Literally whenever I am feeling doubtful about my creative company and what I am doing I watch a Chris Do conversation/interview and I'm fired up to get going again. Thanks for all the great content you guys produce.
This stuff is gold! I'm a young designer in my third year of Graphic Design - currently doing part time work at a Digital Creative Agency and this is just awesome. Thankyou so much for your time and effort!
University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, England. Just got back from an international exchange in Vancouver studying marketing though. Marketing and Design go hand in hand really!
Sometimes at the beginning stages of our careers, we utilize our practice as a creative outlet to do great work for clients. The down side being the financial and emotional stress. To Rachel's point I like the idea of supporting a social cause or non-profit that would fulfill that desire to take part in such projects. I've also noticed that utilizing social media for self-initiated projects is also another way to allow for that freedom to create, attract clients, and negotiate pricing with them. Regarding spec work, I've experienced it during the process of job interviews, and when asked to take part in it I stand up and leave.
Sweet, can't wait to check them out! I'm watching from Austria, the beautiful city of Salzburg to be exact. I've been following your stuff for quite a while now and must say it's arguably the best source of getting insights on how to combine business with design.
This was so great Chris. I'm starting to innately do some of the things you are talking about having been exposed to The Skool, podcasts, and mentors of mine. For instance, knowing your rate instinctively. Actually experiencing scenarios recently when I have defined my rate because I KNOW what it is now and I'm not negotiating or unsure, and it has been so well received by the potential client. It takes time though and can't be forced. You yourself have to truly believe it, or else, it will come off as unsure. Loving this content and I am relating to it more and more which allows me to get just that much more out of it. Actually relating personal experiences with what you're saying makes it all the more powerful. Keep this up, so great!
Thanks for sharing Alex. Happy to hear about your ability to use what we say in the field. Get comfortable talking about money. It's how business is done.
#ItsHowBusinessIsDone - Love it. Something that a business mentor I follow said that really stuck with me was something to the effect of "The entire world revolves around money, and yet, most people are too afraid to talk about it. If you are afraid to talk about money, you are never going to make money." That completely changed my mindset because it's so true. Hearing other business experts echo the same sentiment, like you, really solidifies it all the more. Thanks for your insight and wisdom Chris!
really like the topics you guys talk about - very valuable information. especially as a marketing student trying to learn more about design to develop another branch of skills. would you guys consider uploading these as a podcast? itd be nice to listen to it while driving or commuting. keep up to good work!
Thanks Sufyan. We are working on that very thing right now. We are starting with the most popular episodes and turning them into podcasts. We are also recording new content for the podcast as well.
I'm a 19 year old filmmaker and I LOVVEEEEE this channel. it seriously helps me and i have been applying it to my field as well and I can sense the power I hold in negotiations even dealing with corporate work and being seen as and Youngin lol. Chris is DOpe btw. we also have the same name... never stop uploading CHI QC Thanks you :D
The Futur HEY GUYS. I'm actually already a registered CEO in NC and I feel much more grounded running my company and thinking about scale in terms of long term quality and representation. seriously thank you ❤ I will continue to grow.
Great conversation! I really appreciate the great tips. This is definitely a serious topic, especially when it comes to pricing yourself appropriately.
Wow! Tris was really good. I don't know how you manage to make you love you even more every time. I jus have a question that I would love you to answer in one of your video: how do you recognize a client that you are going to end up hating?
This is a very...different question. Are tattoos frowned upon or discouraged when working in the design industry? Or does it really depend on who you're working for?
I love this series, I love this whole channel. Really appreciate what you are doing. I've watched about 10 videos so far, and have come away with more confidence about business and design. Can't wait to deploy this thinking in my next discovery meeting. When Rachel and Mike were talking about their experience with RFP's there was a distinct disconnect with your own. I think in the print and digital design world compared to motion graphics/ film. The RFP's typically come with the stipulation that you are going to submit spec creative along with your proposal. Are you saying that when you respond to RFP's you are not submitting any spec work with your proposal? Or do you simply ignore that part of the RFP? I know in my industry of tradeshow exhibit design, 90% of our competitive RFP's are asking for booth concepts and renderings, and pretty much a turnkey project proposal. To which we never win the project. We have begun to implement a qualification process to weed out RFP's that are not serious or not a good fit for us to reduce amount of Spec work we churn out. However even in our normal client dealings, we have a project discovery meeting, and then are expected present rendered concepts and ballpark pricing with no upfront design retainer to help cover that initial work! Many times we are not even given a budget range they would like to spend. Asking for a design retainer upfront to deploy our resources has generally never been successful. Quite sad when a typical exhibit will cost anywhere from $25K - $75K and a client would scoff at paying $1000-$1500 retainer up front to cover the conceptual phase.
