My reasons for becoming a graphic designer are probably similar to yours: I wanted to indulge my love of graphic design, but not at the expense of my health and financial security.

In the past, when things slowed down, I tended to push myself harder — a short term approach that only made things worse.

There had to be a better way, and, over the years, I discovered a formula that permitted me to spend my time serving the clients I wanted to work with, without working the long hours I was accustomed to.

The “silver bullet” of success

I'd like to tell you that my transformation from a struggling production designer to a respected and in-demand creative designer took place overnight, and only required the “perfect” solution.

But, I can't!

There is no “silver bullet,” and those that tell you there is probably have something up their sleeve.

But, there is a formula, and it involves 7 deceptively simple letters. The word is: balance.

What do thriving designers know that you don't?

Thriving designers know that success in graphic design is based on balancing 4 fundamental skills: marketing, design, production, and management. And, this is the only site where you can obtain the tools you need to need to succeed in each of these critical areas.

Design & Thrive will help you build on your existing strength in these four critical areas:

• Marketing: Design without effective marketing and promotion is like singing in the shower: it might be fun, but it won't pay the bills! Members enjoy 24/7 access to resources like articles, audios, videos, and ready-to-complete marketing materials that you can use to build your awareness and pre-sell prospects on your competence.
• Design: Software mastery is wasted without a solid foundation in the basics. You will find the inspiration you need to master the details that effective design is based on, while expanding your creativity to come up with new solutions to your clients' problems.
• Production: Clients don't hire designers for their software mastery, but software mastery helps you work with increasing levels of efficiency and productivity. You'll learn how to translate your creativity into finished projects, completed on time and on budget.
• Managing: Thriving design practices are characterized by an effective management of clients, time, space, and scarce resources. I'll share with you articles, tips, worksheets, checklists, and forms to help you prepare the bids and proposals you need to sell your clients and keep them coming back for more.

How our members benefit

Are you tired of getting books or visiting websites on design that are simply a portfolio piece for the author? All glitz and no substance? Tired of business and marketing books with wordy, hard to understand terms of no practical value? Design & Thrive is a site with no fluff and no filler information. This is strictly a substance website from someone who's been there and done that. On this site, no starving artists are allowed!

We'll show you marketing tricks and techniques you can use in your design and in your business. We'll show you how to be a great designer with proven, timeless graphic principles and become a proficient prepress technician. Lastly, we'll hone your business skills. This will make you an effective and well-rounded designer that not only makes money for your clients but makes money for you too!

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day, or attending a one-day workshop in your area, you can profit from a year's worth of inspiration, information, and shared community. You'll profit from our:

• Steps to Success: All the articles, tools, and techniques in our four key areas of focus: promotion, designing, production and management.
• Design Arsenal: Learn here all the fundamentals of business, global design, universal design principles, print design, designing for the web, marketing, networking, production and software tutorials.
• Designer's Toolkit: Includes all the tools you'll need for creating professional documents quickly and efficiently: from start to finish. Here you will find all the assessments, audios, checklists, contracts, forms, makeover tips, mindmaps, reference materials and charts, spec sheets, special reports, comprehensive swipe file, templates, tip sheets, videos and worksheets.
• Resources: Essential resources you'll refer to time and again. Articles, books, directories, downloads section, glossaries, history of design, our newsletters, RSS headlines from around the web, and our tip of the week archives.

Put an end to isolation

If you've ever felt all alone, or misunderstood by your non-designer friends and coworkers, you'll appreciate the ability to share ideas, opinions, and questions with fellow designers located around the world.

Your questions and comments will be addressed by our advisory board and other designers. You'll benefit from multiple perspectives and different approaches.

Put my bonus package to work today

Click here to start.

When you become a Design & Thrive associate, you'll gain immediate access to all our site's resources, plus a bonus kit containing:

1. Bonus A, benefits: Branding book off your website, tweak it, add more text (page per topic) and give it a big price with more “before” examples. Wow response! Worth the price of admission. Branding across multiple media. Subtitle? Go to editorial board and get a few testimonials for your bonus package.
2. Bonus B, benefits: proofing checklist
3. Bonus C, benefits: deadline planner

Audio interview with RCP or ?

Individually, these would total more than $xx, but you get them free when you sign up for a quarterly—or longer--membership.

How to save even more

Save even more by purchasing a yearly membership—you get two months for free!

Why wait?

Joining now will give you immediate access to all the resources in the member's only section. To join, Use our Secure online order form

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