Client Confidential January 22, 2008 – January 22, 2008 January 22, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CNIB 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto Join us for a day of professional development. Design experts provide client insights that will improve communication and collaboration, resulting in strong partnerships and happier designers. Registrations are still being taken at the door between 8:30 and 9:30am. 9:30 to 10:30 AM The top seven best ways to generate new business Presented by Michael Huggins R.G.D., Mindwalk Marketing What are the best ways to find clients for a design business? What marketing tools really work? How much should you be paying? Who are your best targets? Michael Huggins shares the best tactics to build a design business and attract the kind of clients you want. Whether you are just starting out or have had a design business for years – you’ll walk away with practical marketing tips that you can apply to your business right now. They’ll help make getting clients and the type of work you want easier without emptying your pocket book. Michael Huggins R.G.D. is president of Mindwalk Marketing & Design, and business and marketing coach to self-employed graphic designers. He publishes a popular online newsletter and podcast designed to help creative entrepreneurs find clients, secure higher fees and do the type of work they want. 10:45 to 11:45 AM Is your personality preventing you from moving ahead? Presented by Ilise Benun, Marketing Mentor Succeeding in business requires an assertive personality, self-confidence and solid communication skills. But many creatives consider themselves shy. Your hearts race and your palms sweat at the thought of networking or giving a presentation or talking to a client with authority. Ilise Benun, author of Stop Pushing Me Around: A Workplace Guide for the Timid, Shy and Less Assertive shares simple strategies and practical tips for developing and nurturing work-related relationships. Learn how to talk about your accomplishments without bragging, build confidence every day, master the art of small talk, discuss money and deal with difficult clients and colleagues. Ilise is the founder of Marketing Mentor and works closely with small business owners to grow their businesses. She has been featured in national newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Inc., Essence and Working Woman. 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM Positioning design Presented by Kit Hinrichs, Pentagram To provide clients with the best possible solutions, designers must convince their clients that they understand the business context in which their clients operate and learn to position the value of design in a way that speaks to business. Join Kit for a conversational dialogue as he presents case studies spanning his three-decade career in design. Kit Hinrichs is a Partner in the international design firm Pentagram. He has been an influential force in graphic design for more than two decades. Included among the hundreds of projects is the publication, @Issue: The Journal of Business and Design, which he designed and co-founded, was one of the first initiatives to promote the value of design to business on its terms, and its impact has been substantial. 2:00 to 3:00 PM Formulas should be left for racing Presented by Karl Thomson R.G.D., Compass 360 Context. What makes one design solution work for one client, but is so wrong for another? Relevance, of course. Although brand-building is a creative endeavor, this creativity goes far beyond traditional design. Creating a vibrant and engaged brand is about connecting to an essential truth, something that defines the client's product or service. Which means as designers we need to understand - - at a fundamental level - - what we're helping our clients sell. Expect a lively review of a selection of design and marketing solutions that uncover and communicate each client's unique quality in an original and engaging way. Karl is Managing Partner and Creative Director at Compass360, a marketing communications firm specializing in brand development, repositioning and deployment. The firm's clients span widely diverse sectors including financial service, entertainment, technology, automotive, medical, advocacy and architecture. A professional race car driver (who rewarded Acura with Manufacturer's Championships in 2006 and 2007), Karl brings his personal "brand" of energetic enthusiasm to all his endeavours. 3:15 to 4:15 PM Building and managing healthy client relationships Presented by Mikey Richardson and Mike Kelar, Creative Directors of Amoeba Corp Mikey Richardson and Mike Kelar discuss how AmoebaCorp initiates, builds and maintains healthy relationships with its clients. Or at least how they try to do that. They will discuss tips, techniques and hard-learned lessons over the years, strategies that have helped them understand what their clients are really after. Mike and Mikey are Founding Partners and Co-Creative Directors of Toronto-based design firm AmoebaCorp. Since inception in 1996, it has grown to a team of 16 and has worked with a range of organizations and industry categories, from entrepreneurial start-ups to global consumer brands. Clients have included Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, The Bay, Nike, Sims Snowboards and The Pop Shoppe. Pricing and Registration Registrations are still being taken at the door. Member*: $90.00 + GST Non Member: $125.00 + GST Provisional Member: $50.00 + GST Student: $25.00 + GST Group Rate: $100.00 + GST *includes members of ACIDO, ADCC, AIGA, ARIDO, CAPIC, GDC, IABC or SDGQ Train Via Rail offers discounted rates to Toronto, maximum 2 tickets per purchase, 10% off best available fare in coach, Via-1 or Sleeper. Call 1.888.842.7245 to book tickets or go to www.viarail.com using promo code 11222 for travel between January 19 and January 24, 2008. Hotel Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley 1250 Eglinton Avenue East Rate of $139 for Single and Double Rooms book by JANUARY 7, 2008 Reserve by calling 1.877.474.6835 or 416.385-6721, via fax 416.385.6700, or email reservations@cptdv.com and quote the ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED GRAPHIC DESIGNERS OF ONTARIO