Design Business Council

02/09/2026

A note about win:loss ratios.
Winning too many can be as much of a problem as losing. The skill is in getting the balance right.

Design Business Council helps creatives build a business they enjoy. We share what we learn in a weekly article. You can subscribe at designbusinesscouncil.com

26/08/2026

Maybe clients see using a designer as a luxury?

19/08/2026

The World Health Organisation has recognised burnout as a syndrome. One of the characteristics of burnout is a feeling of ‘lack of control’.

So, know your floor number.
What’s the minimum you need to earn to feel okay? Know that number.
It cuts a lot of anxiety off at the source.

Design Business Council is a business advisory.
We help creatives manage their business better.

We write a weekly email. You can subscribe via our biog or head to designbusinesscouncil.com

10/08/2026

The goal of specialisation is to reduce or eliminate competition. It’s not about refusing work, it’s about positioning yourself as an expert.

You can specialise in an industry sector (like finance), in a skillset (like animation) or in a service (like strategy).

You can read more about specialisation here:
https://designbusinesscouncil.com/can-you-specialise-in-australia/

Design Business Council is a business advisory for designers. We help creatives manage their business better.

We write a weekly article about the business of design. You can subscribe on our website or click through via our biog 👆

21/07/2026

Here’s a bit more detail why we think a 70:30 win:loss ratio is a good benchmark to work with.

Design Business Council is a business advisory for designers. We’re design practitioners helping designers manage their business better.

07/07/2026

Free event in Sydney: July 16.

Here’s the thing: burnout isn't a people problem.

It's a numbers problem. And that's actually more hopeful — because numbers are fixable.

Burnout shows up in your utilisation rate. In eroding project margins. In the team member who's suddenly quiet — before you even realise something's wrong.

That's the conversation we're having in Sydney on July 16 with the Streamtime community — how the financial health of your studio and the wellbeing of your team are more connected than most people realise.

If you're in Sydney, come. Details in the comments.

An evening for creative studio leaders. Two practical talks on studio financial health and team wellbeing — because the two are more connected than you think.