Design Business School > PROGRAMS

Helping designers understand business

Business management programs

Many designers are small business operators by default.
The design curriculum is filled with creativity, not business management.
That’s the gap we fill.

We’ve developed a new way for designers to learn business skills.

AN EASY WAY TO LEARN ONLINE.

Design Studio Management program

The Design Studio Management program is delivered completely online in a completely flexible format.

You can use the program as a library or reference source; you can treat it as a DIY course, or you can access mentoring and discuss the activities in a slack channel. The choice is yours.

Either way, you’ll learn about managing your studio, time, clients and other creatives.

Business of design shortcourse

The Business of Design shortcourse is a 3-month program aimed at helping designers build business knowledge and confidence.

The program is flexible – it starts with a conversation about your business and your challenges.

The format 3 x 2-hour zoom consultations with conversation between has proven to be perfect for thosewanting help to unpack their business, solve a challenge or meet a goal.

‘Ask-us-anything’ mentoring

We get the time has to be right to commit to an on-going program, that’s why we offer ‘ask us anything’ mentoring.

Our knowledge is based on experience founding and managing a successful design studio and then founding the Design Business Council mentoring and coaching hundreds of Australian creatives.

We offer practical, relevant advice you can take back to your studio and implement immediately.

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MONEY AND TIME INVESTMENT

Not enough time and no spare cash are two common barriers to professional development. We know, we’ve been there.

That’s why our materials have a minimum of theory and a maximum of practice. It’s learnings you can take back to the studio and implement immediately.

And they’re relevant – the materials are written about the Australian design industry, by Australian design practitioners. Case studies are based on Australian clients and Australian projects.

Better than that, they’re flexible. Everything is written for you to do at a time that suits best. We offer a mix of mentored programs and DIY to be done in your studio or at home, anytime.

“We were excited to commence the program – we used it as an opportunity for the team as a whole to come together. While we were a little unsure as to how the content would relate to all the staff, it proved to be a great learning experience for us all.

The staff brought their own ideas to the table and it provided a greater depth in understanding of how a design business needs to run and how we can relate better to our clients. It has really opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for us and we can’t thank Greg enough for his input and research into our specific industry.

We would highly recommend any design studio to invest the time into delving deeper into their business, they certainly won’t regret it. We look forward to working further with Greg on other projects in the future.”

Rikki Clarke, Director – Creative Spaces, Perth.

Business knowledge for designers

There’s lots of business information available but not a lot tailored to Australian designers managing a creative business.

The programs are written by Carol Mackay and Greg Branson, Australian design practitioners, mentors and coaches with experience founding, managing and mentoring Australian design studios.

They’re the team behind the Design Business Council.

They ran a successful design studio for 30+ years working together but separately. Greg focused on the business of design: streamlining processes and procedures. Carol was immersed in the world of design and people: how best to unpack a brief, identify a solution and then present convincingly.

Free weekly email about the business of design

We’re continually researching new ways of managing a creative business. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to keep up-to-date with the latest news around research, professional development and the business of design.

Helping designers understand business

Business management programs

Many designers are small business operators by default.
The design curriculum is filled with creativity, not business management.
That’s the gap we fill.

We’ve developed a new way for designers to learn business skills.

AN EASY WAY TO LEARN ONLINE.

Design Studio Management program

DE-MYSTIFYING THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN

Business of design shortcourse

NOT READY TO COMMIT TO A PROGRAM?

‘Ask-us-anything’ mentoring

MONEY AND TIME INVESTMENT

Not enough time and no spare cash are two common barriers to professional development. We know, we’ve been there.

That’s why our materials have a minimum of theory and a maximum of practice. It’s learnings you can take back to the studio and implement immediately.

And they’re relevant – the materials are written about the Australian design industry, by Australian design practitioners. Case studies are based on Australian clients and Australian projects.

Better than that, they’re flexible. Everything is written for you to do at a time that suits best. We offer a mix of mentored programs and DIY to be done in your studio or at home, anytime.

“We were excited to commence the program – we used it as an opportunity for the team as a whole to come together. While we were a little unsure as to how the content would relate to all the staff, it proved to be a great learning experience for us all.

We would highly recommend any design studio to invest the time into delving deeper into their business, they certainly won’t regret it. We look forward to working further with Greg on other projects in the future.”

Rikki Clarke, Director – Creative Spaces, Perth.

Business knowledge for designers

There’s lots of business information available but not a lot tailored to Australian designers managing a creative business.

The programs are written by Carol Mackay and Greg Branson, Australian design practitioners, mentors and coaches with experience founding, managing and mentoring Australian design studios.

They’re the team behind the Design Business Council.

They ran a successful design studio for 30+ years working together but separately. Greg focused on the business of design: streamlining processes and procedures. Carol was immersed in the world of design and people: how best to unpack a brief, identify a solution and then present convincingly.

Free weekly email about the business of design

We’re continually researching new ways of managing a creative business. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to keep up-to-date with the latest news around research, professional development and the business of design.

Helping designers understand business

Business management programs

Many designers are small business operators by default. The design curriculum is filled with creativity, not business management. That’s the gap we fill.

We’ve developed a new way for designers to learn business skills.

AN EASY WAY TO LEARN ONLINE.

Design Studio Management program

DE-MYSTIFYING THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN

Business of design shortcourse

NOT READY TO COMMIT TO A PROGRAM?

‘Ask-us-anything’ mentoring

MONEY AND TIME INVESTMENT

Not enough time and no spare cash are two common barriers to professional development. We know, we’ve been there.

That’s why our materials have a minimum of theory and a maximum of practice. It’s learnings you can take back to the studio and implement immediately.

And they’re relevant – the materials are written about the Australian design industry, by Australian design practitioners. Case studies are based on Australian clients and Australian projects.

Better than that, they’re flexible. Everything is written for you to do at a time that suits best. We offer a mix of mentored programs and DIY to be done in your studio or at home, anytime.

“We were excited to commence the program – we used it as an opportunity for the team as a whole to come together. While we were a little unsure as to how the content would relate to all the staff, it proved to be a great learning experience for us all.

We would highly recommend any design studio to invest the time into delving deeper into their business, they certainly won’t regret it. We look forward to working further with Greg on other projects in the future.”

Rikki Clarke, Director – Creative Spaces, Perth.

Business knowledge for designers

There’s lots of business information available but not a lot tailored to Australian designers managing a creative business.

The programs are written by Carol Mackay and Greg Branson, Australian design practitioners, mentors and coaches with experience founding, managing and mentoring Australian design studios.

They’re the team behind the Design Business Council.

They ran a successful design studio for 30+ years working together but separately. Greg focused on the business of design: streamlining processes and procedures. Carol was immersed in the world of design and people: how best to unpack a brief, identify a solution and then present convincingly.

Free weekly email about the business of design

We’re continually researching new ways of managing a creative business. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to keep up-to-date with the latest news around research, professional development and the business of design.

Many designers are small business operators by default.
The design curriculum is filled with creativity, not business management.
That’s the gap we fill.