Most designers believe the last two weeks of the year are “dead.” Clients go quiet. Projects pause. Revenue slows.
But here is the secret: experienced entrepreneurs and business owners do not stop working. They finally have the time and space to think, plan, and make decisions.
Use the final 10 days of the year to start conversations, share ideas, and secure projects before the holidays. This challenge provides 10 days of guided content, curated expert resources, and daily actions to build momentum and book clients.
Write down the type of projects and work you truly want to do. By clarifying your ideal creative work, you focus your energy and outreach on clients and opportunities that excite you, helping you attract the right projects and start shaping your dream portfolio.
Resource: IDEO — Things We’d Love to Redesign [blog]
Learn actionable strategies to generate referrals and new leads consistently. This session teaches you how to position yourself, create compelling outreach, and leverage your network so potential clients come to you instead of you chasing them.
Resource: Joana Galvao — Become A Lead Generation Machine [video]
Discover how to become a designer people want to work with. This book shows you how to create scarcity, demand, and anticipation around your services, ensuring clients line up to do business with you while you maintain premium pricing and selectivity.
Resource: Daniel Priestley — Oversubscribed [book]
Learn from a veteran designer how to attract higher-paying clients and negotiate better deals. Gain strategies to identify the right projects, position yourself effectively, and confidently increase your revenue while building a strong, sustainable creative business.
Dan Mall — Veteran Designer Spills Secrets to Finding High Paying Clients and Making More Money [video]
Master the art of following up with clients who go silent. Use effective, polite messaging techniques to close the loop, maintain professionalism, and keep the door open for future opportunities, turning ghosted conversations into potential leads or valuable relationships.
Resource: 2Bobs Podcast — Dealing with the Ghosting Problem [podcast]
Show your clients exactly how you work. Sharing a clear, visual process builds trust, sets expectations, and highlights your expertise. This guide helps you communicate value effectively and differentiates your services from others, making clients feel confident in choosing you.
Resource: Smith & Diction — The Process [Figma]
Make your work discoverable by sharing the full creative process, not just finished pieces. Post behind-the-scenes insights, teach, and engage consistently to build an audience, foster community, and attract opportunities. Let others see and learn from your process to grow your reach and impact.
Resource: Austin Kleon — Show Your Work [book]
Reconnect with past clients to uncover new opportunities. Thoughtful check-ins maintain relationships, remind clients of your value, and can spark repeat projects. This approach turns dormant connections into active pipelines with minimal effort.
Resource: John D Saunders — Check Ins [X Post]
Creativity grows through action, not just thinking or reading. Take small, consistent steps, experiment, and push past fear. By practicing exercises and exploring ideas, you’ll tap into your creative potential, gain confidence, and develop the ability to generate original, valuable concepts that set you apart.
Resource: David Delahunty — A Manual For Creativity [book]
Focus on creating wealth, not money or status. Use your unique knowledge and passions, leverage the internet with products or media, and build a business that scales beyond your time. Play long-term games, provide real value, and set yourself up for lasting creative and financial freedom.
Resource: Naval — How to Get Rich [podcast]
Value Proposition Design teaches you how to clearly understand customer needs and build products and services they truly want. Using the Value Proposition Canvas, this book provides practical tools to design, test, and refine ideas so your offerings align with real problems, communicate value effectively, and increase your chances of customer adoption and success.
Resource: Value Proposition Design by Alexander Osterwalder [book]
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