Success By Design: The Essential Business Reference for Designers by David Sherwin

Designers often wish they could make their business decisions with the same finesse they apply to their designs. But the business side of running a design practice is often not the strength of designers. That’s why David Sherwin’s book, Success by Design: The Essential Business Reference for Designers, is such an invaluable resource.

Success By Design is an essential handbook for designers looking to apply business and entrepreneurial principles to running their own practice. Throughout the book, Sherwin explains the fundamentals of marketing, sales, operations, management, and finance for those interested in entrepreneurial ventures. He also provides practical advice for managing a profitable, successful creative business.

Some of the key topics and applications in the book include developing pricing strategies, creating and implementing contracts, understanding client relationships and producing effective proposals. Sherwin also offers tips on maintaining your bottom line, avoiding financial pitfalls, and building a network of business contacts. And, he emphasizes the importance of brand identity and helps readers create their own practice identity.

One of Sherwin’s main focuses is client relationships. He emphasizes that clients, who invest heavily both financially and emotionally in design projects, should be respected and taken seriously. Understanding client desires, communication styles, and motivation will lead to successful relationships and successful projects.

To ensure that everything is organized, Sherwin details best practices on creating an efficient workflow, delegating tasks, and managing deadlines and a team. With his guidance, readers will be able to manage their design projects with greater ease and success, allowing them to focus on the creative aspects.

Success By Design also looks at risk management, which focuses on protecting resources, reducing potential surprises, and minimizing environmental impacts. It also delves into the legal issues of managing projects, including copyright and intellectual property law, contracts, and employee/freelance agreements.

Overall, David Sherwin’s Success By Design is a comprehensive, hands-on guide to managing a design practice. With Sherwin’s guidance, designers can confidently apply valuable business principles to their practice and create a successful, profitable business.