Week 01 | Business Plans

Tuesday :: 04.01.2025

Welcome	Course Introduction & Welcome Review of Course Syllabus and Calendar
Discussion	Introduction to Business Plans
Project	Business Plan Development
Reading	Design is a Job Introductions and Chapter 1
Resources	Project: Business Plan Group Project

Thursday :: 04.03.2025

Discussion	The Pros and Cons of Freelancing
Reading	Design is a Job Chapters 2 & 3
Resources	Class Notes: The Pros and Cons of Freelancing

Week 02 | Freelancing / Entering the Job Market

Tuesday :: 04.08.2025

Discussion	The Pros and Cons of Freelancing continued Understanding Start-up Costs
Group Exercise	Calculating Start-up Costs

Thursday :: 04.10.2025

Discussion	Entering the Job Market: Where to work, positions, & what employers are looking for. Writting Résumés & Cover Letters
Worksheet	Questions to help prepare for your job search
Writing Exercise	Introduction to Writing Exercises Job Research & Application Packet
Reading	Design is a Job Chapters 8 & 9

Week 03 | Business Plans / Self Promotion

Tuesday :: 04.15.2025

Due	Business Plan Development Project Calculating Start-up Costs Exercise
Discussion	Business Plan Development Project
Project	Agency Pitch Presentation Group Project

Thursday :: 04.17.2025

Discussion	How to Get Clients
Video	What Clients Don’t Know (and Why It’s Your Fault) Mike Monteiro

Week 04 | Self Promotion

Tuesday :: 04.22.2025

Due	Job Research & Application Packet Exercise
Lab Exercise	Wiki Wiki Marketing Plan Challenge

Thursday :: 04.24.2025 | Downtown Salem Field Trip

Field Trip

Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI); with Angie Oven, CCBI Business Advisor Co.W Studio — Salem co-working space; with Chelsea Nodine The Refinery — Shared design studio space; with owner Vin Thomas

Week 05 | Presentations

Tuesday :: 04.29.2025

Discussion	Giving Presentations
Group Lab	In-class time to work on Group Agency Pitch Presentations

Thursday :: 05.01.2025

Due	Group Agency Pitch Presentations
Presentations	Group Agency Pitch Presentations

Week 06 | Setting Billing Rates

Tuesday :: 05.06.2025 No In-Person class

Midterm Exam	Online midterm exam over all course discussions, projects, readings, & exercises (due by 11:30AM)
Reading	Design is a Job Chapters 4 & 5

Thursday :: 05.08.2025

Discussion	Estimated Start-up Costs Pricing: Knowing what to charge.
Group Exercise	Determining Hourly Rates
Reading	Pricing Design Chapters 1 & 2 The Art of Creating Accurate Estimates (A List Apart)
Podcast	How to Price Design Services (Presentable with Dan Mall)

Week 07 | Estimating

Tuesday :: 05.13.2025

Discussion	Estimating: Preparing Estimates & Writing Project Proposals. Understanding Value-Based Pricing
Project	Project Proposal & Estimate
Reading	Design is a Job Chapter 7 Pricing Design Chapters 4 & 5

Thursday :: 05.15.2025

Discussion

More on Estimating: Presenting estimates to clients.

Week 08 | Time Tracking

Tuesday :: 05.20.2025

Due	Job Research & Application Packet Exercise Revisions
Discussion	Project Timelines & Time/Expense Tracking
Exercise	Project Time & Expense Tracking
Reading	Design is a Job Chapter 6

Thursday :: 05.22.2025 No In-Person class / VC 284 Field Trip

Week 09 | Invoicing / Customer Service

Tuesday :: 05.27.2025

Discussion	Invoicing: Billing the client for your work.
Exercise	Invoice Writing
Reading	Design is a Job Appendicies

Thursday :: 05.29.2025

Due	Project Proposal & Estimate Project
Discussion	Customer Service: Managing Clients & Co-workers

Week 10 | Portfolio Week

Tuesday :: 06.03.2025 No In-Person class

Due	Project Time & Expense Tracking Exercise (5:00 PM) Invoice Writing Exercise (5:00 PM)
Exam	Distribution of take-home Final Exam

Thursday :: 06.05.2025 | Portfolio 2025

Portfolio Show

3:30 PM – 7:00 PM in Building 2 Student Center

Week 11 | Finals Week

Tuesday :: 06.10.2025 @ 10:00 – 11:50 AM

Due	Final Exam @ 10:00 AM
Discussion	Debrief & Reflect on Business of Graphic Arts & Portfolio Show