait until I have more solid direction? Q: Do we cover getting clients and lead magnets? Q: If I already own the bonuses through the elevate bundle, is there much overlap with the Academy? Q: Is the Academy only suited for graphic designers? I’m a web designer. Q: I’m still a student and will be graduating next year, would The Academy be right for me at this stage of my career? Q: I am a self-taught designer, will this still work for me? Q: Can we join any time or do we need to be ready now? Q: Will the Academy help me to prove my value so people could trust I can deliver when charging higher prices? Q: Would The Academy be a good thing to do in conjunction with updating my website / portfolio etc? Q: When we sign up to the course are all of these assets included? (time tracker, templates etc) What IS actually included? Q: How much time per week would we need to dedicate to the Academy? Q: I remember your saying on the podcast that ideally we should work no more than 30 hours and I am wondering if you'll help guide us on how we can do that? From a horrible time manager 😅 Q: Will the Academy help me to get clear on my pricing? I live in New York and I'm bewildered on how to get our worth and price. Q: Do you teach how to do the one concept method in The Academy? Q: How long will I have access to the course? Q: Do you have a refund policy? Register for our 3-day training, Pathway To Profit and fast-track your design business success & build a life you LOVE. https://www.designandprosper.co/pathwaytoprofit Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Got more q's about the Academy? Book in a free chat here: https://portal.designandprosper.co/public/appointment-scheduler/624bbcd8488098abbdc40915/schedule

In episode 143, we’re diving into designer questions! Question 1: Should you share personal vulnerabilities with clients? We chat about the growing trend of sharing personal stories in business and whether it’s something you should embrace. Question 2: How do you handle a demanding retainer client? One of our listeners is dealing with a client who’s taking up two to three days of their week. We discuss setting clear boundaries, creating a client portal to streamline communication, and whether it’s time to reassess the profitability of that retainer. Question 3: How do you overcome the belief that your target clients can’t afford your services? We know how frustrating it can be when potential clients balk at your pricing. We’ll talk through how to explore different client segments, communicate the true value of your services, and tweak your pricing strategy to suit a range of budgets without compromising on your passion. Mentioned in this episode: Register for Pathway To Profit and fast-track your design business success & build a life you LOVE. https://www.designandprosper.co/ptp Episode 37: Ditch the Dirty F Word in your graphic design business https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/36-what-courage-looks-like-in-a-graphic-design-business/id1523004678?i=1000525708900 Episode 61. Graphic Design Pricing: What to do when clients can't afford you https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/graphic-design-pricing-what-to-do-when-clients-cant/id1523004678?i=1000571451736 Episode 123: Your Pricing Isn't The Problem - Why your clients aren't saying ’Yes’ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/design-and-prosper/id1523004678?i=1000644751674 -- Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on Instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat

In this episode we uncover the five essential pillars every design business needs. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for a while, it’s crucial to have these foundations in place: 1. Understand your why Get clear on your core motivation for starting a design business. This “why” will guide you, fuel your passion, and keep you focused during tough times.   2. Establish your revenue goal It's so incredibly important to balance your passion with financial stability. Your revenue goals directly support your lifestyle, passions, and your "why." Your business should serve your life, not the other way around.   3. Understand WHO you are Identify your strengths and personality traits and tailor your business to them. This self-awareness will help you create a business that aligns with your unique talents and passions. This is the pathway to ease, which is something we highly value in business!   4. WHO can you serve? Who are you designing for? Pinpoint your ideal clients by understanding their needs and challenges. Make sure there’s strong demand in your niche, with clear, urgent needs that your services can fulfil.   5. Design your ideal business model Create a business structure that perfectly aligns with your “why,” your financial goals, personal strengths, and target audience. This is where it all comes together. This isn’t just about theory—we’re sharing real talk, personal stories, and actionable steps to help you create a business that serves your life, not the other way around. With love, Kris & Donna xo Mentioned in this episode: Join us live for Pathway To Profit and fast-track your design business success & build a life you LOVE. https://www.designandprosper.co/ptp Episode 113: Why did you start your graphic design business? https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/design-and-prosper/id1523004678?i=1000640593727 James Clear 3-2-1 Newsletter https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1 -- Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on Instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of client meetings. We share our best strategies for ensuring your meetings run smoothly and effectively, whether they’re in-person or virtual. We cover essential preparation tips, handling pre-meeting nerves, and we run through the six types of client meetings in a design business: 1. Discovery calls 2. Proposal Meetings 3. Brand Strategy Sessions 4. Presentation Meetings 5. Work-in-Progress Meetings 6. Production Meetings Client meetings are the foundation of building long-term relationships and discovering the best solutions for your clients. While we’re not fans of having unnecessary meetings, the truth is, nailing your client interactions is crucial for a successful design business. With love Kris & Donna xo Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on Instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat

This is part 2 of a 2 part series on Print Production for Designers, so if you haven't heard episode 139, be sure to go back and listen to that! In this episode, we cover: Getting paper samples Which Pantone books we recommend The specifications we send to printers to get quotes Essential pre-print checklist How to manage payment for printing with clients And so much more With love Kris & Donna xo Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www.designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on Instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat

Today on the Design and Prosper Podcast, we’re diving into the world of print! If you’re a designer, chances are you’ll need to send a file to print at some point, even in this digital world. It can be daunting if you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of the print world, but you’re in luck because you get to tap into the minds of two experienced designers who have sent hundreds of projects off to print. We’re here to share our best tips with you so that print & production goes as smoothly as possible. In part 1 of this series we cover the different types of printing, how to choose the right printer and print process, managing budgets and so much more.  With love Kris & Donna xo 00:00 Introduction to print and production 02:04 Why print knowledge is essential for designers  08:51 Understanding print methods: offset, digital and letterpress 09:36 Offset printing (and why it's our favourite)  21:08 Digital printing 26:08 Letterpress 32:07 Choosing the right print method 36:23 How to choose a printer 37:36 Key questions for printers 43:38 Environmental practices in printing 46:37 payment and communication with printers    Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www. designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat

This is an Ask Kris & Donna episode where we are answering designer questions: 1) When and how to invest in fonts versus using free fonts for client work 2) A designer is weighing up the pros and cons of rebranding their design business, and 3) Strategies for handling long-term clients when you feel like you are outgrowing them (especially when it comes to pricing!)  02:16 Designer Question 1: Paid vs free fonts – when to invest? 05:07 Font licensing and client budgets 07:19 Benefits of paid fonts 11:31 Free fonts: pros and cons 15:46 Client-specific font usage 17:25 Designer Question 2: rebranding your business 25:09 Designer Question 3: handling long-term clients on low rates 27:02 Strategies for raising prices Mentioned during the episode:  Episode 34 - Brand Designer Q&A: How to manage fonts for clients https://designandprosper.co/managing-fonts-for-clients/ Episode 61 -Graphic Design Pricing: What to do when clients can't afford you https://designandprosper.co/graphic-design-pricing-what-to-do-when-clients-cant-afford-you/ Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www. designandprosper.co/free Are we friends on instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat With love, Kris & Donna xo

Do you need help convincing clients that graphic design and branding is valuable? In this episode we reveal some awesome studies and statistics you can use to confidently showcase the benefits of design & branding.  Mentioned during the episode:  Episode 132 - The power of case studies and how they can transform your graphic design business https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/design-and-prosper/id1523004678?i=1000652815124 Siegel + Gale Simplicity Index: https://www.simplicityindex.com/ Kantar BrandZ Global Report: https://www.kantar.com/campaigns/brandz/global University of Wollongong Research Study: https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3915&context=commpapers Forrester Research: https://www.forrester.com/blogs/designers-are-your-anchor-in-an-uncertain-economy/ Adobe Research: https://business.adobe.com/resources/reports/the-state-of-engagement Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab research: https://credibility.stanford.edu/guidelines/index.html ’Can graphic design save your life?’ Exhibition & Book: https://www.graphicdesignand.com/product/can-graphic-design-save-your-life Some examples from the exhibition here: https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/can-graphic-design-save-your-life-wellcome-trust-exhibition-lucienne-roberts-rebecca-wright-050917   Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast   Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www. designandprosper.co/free   Are we friends on instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__ Book in a free Design Business Breakthrough Session: https://designandprosper.co/bookafreechat   With love, Kris & Donna xo

The Design & Prosper Academy doors are open for a limited time! Come and join us and start building the design business of your dreams today. 🌈✨  https://www.designandprosper.co/theacademy   Are you wondering how to set up your graphic design business for success? In today's episode we share the results, outcomes and big transformations you can expect for your design busienss when you have the right framework in place.  A successful design business you can trust! Yes please!   Have a question you'd like us to answer on an upcoming episode? You can submit it here: https://www.designandprosper.co/podcast   Free resources for designers: 👀 https://www. designandprosper.co/free   Are we friends on instagram yet? 🤗 https://www.instagram.com/designandprosper__   With love, Kris & Donna xo