Web Directions Year round learning for product, design and engineering professionals

Starting your own web design agency and becoming the Blue Flavor or the Happy Cog of Australia is the dream of so many who come to Web Directions every year I’m sure. Such a big step though, and not a decision to be taken lightly. Knowledge is the thing that will help you take the plunge though if you think you’ve got what it takes. Not so much knowledge of how to be a great designer and developer – I’m sure you’ve got that. The thing you might not have is knowledge about what it really takes to run an agency. Here’s a very generous and candid article from Keith Robinson – Working with Blue Flavour, which is actually about engaging Blue Flavor to do work for you, but struck me as having a wealth of excellent advice on the ins and outs of the early stages of working with a client.

Also check out Josh Williams’ presentation from Web Directions North this year – Bedroom to Boardroom, and to hear from someone with hands on of experience in building an agency in the Australian environment from scratch, don’t miss Kay Smoljak’s presentation at Web Directions South this year. After years of working in a larger agency Kay and her partner David Ridgway went out on their own and start Clever Starfish in 2006, and from what I have heard, they haven’t looked back.