Ever wish you could exchange tips on how to run your business with a group of other smart successful designers? AIGA/LA proudly announces the second round of our wildly popular business series: Shop Talks. These small, informal meetings about business issues will be hosted by a different design firm each time, covering the topics essential to managing your company. It’s the nitty-gritty of creative business in an casual, open environment. Reserve now, seats are limited, and every session last year sold out!

Locations and dates vary, but for all events:

Refreshments 6:30 pm
Presentation 7:00 to 9:00pm

Shop Talks 2006 Schedule

Tuesday, May 9
Shop Talk 1: The Art of Email Marketing - Communication Strategies for Agencies, In-House and Clients with Annie Kinnaird, Director of Business Development, Emma Email Marketing
Moderator: Rob Bynder, principal and creative director of Robert Bynder Design, Inc.
Location: UCLA, Westwood

This session will cover the complex landscape of email marketing—and how you can incorporate this technology into your own marketing plan. Kinnaird will explain the difference between sending email and using professional email marketing services, explain just how much recipient response can be tracked, and highlight examples of what other designers are currently doing to create eye-catching, effective email campaigns for their clients—and themselves!

Learn how to build a community through email, create more touch-points with your clients, gain insights into your marketing efforts, and create a new revenue stream by adding value to your client projects.

Thursday, June 8
Shop Talk 2: The Care & Feeding of Clients with Maureen Erbe, principal of Erbe Design
Moderator: Cathy Curtis of Textual
Location: Erbe Design, Pasadena

Maureen Erbe has worked with a wide range of major clients, from the Beverly Center to UCLA. Drawing on two decades of experience, Erbe will discuss many common client issues, including coping with difficult personalities, keeping projects on track and running productive meetings. Her talk will also include advice on determining whether a potential client is a good fit for you and nurturing long-lasting client relationships.

Tuesday, June 20
Shop Talk 3: All About Business Partnerships with Justin Carroll, partner, Hamagami/Carroll, Inc.
Moderator: Terry Stone, The Office of Terry Lee Stone
Location: Hamagami Carroll, Santa Monica

A look at the specifics of partnerships in the design business. How does it work? What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a partner? How do you create a Partnership Agreement? What are strategies for dealing with the conflict, control, communication and money issues that inevitably arise in business? Justin Carroll, who has had over 20 years of successful practice with his partner, John Hamagami, shares real world advice and insight.

Wednesday, July 12
Shop Talk 4: Beyond Print: Expanding Design Practice with Paul Drohan, senior art director at Digitaria
Moderator: Tom Dolan, creative director of Polychrome Los Angeles
Location: Polychrome Los Angeles, Downtown LA

How can you expand your design practice into new areas, taking advantage of business opportunities created by evolving technology capabilities available to designers? As senior art director at Digitaria, a digital brand migration interactive agency for Fortune 500 clients, Paul Drohan will discuss capturing opportunities for work that goes beyond print projects. Industry insider Drohan is also a contributing editor to NewsToday.com, was formerly creative director at Juxt Interactive, and served as a board member for AIGA San Diego.

Attendance is limited to 30 AIGA/LA Professional Members per session.

Reservation & Ticket Information
Series: 15 seats are available for a full series purchase. 4 tickets for all 4 discussions for $100.
Individual: 15 additional seats will be available per each individual session. Individual tickets for each Shop Talk are $30. These will be available a few weeks before the each event date.
Only 30 tickets are available for each event.

Now On Sale
15 complete series tickets and 15 individual tickets for Shop Talk 2: The Care & Feeding of Clients with Maureen Erbe are now on sale. Call 818.558.3968 to reserve your seat.

You can only register by phone. No registrations on site. No admission without confirmation.

Confirmation Via Email
You will be sent confirmation of your reservation. Specific details such location, parking and advance preparation materials will be provided via email. Please provide your phone number and email address in order to receive timely confirmation. Do not attend without confirmation, seating is limited.

Read this interview with Shop Talks founder Terry Stone about why she saw a need for this series.