Resourceful Designer: Strategies for Running a Graphic Design Business

Mark Des Cotes has over three decades of experience as a graphic and web designer, and he spent about 15 of those years working in the design department at a commercial printer before going independent. That background gives him a practical, no-nonsense perspective that comes through in every episode of Resourceful Designer. This isn't a podcast about design trends or creative inspiration. It's about the business of running a design practice, particularly if you're doing it from your home. Des Cotes started the podcast in 2015 specifically to help other designers who found themselves in the same situation he'd been in: talented at the craft but struggling with the business side. Episodes cover topics like finding clients, setting pricing, managing projects, dealing with scope creep, and building systems that let you focus on actual design work instead of administrative headaches. He's direct and specific, often sharing exact strategies and scripts he's used in his own practice. The show is aimed squarely at solopreneurs and small studio operators, which gives it a focused audience that most general design podcasts miss entirely. Des Cotes also does graphic design work specifically for podcasters, so he brings an interesting niche perspective to branding discussions. Episodes are typically solo format, which means you get his concentrated thinking on a topic without the padding that interviews sometimes bring. If you're a freelance designer trying to figure out how to actually make a living doing this work, Resourceful Designer addresses the questions that keep you up at night with advice from someone who's solved those problems himself.