Justin Owens Justin good question. Tune in on Monday at 6pm to FB live. I'll answer your question. We are doing a 3 hour live marathon simulcast on FB live and periscope. There's a big difference between a pitch and proposal. We have to pitch for motion work. Ideas for little or no money. We submit a proposal for brand strategy work. No free work.
Hey, great work! I like the idea of this discussion but felt the cadence of conversation was a bit stilted and the depth of the discussion a little shallow. Chris, you clearly have opinions about this topic; do you have your own video about it?
Brian, that's fair criticism. I think there were some nerves. I definitely have my point of view that I can record a separate video on. Stay tuned for segment 2 & 3 of this convo. We get much looser.
Hi there, currently working on a career change from 9-5 job to design. It's great that you guys talk about business, sales and strategies apart from design
Don't get me started… My trigger words are "good for your portfolio". I frequently get calls from local businesses asking for a student to work for free to "build their portfolio". This is such a crock. What matters is the quality of the work, not whether it was "used". They pay the utilities and rent, why is design the one thing they think should be free? The expectation of unpaid internships excludes students of limited means. I get so many requests for interns in situations that are not really internships, just solicitations for free work. I patiently explain that an internship is a situation where there is a mentoring structure and an opportunity to learn and build relationships with senior designers. Students and young professionals will gain much more from working on personal projects to demonstrate their unique vision or doing pro bono for non profits that support their deeply held values.
Prof., designers tend to be people pleasers and other validated. we do it to ourselves and volunteer to do work for less money because we feel more valuable helping others. it's a jacked up mind set.
How do you work with someone like Michael? I can understand his intentions - it's his approach and tone that would make me leave the room if I was in a partnership. If this is normal in a firm then I need to man up (basically be like Chris Do lol)
Companies require all different kinds of personalities and skill sets. Not all designers have the gift of gab. That is why my position on art direction/creative direction was made.
Love this video thanks so much for sharing this content! you mentioned about templates for things in the video. Im new to the freelancing world and trying to get some things like proposals, graphic design work contracts, invoices etc. together for myself. What would you say is the most important things to have to show clients that shows them that you're serious. Also do you know where i can find some templates for this? just to get me a little kick started? apologies for the long question.Thanks so much :)
love the video and your work guys... even though i am from a VFX background.. the business isnt that different :) ... if you could have a theme on how to setup a design firm/vfx studio that would also be of value. Cheers !
Check out our episode on how to run a design business. I go over bidding practices. You might it find it oddly familiar since I'm referencing Mograph work.
I've heard that "Can you make a better price? We'll give you a bunch of other projects after that one". To me, this is one of the most annoying thing to hear. And most of the time, they don't come back with more projects.
My response. Yes I can. There's cost efficiencies at scale. Let's talk about those other projects and get a bid going. If you can sign off on it now I can definitely work with you on the price. How does that sound mr/ms client?
So would you ask for a deposit for the whole project? For example, let's say he's looking for a logo. He asks for a better price because he's saying he will need a website, some brochures and business cards after that. He's probably not going to want to make a deposit for the whole project since all he needs right now is the logo. And it would cost less money for him to make a deposit for the logo only. But at the same time, the price you've made for the logo is lower since it's kind of a package deal with the website, brochures and business cards. How would you deal with that? Thanks a lot!
it'll be hard. best way is to work with someone you know or someone who can recommend you. work up from the bottom. each time, earn the trust of the people that hire you. under promise and over deliver.
Literally whenever I am feeling doubtful about my creative company and what I am doing I watch a Chris Do conversation/interview and I'm fired up to get going again. Thanks for all the great content you guys produce.
Keep fighting the good fight dogy!
This stuff is gold! I'm a young designer in my third year of Graphic Design - currently doing part time work at a Digital Creative Agency and this is just awesome. Thankyou so much for your time and effort!
Thanks Joseph. Where are you going to school?
