The Business of Design

For thirty years, consultant Keith Granet has enjoyed helping design professionals turn their passion into profit. In his new book, The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability, Granet debunks the myth that business sense and creative talent are mutually exclusive. The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitability provides all of the necessary tools to create and run a thriving design business – from billing and human resources to branding and project management to marketing and licensing- in one easy-to-use guide.

Inspired by Granet’s own course on running a successful design practice as well as his experience guiding over four hundred design firms, The Business of Design is organized into six clear chapters interwoven with stories, the author’s own experiences and life lessons. The Business of Design guides the reader through the steps of creating a successful firm, from the initial foundation of a design practice, to financial management, marketing and public relations, human resources, and project management. The last chapter, on product development, explores the growing trend in the design profession to develop products and bring them to the marketplace, allowing designers to share their voice with a larger audience. The Business of Design includes a foreword by M. Arthur Gensler and interviews with individual architects and designers who have made their mark on the profession, including Michael Graves, John Merrill, A. Eugene Kohn, Victoria Hagan, and Richard Meier. These esteemed architects and designers share the benefits of their experience as well as their own take on the business of design. A vibrant and enticing look at the business side of design practice, this graphically beautiful book is neither dry nor intimidating.

“Think it’s impossible to make a business using your creativity? Think again! Keith Granet shows you how to make your design business a success. This book is a must-read for every designer.”-Jonathan Adler

“The Business of Design is the essential guide about the design business. It’s filled with invaluable information that covers all aspects of this often complicated and challenging business. Keith’s straightforward, no-nonsense approach to finding success makes this a must-read for established designers or anyone just starting out. I’ve made this mandatory reading for everyone at Thom Filicia Incorporated!” – Thom Filicia

“Down to earth , common sense advice drawn from good old fashioned experience, Keith Granet gives the industry what it has been waiting for, THE book on just that. Concise, clearly written, this is NO textbook boilerplate. Trust me, you will underline. . . and feel good about what you do know and aspire to all the rest. READ ON. You will be referring to it often.” – Charlotte Moss

“Architecture may be an art, but it’s also a service profession. To become a good architect requires a passionate dedication to the creative design process. To become a successful one means also understanding that it’s a business, a unique one perhaps, but still a business. Keith Granet’s The Business of Design will help get you there faster, creative talent intact.” – Marc Appleton

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The foundation of a Design Business
Chapter 2. Business and financial management
Chapter 3. marketing and Public relations marketing
Chapter 4. human resources
Chapter 5. Project management
Chapter 6. Product Development