Episodes

  • 143. Designer Q&A! Sharing Personal Vulnerabilities, Demanding Retainer Clients, and Profitability Dilemma

    143. Designer Q&A! Sharing Personal Vulnerabilities, Demanding Retainer Clients, and Profitability Dilemma
    Aug 18 2024

    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

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    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
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    26 mins
  • 142. Don’t know where to start? 5 foundations every design business needs

    142. Don’t know where to start? 5 foundations every design business needs
    Aug 9 2024

    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
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    39 mins
  • 141. Handling Client Meetings Like A Pro

    141. Handling Client Meetings Like A Pro
    Aug 2 2024

    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
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • 140. Designer's Guide To Print Production - Part 2

    140. Designer's Guide To Print Production - Part 2
    Jul 24 2024

    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
    Show more Show less
    45 mins
  • 139. Designer's Guide To Print Production - Part 1

    139. Designer's Guide To Print Production - Part 1
    Jul 16 2024

    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
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • 138. Designer Q&A! Free vs paid fonts, Changing a business name, Outgrowing old clients

    138. Designer Q&A! Free vs paid fonts, Changing a business name, Outgrowing old clients
    Jul 10 2024

    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
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    34 mins
  • 137. Evidence that design and branding WORKS

    137. Evidence that design and branding WORKS
    Jul 3 2024

    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
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • 136. Can you trust your graphic design business?

    136. Can you trust your graphic design business?
    May 4 2024

    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
    Show more Show less
    48 mins