University for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, England. Just got back from an international exchange in Vancouver studying marketing though. Marketing and Design go hand in hand really!
+Joseph Pattison very cool Joseph.
Sometimes at the beginning stages of our careers, we utilize our practice as a creative outlet to do great work for clients. The down side being the financial and emotional stress. To Rachel's point I like the idea of supporting a social cause or non-profit that would fulfill that desire to take part in such projects. I've also noticed that utilizing social media for self-initiated projects is also another way to allow for that freedom to create, attract clients, and negotiate pricing with them. Regarding spec work, I've experienced it during the process of job interviews, and when asked to take part in it I stand up and leave.
Bravo. Good for you b
Always excited when I see a new Process video pop up in my feed. Pure quality content, keep it up!
Thanks Matt. We got 2 more episodes w/ Rachel and Michael. Where you watching us from?
Sweet, can't wait to check them out! I'm watching from Austria, the beautiful city of Salzburg to be exact. I've been following your stuff for quite a while now and must say it's arguably the best source of getting insights on how to combine business with design.
can't wait for part 2 &3! great stuff here. I so needed this.
Jeff. Part 2 is already out.
The Skool Network yeah, just found it. I was thrown off because it was titled completely different. Was rather confusing. But I figured it out.
great. awesome. Yeah, we title the episodes based on the content. That's how youtube ranks videos. sorry about the confusion.
This was so great Chris. I'm starting to innately do some of the things you are talking about having been exposed to The Skool, podcasts, and mentors of mine. For instance, knowing your rate instinctively. Actually experiencing scenarios recently when I have defined my rate because I KNOW what it is now and I'm not negotiating or unsure, and it has been so well received by the potential client. It takes time though and can't be forced. You yourself have to truly believe it, or else, it will come off as unsure. Loving this content and I am relating to it more and more which allows me to get just that much more out of it. Actually relating personal experiences with what you're saying makes it all the more powerful. Keep this up, so great!
Thanks for sharing Alex. Happy to hear about your ability to use what we say in the field. Get comfortable talking about money. It's how business is done.
#ItsHowBusinessIsDone - Love it. Something that a business mentor I follow said that really stuck with me was something to the effect of "The entire world revolves around money, and yet, most people are too afraid to talk about it. If you are afraid to talk about money, you are never going to make money." That completely changed my mindset because it's so true. Hearing other business experts echo the same sentiment, like you, really solidifies it all the more. Thanks for your insight and wisdom Chris!
really like the topics you guys talk about - very valuable information. especially as a marketing student trying to learn more about design to develop another branch of skills. would you guys consider uploading these as a podcast? itd be nice to listen to it while driving or commuting.
keep up to good work!
Thanks Sufyan. We are working on that very thing right now. We are starting with the most popular episodes and turning them into podcasts. We are also recording new content for the podcast as well.
thanks great to hear! looking forward to it :)
As always, great content! I love the fact that there will be 2 more vids of this convo :)
You don't want it to end huh?
You already know the answer to this question ;)
+Michael Urs k. It was rhetorical then. :)
Great conversation! love the anticipation building cliffhanger at the end too.
I give Aaron all the credit for the edit. He's dialed in to what works for this channel.
it's a shame this channel doesn't get the attention it deserves. Keep up the good work you guys rock!
Thanks. We are patient. One sub at a time.
this is a wonderful talk, thanks Chris for uploading these videos they contain a lot of value to us :) and I loved your guests too!
Awesome Mo. You should check out TypeEd for more info.
Awesome Mo. You should check out TypeEd for more info.
This is one of the best videos you have done yet! Very interesting. Learned a lot!
Thanks Liam. What did you get from this video in particular?
Great conversation. Lot of good take aways about negotiating.
Really great content as always. Looking forward to the next vids in the series. Also, where's Jose..? Missing he's shoot from the hip style.
He's at burning man.
I'm a 19 year old filmmaker and I LOVVEEEEE this channel. it seriously helps me and i have been applying it to my field as well and I can sense the power I hold in negotiations even dealing with corporate work and being seen as and Youngin lol. Chris is DOpe btw. we also have the same name... never stop uploading CHI QC Thanks you :D
hello future business leader.
The Futur HEY GUYS. I'm actually already a registered CEO in NC and I feel much more grounded running my company and thinking about scale in terms of long term quality and representation. seriously thank you ❤ I will continue to grow.
