My business

My Business

I have decided upon my business. I have been dwelling on it as it is a fresh idea and helps graduates but the market is not that big. I will not go into detail as I do not want it stolen but I do think there is potential in the idea.  

Group Nesta meeting - 27/02/13

GETTING OFF THE GROUND

Today we started our first class meeting in regards to Nesta. For today we were told to print out and complete worksheet 2A, which involved looking at 'what values are important to us in Business'. 

There are two questions to ask yourself when setting up a business, 

* What is it that I do? 
I am a Graphic Design student who likes to dip my feet in many different area's of creativity. I take everything on with a positive outlook, even if that changes towards the end.  

*Why should my customers care?
Customers should care cause Graphics help communicate to its audience. Graphics is important in order to communicate stories/idea's for your client to inform the viewer.


*Customers have to want what you're offering.
*You need to say how you meet that demand.


There must be a clear need for your product or service and you must provide a new solution to it. 

NEED
DEMAND
REWARD

Dyson is a good example of this. They created a vacuum cleaner that men were not afraid to buy for themselves. This is because they took on the challenge of making it look like a power tool. 

Values

Always important - Creativity, Enjoyment, Quality of Product, work life balance, harmony

Sometimes important - Money, Variety, Certain clients, Communication

Rarely important - Leadership, Develop People (skills), Budget, Fame

Never important - Working with others


If you wish to work at home you need to follow rules:

*Switch of the internet
*Have a space specifically for your work
*Avoid distractions


Mission statement 

A mission statement is a clear, concise summary of why a business exists and its future intentions. 

^                                 ^                                  ^                                        ^                                        ^
To grow a profitable airline where people love to fly and where people love to work - Virgin Atlantic. 


My mission statement

A product and work space that helps graduates achieve their dreams and have fun doing so. 


Evidence modelling

Is away of articulating your business vision. It will help you to describe your business and understand how your business may take shape. 

We were given 15 minutes to complete an Evidence modelling worksheet. Here we were to discuss what would our new business would do and replace. 

* What does it bring new value to? - ENHANCE
* What does it bring back that was redundant? - REVIVE
* What does it make less desirable? - REPLACE
* What could be the negative effects when pushed to extremes? - BACKLASH


Fake Evidence

Helps you imagine what a business will look like, what it feels like and  what it will achieve. 

- Once example is to do a newspaper advert or article to advertise your business or product. Within this advert could be an interview, picture, webpage link etc. 


For next week we are to finish work sheet 02B, Fake evidence task and also the SWOT. sheet. Update our blog in regards to what we have discovered and also read book 03. 

Lecture - 22/02/13 - Design Enterprise (Your next step)

Design Enterprise (Your next step)

What we should know by now....

1. We should be able to understand and appreciate of what running a business entails.

2. We should have an insight into the creative sector and the different models of enterprise 
    that operate within it. 

3. Where your skills could fit within the world of enterprise. 

4. What new skills you need to develop to reach your goal.  

What is my goal? 


For the rest of the year....

1. The aim is to write a 1,500-2000 word enterprise proposal 

2. The proposal will then develop into a 6000 word report which you will write during Design 
    & The Market Part 2 during semester 1 of year 4. 

3. This could take the form of a buidsness plan/feasibility study, a proposal for personal 
    branding, market research for the development of a product/service or an analysis of a 
    particular buisness market or model. 


NEXT WEDNESDAY - 27TH

Will be in -  Learning Hub 1

Look at Nesta page - Link found on blog - Download the booklets given on the page and read booklet one. Then go to Download work sheet 2A and fill it out.

Bring in post-it notes 

Kickstarter - Webpage allowing people to donate funds to your business to help get started up. 

Gillian Easson - Nesta 

For Nesta, there main goal is to solve big economic issues. 

Gillian was originally a product designer but realised she wanted to expand her area of expertise in digital work. In her spare time she runs 'Creative Dundee'.  

Bebaroque

Hubdub

Lat 56

The tool kit helps you... 

1. Visualise your future
2. plan each step
3. Build 
4. Shape
5. Test
6. Communicate
7. and finally launch your idea 


* Evidence modelling - Predicting what your business will look like in the future. 

* Doing a mock up of your design will help you articulate your idea. 

