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w/Don Hollis Don kicked tons of knowledge our way on how to handle clients, letting us know how not to get walked all over by clients but also knowing that each client-relationship is different so we should be weary of how to billing situations client-to-client to achieve damage control.  Other great insights were on the difficulties/constraints that come with doing signage for legal things such as fire/emergency evacuation signage. The technicalities of reading blueprints to help organize or remodel buildings.  It was cool hearing how he got started in the business and the amount of time in effort he put in from the very beginning going back to his make-shift office space in Pacific Beach, inside his walk-in closet. Then going on to obtaining an office in downtown and eventually Little Italy.  Another cool experience on this trip was meeting a former student of Maelin/City College alumni working on the Hollis team. Lastly, one ...

Creative briefs are a framework, or foundation for your creative approach. Gather up the information that inspires creative thinking. Designers should have most control over the creative brief, the more you boil down the information, the more useful it can be. CBs should use/answer Common language, link to business goals, summarize client expectations, measure and define success, guide the decision making process, evaluate design solutions, make approvals clearer for the client.  Background Summary overview drivers audience competitors tone message visuals project details people

w/Lisel M. Ferguson Lisel touched on many important topics with trademarking, such as common laws, first to use, filing with an intent to use, non-disclosure agreements, and even some pricing: Copyright is typically around $500 Trademarking typically around $1,300 We were also informed on the the importance of filing trademarks in other countries you plan to service, or sell your products in. site: USPTO.GOV

About Jill Jill has worked for Neenah for 19 years, before that she was with Spicer Paper. She has been in the paper industry for a total of 24 years. About Neenah Neenah means "running water" in the Menominee (native-american) language. This is due to a river found in Neenah Wisconsin (founded 1835), papers mills used to need a river to generate power for their mills. Neenah Paper is a 1 billion dollar company with 14 sites in the US, and services 80 countries worldwide. Know Your Paper Jill  shared with us several types of amazing paper Neenah produces, she told us that it is important to know as much as possible about paper, so that you can spec your paper, and not get ripped off by a printer, or be talked into using something else they have laying around on the shelf that benefits them. NeenahPackaging.com NeenahPaper.com

Detailed Invoice Name and Logo up at the top, keep it simple.  Create a job number/invoice numbering system. Seperate paid invoices from unpaid invoices.  Keep as much notes as possible on invoices. Usual return on being paid is 30 days. Taxes Sales tax should be paid quarterly., the state wants their quarterly paid tax even on unpaid jobs.  Keep track of reimbursables. If you buy hwolesale you may need to pay sales tax on it, re-sellers license is needed for buying whole-sale and re-selling at a mark-up. Tangable items are taxable. Clients should be taxed the tax fee rate according to their location, if they need to come to your location, then charge your locations tax rate.  Keep tax ecords on file for 7-10yrs. what ever you’re making, keep 20% in a seperate account for tax situatons later on. Opening Up Under a Business Name Working for yourself/by yourself you might wanna file as a sole-proprietor.  S-Copr is usually the next step after S.P. usually ...

w/Stephanie Taylor & Melissa Bear The Creative Group (TCG) is a Robert Happ company. They are a creatives placement agency/team that contracts creatives out to companies for design projects that range from small ones to long term projects. Portfolio Minimal design is sought after much, lately. Be open to all type of projects, as they can lead to long-term projects down the road. Have quality over quantity, and a diversity of work.  List technology/tools that you are most proficient at.