In the field of graphic design, a lot of experienced designers choose to open up their own studio. I was reading an article on ComputerArts.co.uk about the essentials for opening a studio. He gives a list of 21 tips given by successful designers who are running some of the best studios around, which I've chosen a few to talk about and paraphrased below:
1 - Good Skip Hunting
Furniture is not a priority, take what you can find at liquidation sales, office closures, estate sales, etc. You'll find a lot more value for your money than at a lot of retail stores.
2 - Take the Plunge
Getting the studio and hiring workers can be very intimidating because of the financial risk at stake, but step up and take the risk, it's worth it.
3 - The Right Stuff
I'm going to use the quote from this tip by Adam Jenns, founder and managing director at Mainframe: "Don't bother starting a studio if you don't have the intention of being the best. Few people ever get there, but if you don't start out with that intention you'll get lost in a sea of one-man bands with novel company names."
4 - Find Some Natural Light
I find this one to be very important to the creative process. Studies have shown that you function a lot more efficiently when you're working in natural light than if you're trapped in a dark or poorly lit room. You're going to be spending a lot of time in there, so make it as welcoming and comfortable as possible.
5 - Gotta Have System
You need to have a good organizational system so that you can find new and old files or client information. Glenn Garriock, creative director at Atelier 1A and co-founder of FormFiftyFive, says "You never know when one of your older files or documents could come in handy to sort out a misunderstanding, or help you with your final billing." This tip is key for anyone that doesn't want to waste precious time rummaging through piles of papers to find that one address or phone number. I need to work on this tip in everyday life so that I can be more organize when it counts once I have a job.
There are plenty more tips, ranging from location to client relationships, to updating websites, but I chose these five because I thought it was more about the psychological aspect of opening up a studio. Getting prepared, being willing to compromise and prioritze different options, surrounding yourself in a comfortable setting to work, and to be organize while you work. All of these will make any job more joyous and help you look forward to coming to work everyday.
21 Tips
I must say, these are probably the best 5 tips I could imagine for opening any sort of business space. Like you said, half the battle of opening up a studio is having the mindset to do so. Not worrying about little things such as furniture may seem like small details but they will probably take a huge mental burden out of the way. And the natural lighting bit appeals to me probably more than what would be considered normal. I've always had a weird obsession with a rooms lighting. It really sets the ambiance of any space, and any place you're going to spend a fair amount of time in you're going to want to get it right. I'd be willing to bet these tips could apply to just about any space of business or living. Great post with some great advice!
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