How to Run a Successful Design Business: The New Professional Practice

The design sector has expanded very rapidly over the last few years. The Design Council estimates that there are around 12,500 design companies employing some 400,000 people in the UK. In addition, there are around 45,000 freelance designers, and a further 6,000 businesses employing 77,000 designers in-house. However, many design companies remain small, with 75% employing fewer than 10 people full-time, and their profitability is variable. Although their design skills are excellent, they need - with some notable exceptions - guidance on running their businesses. The book will cover everything a design company owner needs to know, including, among other areas: bull; Creativity: keeping it fresh; bull; Business legal type, structure; bull; Staff recruitment, management, motivation: permanent vs freelance; bull; Job management systems; bull; Marketing, sales, profile raising, PR, reputation; bull; Client relationships, satisfaction, retention, development; bull; Fees and negotiation; bull; Procurement, rosters; bull; Exporting, local vs global offices; bull; Legal: IPR, contracts; bull; Owning vs renting: property, equipment; bull; Lifecycles: start ups, mergers/acquisitions, business sales, retirement/exit; bull; Top tips from successful design companies: 'How we did it'; bull; Useful non-commercial UK and worldwide organisations (eg Design Council; DBA, D&AD, CSD, BDI, RSA, Design Partners, PDA, DMI etc).