Go global and make money while you sleep

US designer E. Rachael Baird, owner of eight strong Baltimore-based Tilt Studio, opened her London 'office' earlier this year aiming to scoop work on the 2012 Olympics. Was her move drawn by this great opportunity and fuelled by the US recession or was she simply doing what every creative entrepreneur should be doing? Designer Breakfasts will ask her, "Does business here in the UK live up to expectations? Can small design businesses operate globally?

Rachael plans to expand into further new territory — the Shanghai office comes next. She says, "we work with global brands such as Compass Group, Starbucks, Subway and McDonalds, so why shouldn't we be a global business?" She has a sustainability agenda and is determined to create change for the world through rough visuals and action.

Our audience will include designers from far afield and the event will be a Q&A session. Come along, join in and hear Rachael's ideas on a range of topics including:

Are UK designers as good as we think we are?

What's an American design company doing moving here to work on the UK Olympics?

How can you run three international offices employing less than 10 people, alone and remotely, without the backing of a PLC?

Are US designers working on risk and reward business models?

We're a small country — can UK designers continue to survive on local business?

How do you figure out a way of making money while you sleep?



Future events in 2010

The next breakfasts continue our future-focused series and will look at value, return on inspiration, professionalising design businesses and leadership.


Missed previous Designer Breakfasts? Listen to, or see them, online.

You can catch up with the thoughts of Bonnie Dean, Mat Hunter, Glenn Tutssel, Ben Terrett, Jonathan Porritt and others at http://designerbreakfasts.net. Designer Breakfasts have recorded recent events and you can hear our podcasts online. We are now videoing events so that designers outside London can benefit more fully.


Lost Leaders- A survey for graphic designers

JiYeon Han, a graphic designer, and David Bromilow of the University of Leeds are looking for graphic designers to complete the following short survey to help in the development of a game which will support the continued professional development of graphic designers and improve their leadership skills.

Completing the questionnaire will take less than five minutes and give you a chance to assess your skills; the final game will be more interactive and fun to play.

Please follow this link: : http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8ZX3TFH

Got a good story?

If you have a piece of news or an offer designers can't resist, let us know. We'll consider it for our next newsletter. Mail us: events@designerbreakfasts.net

Designer Breakfasts is the hub for people who own or work in small creative businesses. It stages monthly events around the themes of entrepreneurship, co-ownership and co-creation (new models of engagement), selling creative thinking, not just outputs, and taking designers' vision to SMEs. Designer Breakfasts was established in 2005 by design businesses Abrahams and Tatham Design, and communications specialists The Ministry of Love. Visit www.designerbreakfasts.net for more information.