Running a Design Business: Grow Your Business

Many of the mistakes business owners make arise from not understanding what they do well. This is true for any industry—including creative fields like graphic design. If you want to successfully grow and sustain your design business, there are some important questions to ask to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for expansion. For over 15 years now, Justin Ahrens has led Rule29, a design firm by recognized by AIGA, Communication Arts, HOW, and more. Here he shares stories and tips for determining what you do best, leaving the things that you don't do well to others, and finding areas to grow. The focus of his advice is on building culture, brand uniqueness, business acumen, and better processes. Plus, learn new ways to promote your business to potential clients and strategies to build your team.

Learning objectives
What does your company do well? What does it not do so well?
How and where to grow
Identifying opportunities
Developing a culture of growth
Promoting your business
Collaborating
Building your advertising team