Taster Day
The Society offers 1 day taster modules of all of its training. These ‘Taster Days’ involve the delivery of short extracts from the main CSD modules. Whilst not full modules on a single topic they will provide practical outcomes and elements that can be embedded to enhance business practice. Each ‘Taster Day’ draws upon extracts from no more than 3 full modules to ensure a Return on Time Invested (ROTI).
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will acquire an understanding of the nature of CSD training modules and specific knowledge related to the 3 key modules presented.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Strategic Marketing Planning
It is essential to have a Marketing Plan that enables you to plan the future of your design business. This module will set down the key steps to developing a simple plan to segment markets, research and understand client needs and position yourself correctly in the marketplace relative to your competition. It will take you through the practical tactics of marketing and business development, budgeting and resource identification. Essential for any progressive design business.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of attending this module, delegates will be able to construct their own Strategic Marketing Plan, be better able to cost effectively research client needs, be able to benchmark their competition, construct effective marketing strategies and allocate budgets and resources to marketing and business development activities. Delegates will know how to put in place a practical plan of action that will help achieve more business from existing clients and enable them to seek new business and develop new products and services.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module - CPD value 20
Business Planning
In the long term your company needs to prepare a 'business plan' to ensure the business can achieve your “vision” of the future. This module will demonstrate easy to implement steps for formatting a business plan and integrating your, financial, staff and operational resources into a cohesive plan for the business. Not an accounting course but a necessary practical programme for any design business.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of taking this module, delegates will be able to take a longer term view of the business, establish the “vision” for the future, write a realistic business plan and allocate resources to deliver the plan. The techniques for co-ordinating operational resources, designers, third party providers and the management of partnerships will have been explored. Delegates will have also taken away an ability to produce realistic financial plans and track documentation that will enable the business plan to relate to and drive the medium term decision making process of the business.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module - CPD value 20
Design Development, Creativity and Business Development
This module offers you the opportunity to consider how to creatively develop new projects, products and services. This is then linked to the critical challenge for designers of “business development”, or how to sell to clients, both current and new. An exciting and challenging way to look at how creativity translates into business success.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of this module, delegates will enhance their skills in the creative thought process and design conceptualisation. The skills required to realise design concepts and in the processes involved when transferring creative concepts from design to production to end user delivery will be examined, honed and enhanced. The ability to convert excellent design practice into new client business and increase business from existing clients will be gained. Skills will be developed in understanding client needs, presenting the pitch and closing for the business.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module - CPD value 20
This module is also offered for clients to deliver an understanding of the designers role within a business strategy and how they are essential to new product development. Full day module.
Doing Business Globally
Concerned about where the design business is going? Going to China? Not all risk and probably a challenge if seen in the right context Branding, websites, interiors, media, products, textiles – all needing a global perspective today as clients think globally and are willing to outsource design services. What are the opportunities and how do you go about seeking them?
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will take away an understanding the relevance of doing business globally, how to research the opportunities and how to build local relationships in overseas markets. Techniques for taking media designs, brands and products to global markets will be acquired.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
Finance for Designers and Creatives
Not a course on accounting thankfully! How do you, plan the business finances, assess which business elements are profitable and worthy of development, read the accounts and what do they mean? The topics covered will include, how to establish fees and pricing, how to charge more effectively for time and skills and the important aspect of debt collection. This is the very exciting world of “management accountancy” that many designers shrink from yet it’s what every design business needs. Let’s make it exciting!
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will have gained the ability to interpret financial statements – (P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow), assess the profitability of projects and services and establish pricing for their projects. An understanding of margins and costs will be achieved and an ability to analyse the relative attraction of different routes to market will be acquired. Delegates will also understand how to construct financial projections for the business via spreadsheets and to track cash flow.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
Intellectual Property Management
Managing your IPR and copyright vis a vis your client and your own design input and how this is best conducted via contracts and new project development is covered by this module. There are revenue opportunities here and risks if it is not managed right.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will take away knowledge of how to manage the IPR in their designs, what the legal ramifications are and how to contract this relationship with their clients. The designers' and design businesses' real asset is their ability to create and it is essential that they know how to manage IPR effectively for their benefit and that of their clients.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
This module is also offered for clients to deliver an understanding of IP and its role in the business strategy. Full day module.
Design Project Management
How many times have you nearly missed the client deadline, finished just before the presentation or winged it overnight? Do you have a planning system that enables you to realistically allocate resources, involve third parties and yet exceed client expectations? Take a look at project management software and understand its essential nature and how easy and important it is to implement.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will be able to comprehend the importance of managing a project to timelines, be better able to meet client deadlines and allocate internal resources correctly to achieve project goals. An understanding of how to manage both the internal and external project objectives and the implications of changing initial input assumptions will be covered. Additionally, knowledge of computer systems and support mechanisms for project management will be taken away.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
This module is also offered for clients to deliver an understanding of design project management and its role in the business strategy. Full day module.
Law and Governance
Increasingly, the business of designers and that of the client is being controlled by governance requirements, business and civil legislation and regulations. Do you have this covered and are you prepared for the world in which both you and your client inhabit? This module will straighten out the complexity and enable you to take the essential steps in risk management.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will have acquired essential knowledge of the legal implications of their business dealings, the management of contracts, the importance of governance, employment law, risk management and regulatory constraints on the business. An understanding of the primary legal issues facing the design business today will be gained.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
Leadership and People Management
Managing the team whilst delivering the work is the challenge of most design businesses today. How do you select, organise and motivate the team? How do you assess the team and the buyer dynamics of the client’s business? Have you involved psychometrics to assist you? A clearly delivered and essential module to make team management easier.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will understand how to select, manage and motivate their teams, create complimentary team skills and build their own leadership skills. An understanding of the use of psychometrics will be acquired and an ability to manage the complex issues of people management, including how to better understand where the client is coming from, will be taken away.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
Professional Practice and Ethics
This module provides an understanding of how ethical standards are integral to best practice – especially in relationship to clients both nationally and internationally. It includes “Awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility. It will include awareness of best practice in related design disciplines and those of other professions and the understanding of the principles behind the Code of Conduct.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will be capable of creating an ethical working environment, comprehending the issues of corporate social responsibility and marketing these to the advantage of the business. Knowledge of best practice will be acquired including that of related design disciplines.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
Statutory Requirements and Legislation
This module is design discipline specific and due to the numerous regulatory bodies it will prove to be useful and important to design businesses. It will provide an awareness of the specific legislation and regulations within a particular discipline. Health & Safety, CDM regulations, WEE guidelines, DDA 95, etc., will be covered in respect of interior and product design. Graphic designers will be made aware of labelling legislation and issues of legibility in keeping with the DDA guidelines. The relevant examination section will be specific to each design discipline.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will understand the legal implications of regulations and legislation with respect to their specific design practices. They will know where and how to access discipline specific information in respect of these matters.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
The Science of Thinking
This module will cover the science of the thinking process. Philosophy – not a list of philosophical schools – but what thinking is about – why we do it – what it does – how it occurs – how we manage it. The module is about creativity and understanding how others think and especially those we need to deal with in business. Thinking is the essence of creativity and the design process.
Learning Outcomes
Delegates will acquire an understanding of how people think and behave and thus be better able to anticipate behaviour by the design team and the client team and be equipped to manage the implications. They will also take away a comprehension of different thinking patterns and the reasons for their characteristics.
This module is offered as:
Full day module – level 1 - CPD value 20
Half day module – level 2 - CPD value 10
In house module
If you would like further information on any of the above Modules or to book In House Training CSD Training ...