The Business of Design: creativity, freelancing, networking and design processes

Tola Oladele
Aug 23, 2017 · 4 min read

Over 80 designers and design enthusiasts were at the design meetup: “The Business of Design”. It was hosted by Rewrite Agency and @think-senpai. Industry giants like Amplify, Cregital, Sukreo, CKDigital, Farabale were present.

The Business of Design exists to simplify and boost the design of business.

The design industry in Nigeria is rapidly growing and the design process that we are all used to is fast evolving. And so in August, we organized a meetup for designers who were in need of answers to pressing design questions and 9 experts in the design field were gathered to sensitize and network with upcoming designers.

Topics like creativity, freelancing, networking and design processes were discussed. Here are some titbits I saved for you.

1. Evans Akanno (Cregital):

The Business of Design is the future of design. So, you start out with freelance designing and gradually move to build effective systems that can survive in your absence, and that’s what births the business of design. You should also quit complicating designs and rather absorb simplicity into your designs.

Be as meticulous as you can get.

Understand that freelance does not scale like a business because of it’s difficulty. It leaves the burden of a full business squarely on the shoulder of one person, take time out to calculate this risk before switch into freelancing.

2. Seyi Olusanya (Da Design Studio):

Time is money, only choose clients that value your work.

Support your designs with worthy write-ups that describes them succinctly because not everybody understands the value of design till they read about them.

3. Alex Olasehinde (Farabale Africa):

“I see myself as a problem solver and you should too”.

Alex reminded us that the major difference between an artist and a designer is that the former creates without consulting his users, the later however solves a problem for his users. Most times as designer you need to spend more time talking with your clients than you spend designing their project.

4. Damilola Marcus (Da Design Studio):

Designers should take a cue from the tech industry and innovate their processes. This is the age where a major skill for a visual designer is the ability to adapt and evolve. Don’t be so rigid.

5. Adewale Bobby (Amplify):

If there is one thing Bobby made the most of, it is the network of graphic designers he met online. So take a deep breath and explore the world of designer on the social and digital media at large.

Your skill is not a cash exchange one so learn to really add value, even if you have to start out doing it for free. Be ready to work, real hard, and cultivate your design skill.

6. Soji Oyemomi (Muse Nigeria):

“having a mentor helped me”.

Soji learnt from many great designers and his background in architecture helped him think critically.

“Collaborating with other designers is a way to set yourself up for a bigger audience and therefore a wider reach”.

The challenge with freelancing is the risk your clients would be taking every single time they decide to use your service. Seriously, there are moments when you won’t be available to work, or take a call or respond to that urgent email, who takes over then? who furthers the business for you? Your design business can’t afford to be passive because you are unavailable.

7. Daniel Emeka (Surkreo):

“Learn to evolve, you evolve or you die”,

It’s easier to design these days, with the advancement and popularity of tech gadgets and social media networks. So take advantage of these times.

Understand that being a designer is one thing, being an entrepreneur is another. Value should be what we all should strife for, place value over money.

8. Temitope Amodu (Designer at Andela Nigeria):

“Intuition is key”.

What we sometimes call intuition is the creativity in you yelling out. Listen. Really listen. Take time out to study your users (clients), their brand, and their work process.

9. Coker Oluwafemi (Rewrite Agency):

You have to consistently add value to people. Calculate your business cost and be careful not to cheat yourself or your clients. Learn how to manage a business and go all in.

Be willing to go the extra mile.

This meetup was anchored by Henry (@think-senpai) and it was a much needed reminder that there is prudence and sophistication in networking and collaborating with others.

Thank you for your time.

)

Tola Oladele

Written by

Design lover. @favourtola

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