Design Business
1.5 credits
GEN 206: Creative Business
Get ready for a creative career
The course provides essential preparation for finding employment opportunities in your creative industry. You will learn how to define a personal career path, break down the job market, and define their goals, talents, and ideal job. This course explores different ways to brand yourself as a professional creative, discussing tips for resume and portfolio preparation, self-promotion, marketing, client searches, responding to leads, interviewing, and presenting work and/or campaigns.
Course At A Glance
Course Features
- 100% online
- Project-based
- Instructor-led
- Credit-bearing: 1.5 Credits
- Classes start January, April, and August
Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Kristen Becker
is an educator, graphic designer, and entrepreneur specializing in e-commerce.LEARN MORE
Take this course as a standalone or as part of the following program(s):
Course Projects
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? Our first session 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.
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. This week's class 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.
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. The final lecture 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.
Sample Student Work
For sample work, visit student gallery
Course Outcomes
What Are The Course Projects?
Career focused projects help you define your goals, your creative niche, and your job search strategy, and define your persona, polishing your portfolio and your interview skills.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection.
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator or equivalent digital imaging programs.
- Experience in graphic design and the above software.
What Will I Learn?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Review the main options for freelance, agency, and in-house careers in design.
- Examine 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.
- Analyze 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.
Getting Started
Course Registration
- Classes start January, April, and August
- 1.5 Credit Course
- Project-Based: Exercises, Discussions, and Critiques
| Course Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $510/credit |
| Registration Fee* | $200 |
| Total Course Price | $965 |
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment. All tuition includes a digital materials fee for course content.
Course Registration Form
To register for this course, use the form below to enter your information and desired start date. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to arrange payment and provide you with an Enrollment Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Are The Courses Like?
Our courses are project-based. In each course you’ll enjoy a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills, earning college credit for your completed course.
How Much Time Do I Need?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course can be completed as part of a 15-week term in 8 weeks. College credit from this course can be applied to a range of degree and certificate level programs at Sessions College.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our faculty of professional artists, designers, and photographers. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work.
Is Sessions College accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).