Design Business
Gain tools for going freelance or getting a design job
You've spent years building a portfolio brimming with beautiful work. But all the talent in the world is for naught (or, worse, low paid) unless you know how to position yourself for successful career.
In Design Business, you'll learn the essentials of finding work as a designer, whether in a design firm, in-house design department, or freelance. You'll learn everything from how to present your portfolio and resume, find work opportunities, and market yourself, to the more daunting tasks of building a professional persona and networking with your peers.
This course will set your career on the right track. Course projects are hands-on: you'll create a professional identity, resume, and cover letter, launch your portfolio pieces online, research job opportunities, and develop a self-promotion plan. When your first client walks through the door, you'll be ready!
Tuition: $450 US
Course Instructor(s):
Requirements:
- Computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
- Adobe Photoshop or equivalent digital imaging program.
- Adobe Illustrator or equivalent vector drawing program.
- Basic experience in design and the software packages needed for this course.
- A digital camera.
Prerequisites:
Course Objectives:
- Identify main options for freelance, agency, and in-house careers in design.
- Identify economic conditions affecting design job prospects and determine salary and hourly rates.
- Set personal milestones for a design career.
- Build a career persona including an icon, headshots, and biography text.
- Develop an effective resume and cover letter using writing and formatting techniques.
- Identify the components of effective offline and online portfolios.
- Identify key methods for networking with potential clients, potential employers, and other designers.
- Plan self-promotion marketing endeavors including goals, action steps, and collateral.
- Effectively research potential clients and employers and make contact accordingly.
- Apply professional interview and presentation techniques.
Course Outline
LESSON 1 Defining Your Goals and Brand
At outset of your design career, questions arise: Where should I look for work? How much money can I expect? How can I stand out? Lesson One helps you navigate choppy economic waters and helps you address the eternal choice between freelance and full-time employment. You'll focus on determining which environment is right for your personality and your long-term career prospects, and you'll start to develop your persona as a professional designer. In the first exercise, you'll carefully outline your goals and beef up your persona with an icon, headshots, and biography.
LESSON 2 Resume and Portfolio Building
When the right job comes along, are you ready to apply? You'll need to develop a sharp resume and portfolio to prove you've got the chops. Lecture Two starts with a look at the ingredients necessary for an effective and good-looking resume. You'll also learn tips for cover letter writing to make a great first impression. And you know that your portfolio is key to getting hired, so you'll learn how to present your work effectively in-person and online. The exercise will give you the chance to polish your resume and create a hosted online portfolio.
LESSON 3 Self-Promotion and Finding Your Clients
Clients don't call you out of nowhere. To get jobs, you'll need to develop a marketing strategy. Lesson Three covers different ways of reaching clients and employers, including researching leads and networking at events. You'll look at the benefits of creating a marketing plan and self-promotional design pieces, and you'll learn tips for conducting great interviews and presentations. In the final exercise, you'll be challenged to set your self-promotion goals, create a piece of self-promotion collateral, and do client research.
Contact us | 800-258-4115 