Great conversation! I really appreciate the great tips. This is definitely a serious topic, especially when it comes to pricing yourself appropriately.
Next episode we dive deeper into how much you should charge.
+The Skool Network can't wait!
Very informative session, learned a lot. This is what I needed to hear, this business of design and the design business.
Woot. Glad to hear.
I really enjoy this video. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Jorvis. There are 2 more in this series.
Really enjoying this new era of content. Keep it up!
This is the Futur.
Wow! Tris was really good. I don't know how you manage to make you love you even more every time. I jus have a question that I would love you to answer in one of your video: how do you recognize a client that you are going to end up hating?
Hi Sofia. We already have that question answered (luckily). But you can keep loving us. Here's the link: ua-cam.com/video/7IwTua4AaRY/v-deo.html
Great work guys! I love your the most pro graphic design channel in entire galaxy! :P
Lol. We'd like to think so. :)
Great stuff
Thanks Matthew.
Amazing advice as always!!! Thanks Chris!
Thanks Jarrod.
Thank you virtual mentors
Thanks Melissa. We have a strong group of "students".
Yet another great one. Keep it up!
Thank you. Thank you.
This is a very...different question. Are tattoos frowned upon or discouraged when working in the design industry? Or does it really depend on who you're working for?
I don't think it makes any difference. That is unless you are working for a super corporate firm or live in a really conservative area.
I love this series, I love this whole channel. Really appreciate what you are doing. I've watched about 10 videos so far, and have come away with more confidence about business and design. Can't wait to deploy this thinking in my next discovery meeting.
When Rachel and Mike were talking about their experience with RFP's there was a distinct disconnect with your own. I think in the print and digital design world compared to motion graphics/ film. The RFP's typically come with the stipulation that you are going to submit spec creative along with your proposal. Are you saying that when you respond to RFP's you are not submitting any spec work with your proposal? Or do you simply ignore that part of the RFP?
I know in my industry of tradeshow exhibit design, 90% of our competitive RFP's are asking for booth concepts and renderings, and pretty much a turnkey project proposal. To which we never win the project. We have begun to implement a qualification process to weed out RFP's that are not serious or not a good fit for us to reduce amount of Spec work we churn out. However even in our normal client dealings, we have a project discovery meeting, and then are expected present rendered concepts and ballpark pricing with no upfront design retainer to help cover that initial work! Many times we are not even given a budget range they would like to spend. Asking for a design retainer upfront to deploy our resources has generally never been successful. Quite sad when a typical exhibit will cost anywhere from $25K - $75K and a client would scoff at paying $1000-$1500 retainer up front to cover the conceptual phase.
Justin Owens Justin good question. Tune in on Monday at 6pm to FB live. I'll answer your question. We are doing a 3 hour live marathon simulcast on FB live and periscope.
There's a big difference between a pitch and proposal. We have to pitch for motion work. Ideas for little or no money.
We submit a proposal for brand strategy work. No free work.
Hey, great work! I like the idea of this discussion but felt the cadence of conversation was a bit stilted and the depth of the discussion a little shallow. Chris, you clearly have opinions about this topic; do you have your own video about it?
Brian, that's fair criticism. I think there were some nerves. I definitely have my point of view that I can record a separate video on. Stay tuned for segment 2 & 3 of this convo. We get much looser.
Watching this today year 2021
Awesome channel , greetings from Italy
Ottavio Lo piccolo ciao. Welcome to the channel.
awesome!!
Thanks Leo!
Great channel! Greetings from Malaysia
Thanks for this videos, great content.
Hi Roman. What do you do? Just curious.
Hi there, currently working on a career change from 9-5 job to design. It's great that you guys talk about business, sales and strategies apart from design
Gr8 video, you dont want us to the see the whole video? Okay okay I will subscribe, im in.
Hook. Line. And sinker. Glad to have you.
Don't get me started…
My trigger words are "good for your portfolio".
I frequently get calls from local businesses asking for a student to work for free to "build their portfolio". This is such a crock. What matters is the quality of the work, not whether it was "used". They pay the utilities and rent, why is design the one thing they think should be free?
The expectation of unpaid internships excludes students of limited means. I get so many requests for interns in situations that are not really internships, just solicitations for free work. I patiently explain that an internship is a situation where there is a mentoring structure and an opportunity to learn and build relationships with senior designers.
