Calendar
COURSE WEEK ::
Calendar Notes:
- Reading assignments listed are to be completed before the next class week.
Week 01 | Business Plans
Tuesday :: 03.31.2026
| 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 Development |
Thursday :: 04.02.2026
| Discussion | The Pros and Cons of Freelancing |
| Reading | Design is a Job Chapter 2 |
| Resources | Class Notes: The Pros and Cons of Freelancing |
Week 02 | Freelancing / Entering the Job Market
Tuesday :: 04.07.2026
| Discussion | The Pros and Cons of Freelancing continued Understanding Start-up Costs |
| Group Exercise | Calculating Start-up Costs |
| Reading | Design is a Job Chapter 3 |
| Resources | Class Notes: Business Start-up Costs Exercise: 01 Calculating Start-up Costs |
Thursday :: 04.09.2026
| 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 |
| Resources | Class Notes: Entering the Job Market Worksheet: Questions to Help Prepare for Your Job Search Exercise: 02 Job Research & Application Packet |
Week 03 | Business Plans / Self Promotion
Tuesday :: 04.14.2026
| Due | Business Plan Development Project Calculating Start-up Costs Exercise |
| Discussion | Business Plan Development Project |
| Project | Agency Pitch Presentation Group Project |
| Resources | Project: Agency Pitch Presentation |
Thursday :: 04.16.2026
| Discussion | How to Get Work |
| Video | What Clients Don’t Know (and Why It’s Your Fault) Mike Monteiro |
| Resources | Class Notes: How to Get Work |
Week 04 | Self Promotion
Tuesday :: 04.21.2026
| Due | Job Research & Application Packet Exercise |
| Lab Exercise | Wiki Wiki Marketing Plan Challenge |
| Reading | Design is a Job Appendicies: Presenting Work |
| Resources | Exercise: 03 Wiki Wiki Marketing Challenge |
Thursday :: 04.23.2026 | 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 The Refinery — Shared design studio space; with owner Vin Thomas |
Week 05 | Presentations
Tuesday :: 04.28.2026
| Discussion | Giving Presentations |
| Group Lab | In-class time to work on Group Agency Pitch Presentations |
| Resources | Class Notes: Giving Presentations |
Thursday :: 04.30.2026
| Due | Group Agency Pitch Presentations |
| Presentations | Group Agency Pitch Presentations |
Week 06 | Setting Billing Rates
Tuesday :: 05.05.2026 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 :: 05.07.2026
| 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) |
| Resources | Class Notes: Knowing What to Charge Exercise: 04 Determining Hourly Rates |
Week 07 | Estimating
Tuesday :: 05.12.2026
| 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 |
| Resources | Class Notes: Project Estimation & Proposal Writing Project: Project Proposal & Estimate |
Thursday :: 05.14.2026
| Discussion | More on Estimating: Presenting estimates to clients. |
Week 08 | Time Tracking
Tuesday :: 05.19.2026
| Due | Job Research & Application Packet Exercise Revisions |
| Guest Speaker | Jim Chi, Principal at Cascade Management Consulting, and with Oregon Sports Angels |
| Discussion | Time/Expense Tracking |
| Exercise | Project Time & Expense Tracking |
| Resources | Class Notes: Project Timelines & Time/Expense Tracking Exercise: 05 Project Time & Expense Tracking |
Thursday :: 05.21.2026 No In-Person class / VC 284 Field Trip
Week 09 | Project Timelines & Invoicing
Tuesday :: 05.26.2026
| Discussion | Project Timelines Invoicing: Billing the client for your work. |
| Exercise | Invoice Writing |
| Reading | Design is a Job Chapter 6 |
| Resources | Class Notes: Invoicing & Billing Exercise: 06 Invoice Writing |
Thursday :: 05.28.2026
| Due | Project Proposal & Estimate Project |
| Discussion | Customer Service: Managing Clients & Co-workers |
| Exam | Distribution of take-home Final Exam |
| Reading | Design is a Job Appendicies: Managing Feedback |
| Resources | Class Notes: Managing Clients & Coworkers |
Week 10 | Portfolio Week
Tuesday :: 06.02.2026 No In-Person class
| Due | Project Time & Expense Tracking Exercise (5:00 PM) Invoice Writing Exercise (5:00 PM) |
Thursday :: 06.04.2026 | Portfolio 2026
| Portfolio Show | 3:30 PM–7:00 PM |
Week 11 | Finals Week
Tuesday :: 06.09.2026 @ 10:00–11:50 AM
| Due | Final Exam @ 10:00 AM |
| Discussion | Debrief & Reflect on Business of Graphic Arts & Portfolio Show |