04. Paper 2 (business plan, SWOT for designers)

ASSIGNMENT BACKGROUND / WHY WE’RE DOING THIS

Being a graphic designer requires not only the ability to develop effective visual communications, but also a basic understanding of operating a business. Whether we are working for a large corporation, a boutique firm, a two-person agency or venturing into freelance, knowing the steps necessary to start and operate a business will give us an advantage when working with clients (who own their own businesses) or surviving the day-to-day happenings of a company. Behind every successful business is a clear business plan and a SWOT analysis. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.)

Recognizing the building blocks of starting a business will give us a deeper understanding when working with business owners venturing out on their own or attempting to stay competitive within their fields.

///////// OBJECTIVES

By the time we’re done with this project, we will be able to do the following:

  1. Write a business plan and SWOT analysis.
  2. Recognize personal / professional strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Develop a plan for maintaining personal practice regardless of current employment.

STEPS

\\\\ READING

  1. Begin by reading the following:
    • Chapter 03 ‘Planning Your Business’ in A Graphic Design Student’s Guide to Freelance by Ben Hannam

\\\\ BUSINESS PLAN

  1. Once you have completed your reading, review the section ‘Writing a Business Plan.’
  2. For this assignment, we will be required to develop a basic business plan for our freelance business. As the author mentions, you do not need to be making a lot of money to own your own business, nor does it have to be your primary career. However, freelancing allows us to maintain a professional practice, regardless of our current employment situation. If we really want to work as a graphic designer in a company, working as a barista is not going impress our potential employer if there is no design work going on elsewhere.
  3. There are four sections of your business plan, and each section contains sub-sections with a variety of required elements. Review the bulleted list Business Plan Outline; our business plans will be graded according to this list.

\\\\ SWOT ANALYSIS

  1. Although the SWOT analysis is very important for new businesses, it is also a great tool for designers entering the design field. It forces us to review our abilities relative to our competition.
  2. Similar to ‘Writing a Business Plan,’ the entire process for performing a SWOT analysis can be found in Chapter 03 under the section called ‘Performing a SWOT Analysis.’
  3. Once you have reviewed this section, follow the steps outlined to create an analysis of your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You will need a minimum of 6 for each.

\\\\ PUTTING IT TOGETHER

  1. Finally, after completing your business plan and SWOT analysis, put them together into a single document, with double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman.
  2. In the chapter, the author has included his own SWOT and business plan as a sample. You are encouraged to follow this example.
  3. You do not need to come up with a business name, as we will not be registering with the state of West Virginia or the Upshur Chamber of Commerce. Your name and ‘Freelance Business Plan’ will be sufficient.
  4. Once you have compiled your documents, export a PDF and submit it on blackboard before 5:00pm.

\\\\ PRESENTATION

  1. We will be presenting our business plans and analyses.
  2. You will need to design a short PowerPoint presentation, outlining your business and analysis. Imagine that you are presenting to an investor who is considering giving you money to begin your business.
  3. Save your presentation and submit it on blackboard before 5:00pm. We will be using the presentations received at 5:00 — there will be no opportunities to submit revised presentations at the start of class.
  4. Presentations will be graded on overall presentation quality, including speaking ability and quality of visual elements

GRADING

To get credit for this assignment, you will need to submit your PowerPoint presentation and PDF on Blackboard

  • Business plan (10 pts) and SWOT (10 pts) as one PDF
  • Presentation (20 pts)

///////// AUTOMATIC FAILURE

  • Required elements are missing within your submission
  • PowerPoint presentation does not work
  • Presentation is incomplete