Design Studio: How to Get Things Rolling

by Startacus Admin

Thanks to the modern era we’re living in, we have various classes and courses available almost everywhere. This means there are many people turning into designers every day, but thankfully the need for designers is growing every day, as well. Starting a design studio is a great idea if you’re ambitious, skilled and willing to work hard for your dreams, but you should know that doing so won’t be anywhere near easy. Here are some things you should hold onto in order for your studio to grow big and strong.
Build a customer base
Your work has to be client-oriented, so creating a target audience's profile and building a customer base are the tasks that you must perform even before starting your first job. The beginning is always hard and exhausting, and because of people who keep ignoring this step but somehow get through with it, there’s a global misconception about it. Don’t ever neglect your customers, since everything you’re doing is about them.
Find someone to guide you
Listening to experienced people who are not strictly related to your design business could be that one thing that will boost your income. Being surrounded with designers is good because you will motivate each other and you can get all the help that you need with your work, but that doesn’t mean that your business will perform well. Once you get a mentor, you’ll immediately feel the overall change that’s going to affect every single aspect of your company.
Specialization & generalization
Of course your design studio needs a killer designer, but don't forget that your designer is being led by a businessman. Without some cool-headed leader and an awesome team, your skills might not be able to reach out to people. Business world is a harsh place where only the last man standing gets the chance to accomplish something. That’s why you need a good leader, otherwise you risking the chance to get to the market.
Choose your employees wisely
Along with the growth of your company, you'll encounter growth of need for employees. This is a tricky part because you need both loyal yet talented workers, and in part, thanks to reputable educational institutions, there are plenty of potentially good employees on today’s market.
Visual design is the discipline practiced by those who develop major flows of information and content, and that’s why the world needs designers in the first place.
"The objective of our faculty is to encourage young and deserving international talentsto complete their education with a top-level visual design master in Milan, properly preparing them for the challenges that their future careers will bring," said the college directorof RM Istituto Design e Moda, Pasquale Volpe.
Transparency might just be the key
Something employers have always been afraid of is exposing what does one work day look like from an employee's perspective. The thing is customers, both potential and current ones, enjoy having a look at the way your company operates. This transparency creates a special bond that almost guarantees better customer relationships. You can organize open-door events from time to time and use them in order to even better represent your brand and your employees.
Don’t get swallowed by the competition
One of the well-known facts is that there are a million businesses just like yours. It's up to you whether you'll be able to stand out, or you'll get ran over by your competition. Try telling a unique story, explain to them why you're not led by money but rather by passion. Let’s not forget that good branding is one of the things that can help you reach the sky, which would definitely make you stand out.
Hire coworkers
You're not Atlas, so quit acting like you're capable of executing every single task completely by yourself. Nobody should feel embarrassed asking for help. This is a way of telling others: “I'm not extremely good in everything and therefore I'll make sure to work with people who can deliver top-quality work to integrate with mine work”. You should find the right people or agencies that can help you with additional work that you have to deal with, aside from the designing itself.
Think outside the box
Everything you've read so far just speaks about overall advices and following all of them blindly doesn't promise you a successful business. However, thinking outside the box and finding different ways to improve your work, as well as adapting to the environment changes, definitely guarantees a good future.
New design companies are sprouting everywhere and as the time goes on, accomplishing goals in this fiercely competitive field is becoming harder and harder. As long as you keep the previously-mentioned advices in your head, your business should start off on the right foot.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Based in the UK or Ireland and got an innovative early-stage idea for the health sector? Validate that idea via the DigiHealth pre-accelerator - applications now open.

The lowdown on watchTowr, the startup that's on a mission to provide organisations with "continuous cyber security assurance aligned to the capabilities of today’s adversaries."

Fin Cope, CEO and Co-Founder of environmentally conscious marketplace GoEthical shares insights on the signs of greenwashing he looks out for to help avoid contributing to environmental harm.

Pet owners take note! GetSetPet is a startup on a mission to become the ultimate destination for your pet supplies.

Andrea Szell, Founder of Spare Desk shares some insights on the positive impact that sharing a workspace can have on our mental health.

The lowdown on Oxford Quantum Circuits, the innovative Reading-based startup that's on a mission to make quantum computing accessible to all.

Sodexo Live! and L Marks open call for applications from innovative startups and scaleups to join their inaugural North America Innovation Lab.

Startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh secure SMART:SCOTLAND grants to help support their ambitious and innovative projects.

Lydia Kothmeier, VP of Operations at Storyblok shares insights on the processes and policies that every startup should have in place in order to make remote working work.

The lowdown on HoloToyz, the Irish startup and its products for kids that can come to life through the power of augmented reality.
Published on: 22nd February 2019
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- DigiHealth Lean Launch Programme opens for applications 11th Aug 2022 Based in the UK or Ireland and got an innovative early-stage idea for the health sector? Validate that idea via the DigiHealth pre-accelerator - applications now open.
- Sodexo Live! And L Marks Seeking Startups and Scaleups for first ever North America Innovation Lab 5th Aug 2022 Sodexo Live! and L Marks open call for applications from innovative startups and scaleups to join their inaugural North America Innovation Lab.
- Innovative University-supported startups secure £500,000 in grant funding awards 4th Aug 2022 Startups founded by students and recent graduates from the University of Edinburgh secure SMART:SCOTLAND grants to help support their ambitious and innovative projects.
- Registrations Open for Inbound Investors 2022 2nd Aug 2022 Inbound Investors 2022 providing NI businesses with the opportunity to pitch directly to leading UK investors over the course of one day.