Alternate Titlesthat we considered...
• How I went from working hard athome to playing games at the office.
• No really, who needs clients?
• The Designer of Tomorrow
A Few CaveatsJust so you know...
• Your results may vary
• Not everything will apply
• Be prepared for Happy Accidents
• Transitions are key
• There is no boardroom
! Boss! Bedroom
! Band! Boardroom
! Beach
Discover Your D.N.A.(Designer’s Natural Aptitude)
• Personality
• Family & Upbringing
• Education
• Interests, Hobbies & Passions
• Bent
Dealingw" the Boss
Embrace Your Place
• If you are working for The Man —or The Woman — make sure they’rewilling to invest in you
• Don’t rely on the office to beyour creative exercise
Successin ! Bedroom
Narrow Services
Broad Interests
• Focus professionally on niches
• Become an expert or advocate
• Get outside of yourself on a“personal” level
Beware of the Good
Embrace the Great
• Avoid projects — even seeminglyprofitable ones — if they do not fityour designer DNA
• Narrow focus enables growthand sparks profits
• Misfit projects drag you down
Prepare for Calamity
• Growth will make you a target
• Some people can be mean
• Remember “Happy Accidents”
Assembling! Band
When One is Not Enough
• Focus allows you to identitycompatible and complementarypeople for your team
• Know the DNA of your team
• Don’t align with others simplyfor the sake of alignment. Becareful working with friends & family
Building! Product
Transition Time
• Stay true to your niche
• Use profits to fuel projects
• Be persistent throughoutmistakes, shortcomings, and miscalculations
Building Awareness
• Keep an email list
• Bake in the buzz
• Make it remarkable
Some Stories
Blinksale
DNA = Fascination with business finance met disdain for desktop software solutions
Lesson = Products almost always takemore time to hit mass than you think
Result = Blinksale is profitable& growing
IconBuffet
DNA = Team’s obsession with iconic artand a love for design community sites
Lesson = Profits not always key success
Result = IconBuffet’s primarysuccess was the visibility that itbrought to our studio. Our bestclients were landed via IconBuffet.
PackRat
DNA = Team’s obsession with iconic artand a love for community sites ...and gaming
Lesson = Happy Accidents
Result = We have no idea
#e Designer $ Tomorrow
• Goes beyond design, embraces creation
• Transitions skillfully betweenfocused niches and multiple disciplines
• Raises the bar for the industry
• Brings other designers alongfor the ride
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