We have an exciting line up for you this semester with courses covering topics from teaching workshops to building a business model. This semester, we’re focusing on making intentional and informed decisions with your business.
courses begin summer 2020!
read through this semester’s course lineup below!
building a business model
A business model implies the understanding of operations, customer acquisition, retention, and supply chain management. In this course, we'll begin by looking at the definition of a business model and why it's so important to have a good hold on yours. With so many options of variable and diversified income options throughout our industry, we'll look at how to determine which is right for your business and the differences between them. Business models could include calligraphy for envelopes, poems, tattoos, quotes, selling on Etsy, having a pre-designed invitation line, custom work only, selling wax seal designs, dying ribbon, teaching workshops, etc.
Not having a firm grip and understanding of your business model leads to a lack of alinement, clarity, scarcity mindset, and lack of overall direction in your business.
Set your business up for success and have a clearly defined direction and guidelines for your business through this course!
designing a workshop
With so many different types of workshop styles throughout our industry, we'll take a look at different motivators of each and how to build and design a workshop to support your personal motivators. These motivators will help you determine how much to spend on the workshop, set up, rentals, handouts, kits, food and beverage, packaging, etc.
From sharing your passion to recruiting new customers, expanding your student base, or creating a totally Instagramable experience, motivators vary person to person. We'll work through some of the industry-leading motivators and determine which one best fits your business model.
So many creatives repeat what they've seen with little to no intention or business based decisions. Let's change that! We'll focus on designing a course with intention and understanding your motivations while honoring those in your choices.
Teaching a calligraphy workshop
Our goal in teaching a calligraphy workshop is for your students to walk away feeling like they've accomplished something and gained a new skill they can continue to grow and improve.
In this course, we're looking at how to best teach a calligraphy workshop in a single sitting multi-hour format so that students walk away feeling satisfied rather than frustrated. We'll look at a specific order of teaching, verbiage, tips, letter formation, and combinations, some ideas for showing off your work, and a few take-home projects for your students.
This course teaches the actual workshop activity vs. our Designing a Workshop course, which teaches how to decide how much to invest in your workshops and their overall design and set up. These two courses will be available both bundled at a discount as well as individually.
CREATIVITY ALSO ISN’T BORN IN A VACUUM. GREAT WORK IS RARELY THE PRODUCT OF A LONE GENIUS, BUT IS RATHER THE CULMINATION OF COLLABORATION.
Developing a unique style and aesthetic
I see so many of the same styles trickling down and through the industry that are copies of themselves. We've talked so many times about the importance of having a unique style (charge more money, be more sought after, avoid scarcity mindset). We're going to take a closer look at how to develop that in your work with a strategic plan and formula to follow without copying or "being inspired by" someone else's work.
We used this idea last semester and applied it specifically to a calligraphy style. This semester we're going to apply the same concepts looking an aesthetic and specific style with examples in artwork and invitation design.
building a portfolio and following
Building a portfolio and developing your style are both massive mountains of projects. Where do you even start? What should you expect? How do you post stuff when you know it's not where you want to end up aesthetically. What do you do when someone copies your work? How do you stand out? How much do you share vs. not share? What if your work isn't good enough?
Creativity isn't built in a vacuum; it comes from the community and driving one another. It comes from hunting and sifting through discarded ideas and reinventing them. It comes from intentional development. In this course, we're going to tackle all of these ideas, preparing you for the long and rewarding road to building your unique style and portfolio.
Brand Building for Creative Businesses
with Kim Wiseley, Founder and Creative Director of Flutter Magazine
One of the best ways for us to learn is to see the successes and failures of those who have come before us. We sat down with Kim Wiseley to hear not only how she built her brand, but how she keeps herself on track, stays engaged, and continues to foster growth with her work. She will take you through the process of building a brand through three key phases of building a solid foundation for your creative brand:
Vision of Success
Creating Authenticity
The Power of Collaboration
We'll hear how Kim built and expanded her brand, how she has remained authentic to her goals and purpose by intentionally pushing herself and also checking in with herself along the way.
Printing on Handmade Paper
After many many semesters of students requesting this course, we're finally teaching it! Handmade paper has BLOWN UP in the wedding industry over the past few years. It's gorgeous and comes in the most amazing colors and textures...however, it's a pain in the butt to work with.
In this course, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of handmade paper, what to look for in a papermaker, what printer settings to look for, how to design for handmade paper and understanding its capabilities, digitally compensating for printing, and post-production of printed pieces (paper surgery). We'll also chat about how to price for working with handmade paper.
