Resourceful Designer - A Graphic Design Podcast
Resourceful Designer offers a graphic design podcast aimed at helping home based graphic designers and web designers streamline their business.
Each week, I shares advice, tips and resources to help you with all aspects of running a successful graphic design business.
But who am I?
I'm Mark Des Cotes, a graphic designer and web designer. I've been designing for over 25 years and I've been running my own successful graphic design business for more than 10 years. I thought it would be fun to host a graphic design podcast and share some of the knowledge I've gained over the years. If you want to know more about me please visit the About page.
Cloud Sync vs Cloud Backup – RD238
Even though cloud sync and cloud backup use similar data centers, they are different in how they function. There’s a common misconception that they’re the same thing, but they’re not. In fact, if you want to go by today’s standard backup practices, you should be using both sync and backup. If you’re not, you may be compromising your backup strategy.
Psychological Reactance – Say They Can't Have It And They'll Want It Even More! – RD237
When a person feels that someone is taking away their choices or limiting the range of alternatives, in other words, say they can’t have it, and they’ll want it even more. Even design work.
4 Signs It's Time To Turn Your Side Gig Into A Full-Time Design Business – RD236
I hope I can help you with the mental side of starting a design business by sharing 4 signs that indicate you’re ready to take your side gig full-time and embrace the life of a design business owner.
Learning A New Design Skill Is Easier Thank You Think – RD235
There are many graphic designers who don't offer web design services. Some have no desire to do so. While others would love to add web design to their list of skills. However, they feel intimidated by the notion of tackling a new medium. What they fail to realize is that although the usage between print design and website design is different, the design principles required to make both look good are the same.
Standing Out From Your Competition – RD234
What does the story of the yellow pencil have to do with running a design business? It has to do with the services and products you offer and how you need to make them different than your competition.
3 Things To Do Today For A More Productive Tomorrow – RD233
If you don’t have a proper plan of attack, you could find yourself wasting the better part of an hour accomplishing nothing as you try to figure out what you need to do. Do that every morning, and it can add up to several days worth of time by the end of the year.
Writing The Perfect To-Do List – RD232
To write the perfect to-do list, you must determine what to put on it and in what order. You must also decide what not to include on your list. If you put too many things on your to-do list, it becomes unmanageable and discouraging. A good to-do list has three sections.
Producing In-House – RD231
Have you considered producing in-house as a way to supplement your graphic design business? There are so many different avenues you can take to make things in-house and earn yourself some money.
Farming Out Design Work – RD230
Finding yourself overwhelmed with too many design projects is a sure sign that you are not charging enough for your design services. Don’t turn clients away. Instead, raise your prices and start farming out design work.
Invest In Yourself – RD229
Have you heard the quote, “it takes money to make money?” The same concept applies to growing your design business as well as improving yourself as a designer. If you don’t invest in yourself, you’ll become stagnant, outdated, and eventually overlooked.