Design Firms Open for Business
Category: Kindle Store,Kindle eBooks,Arts & Photography
Design Firms Open for Business Details
While many young designers perceive a design studio to be little more than a table and computer, the majority of businesses consider the physical locale and architectural surroundings of a firm to be as important as the work that is produced. Design Firms Open for Business is a firsthand look inside studios and offices, both large and small, from all over the world. The inner workings of more than 40 different-sized and variously focused design establishments are explored, offering keen insights into firms working on everything from two- to three-dimensional projects. Designers reveal their thinking about a broad spectrum of important issues, ranging from the names they selected to the underlying philosophy of their practices to the business models they employ. Profusely illustrated with photos of both specific work and working environments, this book provides a unique blend of analysis and biography rolled into one. Each firm is placed in the spotlight, providing an array of successful models to consider by those who are looking to start their own ventures and by those experienced professionals looking for fresh ideas.
Reviews
There are many books about how to start a design business: pages and pages crammed with advice about C-Corp or S-Corp, Partnership or Limited Liability Company; about how to find a real estate broker, accountant and attorney, sign a lease; keep accurate time sheets and billing records.This book shoves all that stuff aside in favor of a refreshing visual approach. It puts you inside about 50 design offices, small to medium, mostly in the U.S., but all around the world -- and puts your imagination to work, not your calculator.In each 4- to 6-page section you take a virtual photographic studio tour led by a friendly, helpful firm principal. During which you'll see the space, meet the people and their work, and get answers to questions like: "What prompted you to start the studio?" and "How much freedom do you allow individual designers?" While you're soaking this all in, you're probably looking at the pictures and asking yourself questions, too, questions like: "Can I see myself in this kind of environment?" "Do I have what it takes to organize a space like this, manage the whole operation?" "Will I be happy taking on the responsibilities of owner?" "Will I be able to successfully supervise the people who depend on me?" "Do I have the talent to produce work of this quality, work that will make both us designers and our clients happy?" "Will I be able to get (and keep) enough clients long-term to keep the operation going?"Most instructive are the answers from firm principals with different temperaments and styles -- how they honor their individuality and make their choices work for them. 'Designer A' supervises 23 people, has account managers and teams. 'Designer B' works solo in a quirky little space he found after realizing he hated being a team player. This book illustrates that there's room for talented designers of all stripes, ages, backgrounds, and levels of entrepreneurial ambition.You might also be asking yourself: "Is it going to be fun?" If so, then you might think about calling the real estate broker. This book really does makes it look like fun. Or maybe the work on the pages looks so good that you'll want to skip the business-startup stuff and try to get a job in one of these studios. It's all good.