Students and young professionals will gain much more from working on personal projects to demonstrate their unique vision or doing pro bono for non profits that support their deeply held values.
Prof., designers tend to be people pleasers and other validated. we do it to ourselves and volunteer to do work for less money because we feel more valuable helping others. it's a jacked up mind set.
How do you work with someone like Michael? I can understand his intentions - it's his approach and tone that would make me leave the room if I was in a partnership. If this is normal in a firm then I need to man up (basically be like Chris Do lol)
Companies require all different kinds of personalities and skill sets. Not all designers have the gift of gab. That is why my position on art direction/creative direction was made.
Love this video thanks so much for sharing this content! you mentioned about templates for things in the video. Im new to the freelancing world and trying to get some things like proposals, graphic design work contracts, invoices etc. together for myself. What would you say is the most important things to have to show clients that shows them that you're serious. Also do you know where i can find some templates for this? just to get me a little kick started?
apologies for the long question.Thanks so much :)
AIB is a good start. it's a kit we sell.
love the video and your work guys... even though i am from a VFX background.. the business isnt that different :) ... if you could have a theme on how to setup a design firm/vfx studio that would also be of value. Cheers !
Check out our episode on how to run a design business. I go over bidding practices. You might it find it oddly familiar since I'm referencing Mograph work.
I will reserve my thoughts until the end. When does the rest drop...?
Next week. Feel free to comment as you go.
Where are the other parts :(
"Im not in the business of building proposals" ,stick it to them Chris!
That line I got from Blair Enns.
why did you end it so suddenly!? waiting for next one . . .
Cliff hanger. Next episode comes out today. Moments away.
I've heard that "Can you make a better price? We'll give you a bunch of other projects after that one". To me, this is one of the most annoying thing to hear. And most of the time, they don't come back with more projects.
My response. Yes I can. There's cost efficiencies at scale. Let's talk about those other projects and get a bid going. If you can sign off on it now I can definitely work with you on the price. How does that sound mr/ms client?
So would you ask for a deposit for the whole project? For example, let's say he's looking for a logo. He asks for a better price because he's saying he will need a website, some brochures and business cards after that. He's probably not going to want to make a deposit for the whole project since all he needs right now is the logo. And it would cost less money for him to make a deposit for the logo only. But at the same time, the price you've made for the logo is lower since it's kind of a package deal with the website, brochures and business cards. How would you deal with that? Thanks a lot!
+Medio Design bid the whole project. Get 50% up front. Deposit check. Be totally stoked. Send me #tenPercent.
Call his bluff.
Hehe, thanks a lot for the advice! Can't wait to see your next video. Amazing channel.
Tell him you can give him a better price for the full system. But don't budge on the deposit.
Best channel on youtube :)
Razvan we just need another 20k subscribers just like you.
Talk about WebGL
I have no idea what that is.
+The Skool Network Hi, it's the future of 3D on the web. resn.co.nz
28:45 you're welcome
👀📝📝‼
😄😄💪🏼
What happened to the XBOX One S video guys?
It's been removed.
+The Skool Network why? it was very informative.
+sudsr15 we need to get client sign off first.
+The Skool Network Oh kool. I thought you guys would not reply coz most of them don't. Respect guys. Respect.
awesome!!
thank for the red flags ;)
You're welcome. Don't ignore them when you recognize them.
Thank you, I'll do my best.
Can't wait to see what I will learn, from the other 2 of this series...
:D
Episode 2 is juicy.
❤❤❤❤❤❤
With the motion work, do you cold call or email agencies or directly to clients?
Out reps do that.
Would be advisable to do the same as a freelancer, who wants clients with large brands?
it'll be hard. best way is to work with someone you know or someone who can recommend you. work up from the bottom. each time, earn the trust of the people that hire you. under promise and over deliver.
+The Skool Network Alright thanks for the advice. I really enjoy the videos you guys post up
+Mylo Modise you're welcome.
I spy a Nelson table...
Are you furniture shopping? Bonus points if you can identify the couch in sitting on and the custom fabric. Both are UK.
I work at Herman Miller, so I was kind of cheating.
No idea on the couch, which is sad because I know I've seen that design before.
+Carl Dunker oh you had the inside track. The fabric is paul smith.