Spruce Your Studio
Your one & done solution for building a friction-free design studio that includes:
- Zero conflict.
- Zero stress.
- And zero revisions 95% of the time.
Yep, 95%.
Swipe the Complete System NowWelcome to Spruce Your Studio
previously Share-worthy Design
Hey there, fellow designer.
Imagine a world where your client process actually went how it was *supposed* to go… every time.
… where you no longer had dozens of files named “finalfinalFINAL3.ai” on your computer
… where client revisions was the EXCEPTION and not the RULE
… where you had a simple + streamlined way to continue working with clients in a way that was fun and profitable for you
… where your business was truly friction free from start to finish during every project
I know, this probably sounds too good to be true, if not literally impossible.
But what if I told you I found a way to make that your reality? (95% of the time, anyway. 😉)
There are A LOT of things about a designer’s client process that become the bane of their existence. Maybe you’ve experienced one of them? Something like…
- Clients who are never happy, even though you’ve moved heaven and earth to meet the brief. (While potentially breaking a few of your own boundaries along the way…)
- Clients who try to get you to do work outside of the agreed scope. The best reason? “It will only take you a few minutes.”
- Clients who don’t provide you with useful feedback, so you’re left wondering what to do next. Do you go back and ask them to explain? Do you assume you know what they meant? Do you just trust your skills? Do you throw your computer out the window and run off to the circus?
- Clients who won’t trust your design expertise—even though they chose to hire you!
- Clients who hire you once and then go on to work with another designer later. ☹️ (So frustrating, especially if you see the beautiful brand you designed being used incorrectly!)
If I had to guess, you probably didn’t start your own design business for these constant headaches.
You might be thinking, “There HAS to be another way… but what could that even be?”
That’s where Spruce Your Studio comes in: my signature in-depth course + coaching program that gives you unfiltered access into my red-carpet client process and best design short-cuts so you can create an end-to-end experience that gets you loved, shared, and hired by your ideal clients again and again. And again.
I created Spruce Your Studio because you’re not the only designer craving a friction-free client process that ELIMINATES all of these issues.
And when I say eliminate, I mean it. Check out what some of my students have experienced after implementing their own elevated design + client process.
😱😱😱
I do not want you to experience any of the above ever again. That’s the reason why I created Spruce Your Studio — because you are not the only designer craving a seamless client process that ELIMINATES all of these issues.
And when I say eliminates, I mean it. Check out what some of my students have experienced after implementing their own elevated design + client process.
Whether you’re ready to give your design + client experience a complete overhaul, or you want to enter the design world with a streamlined process right from the start, you’re welcome here.
Inside of this self-paced course with oodles of valuable trainings, resources, bonuses, and even a private community, you’ll walk away from Spruce Your Studio…
- With a proven process for sending a client just ONE design — and having it approved — so there’s no more rolling your eyes when they end up choosing the one you *knew* they’d choose (after you spent HOURS creating the back-ups).
- Being able to sail those dreamboat clients through an unforgettable, friction-free experience that they’ll be raving to their peers about. (And soon enough, those peers will be lining up to work with you, too!)
- A ready-set-installed list of templates + case studies at your designer fingertips.
- And so much more!
Instead, your design business will look 100x more like this:
- You’ll have a proven process for sending a client just ONE design — and having it approved — so there’s no more rolling your eyes when they end up choosing the one you *knew* they’d choose (after you spent HOURS creating the back-ups).
- You’ll be able to sail those dreamboat clients through an unforgettable experience that they’ll be raving to their peers about. Soon enough, those peers will be lining up to work with you.
- And forget scouring Pinterest for how to pitch your work to clients — you’ve got a ready-set-installed list of templates + case studies at your designer fingertips.
- Rinse. Take a nap. Repeat.
This isn’t an over-the-shoulder peek into the way I work. It’s SO MUCH MORE than that. I’m giving e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g away.
I'm ready to enroll. Let's go!celebrate with us
Our designer students get serious results, swipe to celebrate thier wins!
From employed designer to thriving design studio owner in less than 6 months.
I’m Jamie, Creative Director and founder of Spruce Rd., and it still feels weird for me to say that ^^^! Because I’m not special. I’m a good designer… but not the best in the world. I’m good at marketing my services… but I could be stronger. I’m lucky to work with the clients I do, but that’s not because I was born “lucky”.
Sure, you need to have design skills to run a profitable design business (and Spruce Your Studio will absolutely help you with those!) but the real missing link for so many struggling and successful designers is being able to roll out a red-carpet, friction-free client experience.
This red-carpet client experience is what the reputation of Spruce Rd. is built on—which is fitting, given that it’s a process I’ve refined to perfection over the last 6 years of running my business.
Years of design experience and education in graphic design shaped my vision into a completely unique perspective. In fact, I created Spruce Rd. in response to industry conventions that just weren’t working for me (you might have heard me mention my short-lived job at a somewhat unethical design studio) and crafted custom systems that I believed would better serve clients and offer premium value.
And it worked.
When I realized that 95% of the work I delivered got zero revisions — a percentage that’s almost unheard of in the design industry — I knew I was onto something, and that one day I’d share it all inside what became Spruce Your Studio.
