Day 1: 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Design Business

"How to See" is a series where we examine the art of the word "start" like a painting at a museum. What do we see? What do we think of?  Is it a blank canvas? An empty mannequin? A cold sewing machine? Inspiration? Anxiety? A decision? I asked 21 designers and artists from all over the world what it means to them. You'll be surprised what comes up.

Perhaps it will give us constructive insight on starting our (fashion) own design projects in a way where they stick, help us create action, or form specific steps for each of us to "just do it."

Before we even start the 21 day blog series...

Before we start the 21 day blog series examining this word called "start" and how it may apply to our design and creative businesses, I wanted to share an experience I had with a mentee recently. 

We started our conversation with "what's my first step in creating my collection." We wrapped ourselves in product questions like where she should look for fabric, how the margins should be factored in to the final price, what questions she should ask the first time meeting a new pattern maker and more. Something had been tugging at me during our chat and finally towards the end of our session, I asked her if she was interested in being the head of her own company. 

I think I may have stunned her a bit. Silence I waited, curious about the answer. She stammered a bit and let out, "well, i guess..." 

I probably should have given her my little workbook to work out answers of key questions, before we started our session but often we start...not knowing where to start.

Below I offer you eight key questions to consider before you start diving into the "how" and "what" of your idea. And of course if you'd like some further explanation about each of them, do me a favor and click here to request the small workbook I put together to help you through the thinking behind these questions. I also offer alternatives avenues to head toward, based on your answers. It takes the form of sort of a roadmap of reflection. I often hear consultants tell designers one or two of these at various seminars but I put together a full list based on my own experience. They are pretty important and top among the list of "most know things to reflect on" before you start any creative business, especially a design business. 

Questions to ask yourself, as an independent designer, before you start:

1. Do you want to touch something you envisioned in your head? Or do you want to be a business person in charge of people, money and things?
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2. How much money do you have to invest in your business? Right now. Not after a campaign for funding.
   
   
3. How much money are you willing to lose on this project? What’s the exit strategy?
   
   
4. Which one do you want to be more: Rich, famous or creative? (Doing good for the world is a given:)
   
   
5. What do you want to spend your profits on?
   
   
6. What’s your vision? Why are you doing this? What is pulling you? Note: Choose something else greater than the product you are developing. 
   
   
7. Are you an entrepreneur or entrepreneurial? 
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8. Besides the design part, what position in a business do you love the most?

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