Opening Your Design Business

Thursday, October 29, 2009, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

1 session / $99

If you're like most designers, you are passionate about Designing! When it comes to starting a design business, you need more than just passion to bring it all together.  In this class, you will learn how to implement all of the basic details of starting a business, including legal considerations, accounting priorities, hiring of employees, understanding the true cost of business, and how to price your services.

Instructor: Carol Overby, Professor of Accounting and Business in the department of Design & Management at Parsons The New School for Design.

TO REGISTER: Contact Frederick John at 718.663.8404

NY Designs helps emerging and established design firms flourish with vibrant studio space, proven business training, sustainability workshops, and hands-on business counseling -- all under one roof.

www.nydesigns.org

Guerrilla PR Tactics for Designers

Thursdays, November 5 - December 3, 2009 (excluding Thanksgiving Day), 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

4 sessions / $199

Ever wonder why some designers attract an avalanche of attention and publicity? Often it's because they have identified industry "influencers" -- movers and shakers, journalists, style mavens, bloggers, conference directors, curators, and the like -- and communicated directly with them as a first step. These savvy designers know that validation from the right people in specific orbits can carry their message so much further. This course teaches you the strategic backbone of a successful guerrilla marketing plan: how to identify the influencers who can take your name recognition to the next level, and how to engage them persuasively. Guerrilla tactics (using cleverness, not big spending) are employed.

These how-to's will be covered: identifying the segments of your market, articulating your competitive advantage and design  "signature," developing polished and effective press and sales materials, determining where your prospects are and showing up (a.k.a. "fishing where the fish are"), pitching stories to the press, garnering public speaking invitations, amping up netowrking and word-of-mouth referrals, smart ways to work a room, and how and why you should talk to strangers.

This course is intended for professional designers offering products and services in the marketplace.

Instructor: Susan Harkavy, a seasoned public relations consultant to up-and-coming design businesses.

TO REGISTER: Contact Frederick John at 718.663.8404

NY Designs helps emerging and established design firms flourish with vibrant studio space, proven business training, sustainability workshops, and hands-on business counseling -- all under one roof.

www.nydesigns.org

Thursdays, November 5 - December 17 (excluding Thanksgiving Day), 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

6 sessions / $199

This no-nonsense program will transform you from a designer to a design business owner. Learn the business strategies that prevent costly mistakes and get real-world, practical solutions for your specific problems and business barriers. You will understand:

• How to attract more clients to your business
• How to communicate effectively so that your marketing message is clearly understood
• How to create the right relationships in order to strengthen your business
• How to build systems that will allow for a smooth running operation

This class includes a copy of the "Oops, I'm in Business. . . Now What?" Home Study Guide - Highlights Edition.

Instructor: Ed Abel, business advisor and mentor. Ed is founder and senior coach of ABEL Business Institute.

TO REGISTER: Contact Frederick John at 718.663.8404

NY Designs helps emerging and established design firms flourish with vibrant studio space, proven business training, sustainability workshops, and hands-on business counseling -- all under one roof.

www.nydesigns.org

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1 session / $99

Learn persuasive techniques for writing winning business proposals and creating smart pricing strategies that will help you get paid what you're worth and still close the sale. You will understand how to create proposals that clearly communicate the benefits of your services so that your prospect will want to hire you over your competitor.

Instructor: Ed Avel, business advisor and mentor. Ed is founder and senior coach of ABEL Business Institute.

TO REGISTER: Contact Frederick John at 718.663.8404

NY Designs helps emerging and established design firms flourish with vibrant studio space, proven business training, sustainability workshops, and hands-on business counseling -- all under one roof.

www.nydesigns.org

Saturday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

1 session / $99

Learn how to network effectively so that you can develop valuable relationships that lead to closed business. You will understand where to go and how to decide which events have the most value. You will stop just collecting cards by applying a step-by-step process for meeting, chatting with, and following up with people you meet.

Instructor: Ed Abel, business advisor and mentor. Ed is founder and senior coach of ABEL Business Institute.

TO REGISTER: Contact Frederick John at 718.663.8404

NY Designs helps emerging and established design firms flourish with vibrant studio space, proven business training, sustainability workshops, and hands-on business counseling -- all under one roof.

www.nydesigns.org