Talent Is Not Enough: Business Secrets For Designers (VOICES)
Worth buying if: You want concrete techniques for winning clients and setting fees.
Skip it if: You’re only looking for creative inspiration or portfolio critique.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780321278791. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
Shel Perkins breaks down the business side of design—pricing, proposals, client relationships, marketing, and financial basics—into clear, actionable guidance for freelancers and studio leaders seeking reliable results and professional respect.
Why this book now
With design roles expanding and competition intensifying, this pragmatic guide reminds creatives how to run their practice like a business and get paid what they’re worth.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You want concrete techniques for winning clients and setting fees.
- You’re a designer stepping into freelancing, leadership, or firm management.
- You’re only looking for creative inspiration or portfolio critique.
- You need cutting-edge coverage of digital platforms and tools.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780321278791
Worth buying if: You want concrete techniques for winning clients and setting fees.
Skip it if: You’re only looking for creative inspiration or portfolio critique.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Steady Needs some room
At 392 pages, this is a thorough handbook you can read in focused sessions—each chapter stands alone so you can dip in for specific problems like proposals, contracts, or pricing.
What stands out here
This Peachpit edition emphasizes real-world practices—sample forms, negotiation tactics, and management advice—aimed at making design work sustainable and profitable.
Best way to approach it
Read with a notebook: highlight rules you’ll adopt, copy useful templates, and sketch how each chapter applies to your current client or firm situation.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780321278791
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.