* Test your idea - Prototype 

* Relationship:  Idea generator - Realiser - Distributor - Client

* blueprinting (Time-plan) - Can plan out weeks/months etc in how your money is going out 
  and coming in. Also when you need materials, exhibition space etc. 


www.nesta.org.uk/enterprise-toolkit
Gillian.easson@nesta.org.uk
@gillianeasson 

Presentaton

Today we presented our findings to Mike and Kate in the form of a presentation. Overall our group felt the presentation went well. The structure allowed us to cover all the areas we intended to, to help put forward our findings.

Presentation Practice

Today we practiced our presentation to weed out any flaws. No serious issues were discovered and it came out to be 15 minutes 42 seconds. Overall we are happy with the outcome and will be practicing once more tomorrow before the presentation. 

Lecture 08/02/13 - Brian McNicoll

Lecture 08/02/13 - Brian McNicoll (Dynamo Games)

Today Brian McNicoll came to discuss his success in business and how he went about his journey. 

* Shame my experience of setting up and running my own business
* Explain how to start your own business
* What do you need?
* What support is out there?
* The Positive and Negatives


Due to a lack of client interest, Brian decided to look at Java applications to fill the time. As a result his team created a mobile app called 'Mobi-Medic'. 

Put on a front when trying to get clients etc. Pretend to be a bigger company than you actually are to give off a professional feel. 

After 'Mobi Medic' Dynamo games managed to get a contract with Eidos when creating a mobile football game. After that it was clears java gaming was the way to go. 


Other games included...

* Countdown (Mobile)
* Crystal Maze (Mobile)
* Football Tycoon (Mobile IP)
* Soccer Tycoon (Facebook)
* Beauty Town (Channel 4 Game)

Brian McNicoll finally left Dynamo Games in January 2012. After which he worked on his own games and also taught at Dundee College on Computer Games.

Look into Design in Action


What will my business do?

* Gap in the market
* Be realistic i.e not 'Call of Duty'
* It helps if you have a passion for what you are creating. 
* Stick to 1 area initially to make a name for yourself

Business Revenue Model

* Paid
* Freemium
* Paymium
* Ad-Based
* Subscription

What You Will Need

* Business plan
* Premises
* Hardware and software
* Business partner(s)?
* Start-Up Capital? - Do you live at home? if so it will help. 
* Staff vs outsourcing
* Website, email, linkedin and business cards
* Hard work and dedication - not a hobby.  

Support Available 

* Business gateway
* PSYBT & Shell LIVEWire
* University
* Scottish Enterprise
* Design in action
* Creative Scotland
* Scottish Institute for Enterprise
* Friends & Family
* Many more

What you learn

* Market Research
* Design
* Art
* Audio
* Programming
* Project management
* Quality assurance
* Marketing
* Business development

Negatives

* First 2-3 years are most difficult
* Have to be willing to make some sacrifices 

Positive

* You don't need to look for a job
* Master of own destiny 
* Creative freedom
* Amazing experience
* Personal development
* Entrepreneurship on your CV
* Product satisfaction/acclaim
* You can potentially make a lot of money


Contacting Brian

email: brian@designinaction.com
linked in: linkedin.com/in/brianmcnicoll
twitter: @brian_mcnicoll & @designinactioon
web: designinaction.com



After Break - The presentation


* Prepare well in advance 
* work to a structure - This will make it easier to remember
* write down key points - Try to avoid reading it from the page
* use short sentences
* rehearse X3
* You are telling a story. Keep your audience engaged. 

(15 minute presentation - no need to fill all of the time)

Try to speak at a reasonable pace. When nervous we tend to speed up by 20%. Roughy a 1000 words will be required to fill the time. 


Important elements to your presentation

* Concept
* Who does what
* The start
* Introducing and signposting
* Transition
* Rules of rhetoric - list of three, rhetorical questions, etc
* The ending 

Look into 'Aristotle's five canons of rhetoric' and the 'Rule of three'

The 'Rule of three' is more effective as it allows your presentation to be more memorable. 


