Design Domination

Design Domination helps graphic designers gain confidence, clarity and a competitive edge in a crowded marketplace. Colleen Gratzer, industry veteran, accessibility specialist and instructor, shares her insights about creative business, empowering you to be the design hero.

What Is a Creative Brief or Design Brief?

May 31

How to Write a Good About Page — Todd Jones

Learn how to leverage your About page on your website so that you stand out and increase your chances of getting new clients. Find out tips…

Colleen Gratzer

May 17

The Risks of Having One Big Client (Gorilla Client)

Having a client (or two) who make up a large portion of your income is a blessing and a curse. They keep you busy, but you lose focus on…

Colleen Gratzer

Apr 26

The Business Case for Accessibility

In this episode of Design Domination, I’m going to help you make the business case for accessibility, so you can hopefully get your clients…

Colleen Gratzer

Apr 12

What to Do When a Client Wants More Than One of Your Designs

Hi and thanks for tuning in. I’m Colleen Gratzer, and in this episode of Design Domination, I’m talking about what to do when a client…

Colleen Gratzer

Mar 29

Setting Boundaries With Clients

In this episode of Design Domination, I’m talking about something most designers don’t have — and that’s boundaries!

Colleen Gratzer

Mar 15

How to Make More Money in Graphic Design (and Work Less) With Adrienne Johnston

Graphic designer Adrienne Johnston shares how she went from being stressed out and overworked in a $60k-a-year creative business to working…

Colleen Gratzer

Mar 1

Adding Skip Navigation Links for Better Web Accessibility

Improve the accessibility and usability of the websites you design by adding a skip navigation link for keyboard users. Find out why skip…

Colleen Gratzer

Feb 15

How to Raise Your Prices and Keep Your Clients

In this episode of Design Domination, I’m getting into how to raise your rates and keep your clients while doing it.

Colleen Gratzer

Feb 1

How to Get Google Reviews From Clients With John Falke

Google reviews are a free tool designers can leverage to make the marketing and sales process easier. They also increase your chances of…

Colleen Gratzer

Jan 18

How to Make 6 Figures as a Freelancer

Want to make $100,000 a year as a full-time freelancer? Find out what I did and what you can do to make 6 figures as a freelance designer…

Colleen Gratzer

Jan 4

Color and Contrast Accessibility

As a graphic designer, document designer or web designer, understanding the WCAG color and contrast accessibility guidelines will help make…

Colleen Gratzer

Dec 22, 2022

Affordable Health Care for Freelancers

In this episode of Design Domination, I am talking about health insurance for self-employed, freelance designers. Stick around to find out…

Colleen Gratzer

Dec 8, 2022

Adobe Removing Pantone Colors: What Graphic Designers Need to Know

Pantone color books are being phased out of Adobe Creative Cloud, greatly impacting many graphic designers. Access to all Pantone libraries…

Colleen Gratzer

Nov 23, 2022

12 Ways to Motivate Clients to Send Content

In this episode of Design Domination, I’m digging into getting content from clients — specifically wrangling the content from their hands…

Colleen Gratzer

Nov 9, 2022

The Difference Between Consultation and Discovery

Many graphic designers give away their advice, expertise and ideas in the sales process for free. Learn what to stop doing on consultation…

Colleen Gratzer

Oct 26, 2022

How to Get More Leads From Your Website With Josh Hall

Just because you put up a website and have a nice portfolio doesn’t mean potential clients will find it or contact you. Learn strategic…

Colleen Gratzer

Oct 12, 2022

Top 11 Creative Business Books for Designers

Find out what books are on my list of top creative business books for freelance graphic designers to help you with starting your own…

Colleen Gratzer

Sep 28, 2022

Day Rates for Graphic Designers With Sarah Masci

Sarah Masci of Day Rate Mastery joins me to talk about how graphic designers can increase their profitability by charging day rates instead…

Colleen Gratzer

Sep 14, 2022

Why Graphic Designers Need Contracts

Find out important reasons why freelance graphic designers should use contracts for design work in their creative business, including some…

Colleen Gratzer

Sep 7, 2022

The Talent, Not the Tool With Don Bolognese

Renowned artist/illustrator/painter Don Bolognese joins me to talk about how it’s the designer’s talent — not the tool — that’s vital for a…

Colleen Gratzer

Aug 25, 2022

When Designers Should Turn Down Work

When you take on work that isn’t a good fit with your skills and expertise, it can result in a bad testimonial, no referrals and the work…

Colleen Gratzer

Aug 10, 2022

Accessible WordPress Themes: What to Know

Many web designers and developers think using an accessibility-ready WordPress theme means a website will be accessible. But many themes…

Colleen Gratzer

Jul 27, 2022

How to Get Into Textile Design With Kelly Irvine

Hear how Kelly Irvine went from in-house graphic designer to freelance textile designer, creating exclusive prints for the fashion…

Colleen Gratzer

Jul 13, 2022

About Design DominationLatest StoriesArchiveAbout MediumTermsPrivacyTeams

How to Write a Creative Brief

How to Write a Good About Page — Todd Jones

The Risks of Having One Big Client (Gorilla Client)

The Business Case for Accessibility

What to Do When a Client Wants More Than One of Your Designs

Setting Boundaries With Clients

How to Make More Money in Graphic Design (and Work Less) With Adrienne Johnston

Adding Skip Navigation Links for Better Web Accessibility

How to Raise Your Prices and Keep Your Clients

How to Get Google Reviews From Clients With John Falke

How to Make 6 Figures as a Freelancer

Color and Contrast Accessibility

Affordable Health Care for Freelancers

Adobe Removing Pantone Colors: What Graphic Designers Need to Know

12 Ways to Motivate Clients to Send Content

The Difference Between Consultation and Discovery

How to Get More Leads From Your Website With Josh Hall

Top 11 Creative Business Books for Designers

Day Rates for Graphic Designers With Sarah Masci

Why Graphic Designers Need Contracts

The Talent, Not the Tool With Don Bolognese

When Designers Should Turn Down Work

Accessible WordPress Themes: What to Know

How to Get Into Textile Design With Kelly Irvine