Dan Weeks is the co-founder and creative director of Honest
Studio, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Bath.
honeststudio.co.ukS
o, starting a new graphic design studio
from scratch, with no clients, during
Brexit... what could possibly go wrong?
It’s a fool-proof plan, right?
Honest Studio was born out of conversations,
a few pints, and a shared ambition and vision.
The plan was crafted and hatched over a steady
period of time. Anyone who knows me, knows
that I’m a thinker. I like to dwell on things for as
long as possible, overthink them, talk myself in
and out of doing them a few times, before I’m
ready to take the plunge. This could be ordering
a sandwich or planning world domination.
Truth is, I’m not sure you can prepare
yourself enough for starting your own design
studio. It’s a big jump from working for
somebody else as a designer or design director.
But there are a few things you can do to help
keep the stress levels down and give yourself a
fighting chance of being successful and keepingyour head above water. By the way, I’m not
claiming to be the fount of all knowledge here,
because Honest Studio is still very new. But if
sharing some of our experiences so far can help
someone else, then great. So, I’ve put together
the following five considerations, when taking
the plunge into design studio ownership.READY, STEADY... HOLD ON A SECOND!
A lot of frustrated designers feel the need to take
a brave pill (as my old boss used to say), test
themselves further and move out of their
comfort zone. Now that feeling usually means
that you need to book a holiday, change your job
or start your own thing (gulp!). You may think
you’re ready to start your own studio. Sure,
you’re probably an experienced, kick-ass
designer, but how about estimating, credentials,
proposal writing, VAT, insurance, new business,
invoicing, corporation tax and balancing the
books? All the stuff that needs to be done well to
win projects, grow your client portfolio and run
a financially successful stable business.
I’d recommend allowing time to talk to your
peers and speak to some successful design
studios that you admire. Pick their brains and
get some advice about the business side of
things. The design community in Bath is a lovely
bunch that have blown me away with the
kindness, support and advice they’ve shown us
over the past couple of years. Don’t be shy about
asking the simplest of questions, because they’ve
been there. They know how difficult and
overwhelming it can all be. Unless you’re a
maths wizard, I’d also recommend finding
yourself a good accountant, so you can focus on
doing what you’re good at.GO TEAM!
I’ve always believed that the best design work
always comes from working as a team. Sharing
ideas, researching, brainstorming, discussing,
debating and crafting. So why should starting
your own studio be any different? Having
someone to share the stress and the emotionalCULTURE
DAN WEEKS PRESENTS HIS HONEST, EXPERIENCE-HONED
ADVICE FOR LAUNCHING A DESIGN STUDIOopinion