How to rehearse

* Do it at least 10 times
* Do it in front of the mirror - practice to a face makes it more like an audience. 
* Think posture - feet slightly apart with one in front of the other
* One arm holding notes and the other at your side
* Avoid being fidgety - touching your hair, putting hands in pockets etc
* Think voice and eyes - Try to have a good level of volume (especially since we will be  
   presenting in a large space).  Focus on as many people as you can so you don't freak one
   person out. 
* Read through notes before you start. 

INSIDE ALL OF US IS A CHIMPANZEE!!!
(The Chimp Paradox - The Mind Management)

* Use cards during your presentation. This is a media your less likely to fiddle with. 
* DONT use powerpoint - If you do, pick a nice template and avoid bullet points and visual 
  effects.
* Perhaps use prezi or www.beedocs.com
* Smile and be positive
* You are allowed to restart again if things go wrong at the beginning. 
* Be inspired 

The Interview

The Interview with Elastic Creative

On tuesday 5th, half of our group went through to Edinburgh to have our interview with elastic creative. These people were chosen through the fairest way we could think of...picking names from a hat. The interview went very well and we have both recorded and written notes. 

The Making of the video

Making of the video  31/01/13

Today the group met up and created the video that we will be sending off to 'Elastic Creative'. 

http://vimeo.com/58667817

Lecture - 01/02/13

Lecture - 01/02/13

Around 6 fourth year students (from different disciplines) came in to discuss how there interview went last year and how the took that information to help develop their own idea for their enterprise. 

Talk 1 - Jewellery discipline

She discussed how the interview went but more importantly how she translated her information into her thinking behind her enterprise. She discussed how she looked into empty shop areas which she could adapt into her own space. In total she emailed 8 people and achieved 4 different interviews which helped with her dissertation. 

Talk 2 - Textile Design discipline

* Before going to your interview, research into the background of your chosen company. 
* Practice your questions within your group
* Get your consent form sorted
* Questions included - Funding received, inspiration for their work, how they market 
   themselves, Trade fairs, who are their contemporaries etc.
* Work as a group 
* Filter through the interview soon after
* Try to find an empty lecture theatre so you can practice. 
* Establish your idea in needed


Talk 3 - Textile Design discipline

The interview 
* Choose the correct designer
* Prepare your questions
* Create multiple ways of recording the interview

The presentation
* She used Prezi to present the groups work
* Include all the main points 

What I need to know
* What is my company values.
* Who am i competing with.

Make Fake evidence
* Webpage for your business
* Blog
* Facebook
* Shop window
* Business Cards
* Branding

Talk 4 - Interior Design discipline

The interview
* Remind your interviewee a day before about the meeting incase they had forgotten. 

Business ideas
* Use nesta to test ideas
* Perhaps link your idea to your current DJCAD project 
* Can it replace an area to revamp 
* What are the strengths 
* What are the threats 
* Maybe show off your business idea to see the response you get 

Talk 5 - Graphic Design discipline

The interview
* We asked - How he started up and created opportunities

Business ideas
* What is your audience
* Your competitor
* success rate
* Branding
* Summer research - reading up on blogs
* Branded herself (Graphics - Kernel) for her business idea 
* Email a business similar to your idea to get help
* Social Prospectus

Talk 6 - Animation discipline

Creative Industry overview
* What sectors are there ir game industry, Visual effects etc
* what skills do your need, the application process
* Perhaps try to email questions to companies abroad

Getting in touch with people
* Do your research
* make each email personal ie use there name/company 
* Answer emails within 24hrs
* Keep trying if you don't get a response. 


After Break Lecture





Look at Suggestions
* iplayer - The culture show
* Global Service Jam - @gsjdundee (Twitter) 

Group Meeting - 29/01/13 (Video discussion)

Group Meeting - 29/01/13

Today our group met to discuss how we bring together a creative video to send to 'Elastic Creative'. Within the discussion we decided to create a stop motion video that would involve cards with the message we wanted to get across to Elastic. We created 8 cards (including two at the end to say thank you etc) so everyone can be involved. 

Card 1 - We're DJCAD graphic design students 

Card 2 - Discovering the world of business

Card 3 - We love the design Elastic produce

Card 4 - But also respect how you do business

Card 5 - We want to know

Card 6 - What's your approach

Card 7 - How you do business

Card 8 - and most importantly...

WHY? (all the cards shown previously make up Why? on the wall) 

So fancy meeting for a chat?

Thank you