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Designers make great entrepreneurs

by Shaun Lee

People always ask me, “Shaun how can you afford all those fur coats and them gold teeth?” I tell ‘em “Brutha — all you gotta do is have a master plan”. Here are some ways I’ve been making a bit extra on top of my 9 to 5. I suggest you give them a go …

Design a T–Shirt

I’ve made thousands of dollars from designing t–shirts. You don’t have to be able to draw, but it does help. Here’s my process:

1. Sketch out a bunch of ideas, things you would like to wear
2. Do some research and see what sells, and what has already been done
3. Draw it up
4. Get some feedback from a few people you respect (iterate)
5. Publish it in one of these sites:

www.threadless.com
designbyhumans.com
uneetee.com

There are many more, but these are the ones that have worked for me.

6. Sit back and watch the cash roll in. It’s real nice earning US$

The competition is tough but never know, one day it could turn into a full time job. It did for Auckland designer Glennz.

Make a game

I have made tens of thousands from my flash games. Since it really is about the experience, my limited coding skills have not been a problem. There is a huge market and great support network out there, waiting for creative people like yourself.

Step 1. Learn a bit of flash (Actionscript 2 is fine) – lynda.com is a great help.

Step 2. Upload your games to www.mochimedia.com

Job done!

Team up with a geek

Geeks are awesome. It’s in their nature to have many side projects on the go, and your assistance could help commercialise these. Mostly you make their project look good then help them sell it. If the idea is not yet built, then best to make a prototype (even just on paper) and test it. See if it’s got legs before you invest too much of your time.

Sell something online

• There are lots of (sometimes painfully) simple applications in the app store (iTunes) that do surprisingly well. A great idea is key. If you buy Flash CS5 as part of your creative suite you will be able to “export” apps that work on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.
• Same goes for other channels. You can sell a PDF online (you are great at making PDFs). If you have some web skills, you do it yourself with FastSpring.com. If you’d like to skip the marketing bit, you could try a service like clickbank.com.
• I have also had a go a selling vectors online. Have a look here the idea is you get paid per download. I haven’t got around to putting them on any other sites yet though. I like the idea of living off royalties, but I am a very long way off that.

Take a stake

Charging more for a positive outcome (eg your client wins their pitch) on a job sounds shifty, but it really creates great shared incentives. We have had good experiences with this. Currently we’re experimenting with taking an equity stake in a business… so far so good.

Other things that might work for you

Make something for endemic world

Endemic have been a great supporter of local designers (hey, they are even a DA sponsor :P). Get inspired and get involved here.

My friend Penny Stotter is a talented graphic designer, I’m a big fan of her work: on Endemic & Penny’s site

Team up with a fashion designer

They need patterns, brands and marketing collateral. Great businesses are built on great conversations. How do you find one? Check out the local markets, it all starts with a chat.

Write

You can earn decent money writing for online publications, for example

www.webdesignerdepot.com
www.smashingmagazine.com

I find writing helps me clear my head, and I need to do more of it! If you have an interesting technique or example file to show off, you can sell it for US$150 here: tutsplus.com

Find a problem

We designers are used to working to a brief. A brief is just a well articulated problem, you can write your own by talking to someone with a problem. You could start with a charity — however, you might not limit the brief to just educating, changing perceptions and fundraising. Social Innovation applies design methodologies to real world problems. To learn more, visit www.nzcsi.org

The Plan

It’s generally easiest to ‘scratch your own itch’. What would you like to have? Make it for yourself and show it off. It’s also important to go wide and brainstorm – treat the project like its a real job. Don’t wait for inspiration, design yourself a process and make it happen. I decided to utilise my daily bus travel of 40 minutes a day for a week to generate game ideas (I had plenty!). Don’t be afraid to think big and do something that you can believe in. But most importantly: Have fun – that’s why you got into this business, right?

Please share any similar experiences you’ve had. I would love to know what you have tried.