Spruce Your Studio peels back the curtain to my entire business and the way it runs, so you can steal my methods and build a business you adore working in, whether that’s every day, or two days a week.
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The money is in the method, and Spruce Your Studio is THE method for a time-efficient design process + red-carpet client experience that eliminates friction, stress, and 95% of revision requests.
Here’s the life-changing lowdown on what’s waiting for you inside Spruce Your Studio
Module 1
Your Sold-Out Signature Service
Let’s take a closer look… After this module, you’ll know:
- How to package and position your core service to get your ideal clients absolutely giddy to work with you!
- The skinny on value-based, retainer, hourly, trade, and packaged pricing, so you can select which pricing model works best for you (and see what we recommend!)
- How to successfully incorporate a day rate service into your studio so that you’ve got easy and reliable repeat client services. Goodbye complex quotes, timelines, and pricing!
- My secrets to trimming down your marketing efforts by landing repeat clients (it’s money on autopilot and takes so much stress out of running a business!)
- The best way(s) to promote your core service, including creating a simple quarterly marketing plan that uses designer-specific strategies, optimizing your site to boost inquiries, and doing particular things to build your credibility from the get-go (who knows, you could earn the whole cost of this course back from just this lesson).
Mustn’t-miss resources in this module include:
- Our entire masterclass on day rates for designers.
- A pricing quote walkthrough for a potential client. You’ll see my actual pricing, research, and messages sent to a client… in real-time.
- Expert training with my business strategist on building enticing packaged services (including my top 3 examples of designer-specific packages!)
- My top 5 real designer sites so you can see examples of what works for our industry leaders.
Module 2
Your Red-Carpet Client + Design Experience
Let’s take a closer look… After this module, you’ll know:
- The psychological explanation behind client behavior and decision-making, and how to use this to your advantage (pssst—most designers don’t!)
- The secrets behind the Zero Revision Methods, including how to discover what your clients actually want and are happy to pay for, how to nail your one-logo design, and how to prep and deliver it to your client
- How I take a messy Illustrator artboard full of concepts, narrow it to one, finalize the logo in Illustrator, and save the files appropriately for the client with my One Logo Solution case study (a.k.a. your behind-the-curtain ticket to my design process)
- My complete end-to-end client process, so you can start turning your inquiries into your most loyal brand ambassadors
- How to guarantee a stellar client onboarding experience and how to avoid the mistakes many designers make (even long-term ones)
- How to present your designs to a client like a pro and set yourself up for no revisions (or useful feedback)
- How to wrap up a project, plus my favorite strategies for continuing the relationship beyond “here are your final files”
- How to get out of common sticky client situations, so you never feel tongue-tied on how to respond when a client goes out of scope, doesn’t like your designs, or has less-than-ideal feedback (these situations won’t be common any more once you’ve nailed this module!)
Mustn’t-miss resources in this module include:
- A client audio recording of me presenting the first proof of the One Logo Solution, so you can hear exactly how we pitch our designs to clients.
- A client brand discovery proof, giving you a detailed look into how we prep our clients before pitching our winning One Logo Solution. (And yes, you’ll have our exact ready-made template at your fingertips!)
- The exact presentation proof we sent our client — it’s your exclusive access into how we usually get zero revisions from the first proof.
- Our response to client feedback, so you can direct your client to a winning design (even if their feedback isn’t ideal). Yes, you can tactfully say no, and I’ll show you my word-for-word reply — because I’m a people-pleaser, too!
Module 3
Growing Your Premium Design Studio
Let’s take a closer look…
This is the step beyond the red-carpet client experience and focuses on scaling if that’s something you’d like to do now or in the future. It’s not as scary as it may seem, and outsourcing to other people isn’t the only option! After this module, you’ll know:
- How to (sanely) manage multiple projects so you aren’t confined to one project at a time, or the limited income that comes with it…
- How we balance day rates with our core service, and our unique retainer models (our students have earned $100k/year using these methods alone!)
- My step-by-step process to hiring + managing a team, so you can scale your business with ease. It’s your ticket to working less, while growing your income!
- My best advice for recruiting the first member or additional members of your A-team so you know they’re someone you can rely on to fulfill their role.
- The scoop on taxes + legal for your new business model, so once you’ve hired your first all-star, you can rest assured knowing Uncle Sam is a-ok with it.
- My framework for structuring your team — this is the exact method I use in my own business to guarantee happy designers and clients that keep coming back for more… because we’ve got the team model nailed to a T!
Mustn’t-miss resources in this module include:
- Exactly how I schedule several projects at once and what that looks like in my project management system
- My top creative ways to hire out in your business specifically for designers — whether you’re ready for a “big” hire or something small to get your feet wet (while saving you time!)
“The tools, systems, and community you’ll walk away with from SYS are unmatched. I’ve now served over 150 creative entrepreneurs over the last 3 years, it’s been a whirlwind! If you are a designer wondering if you should invest in SYS, the answer is undoubtedly YES!”
Kelsea, Kindly by Kelsea
“Before SYS I was figuring things out as I went along, and it was confusing.
The confidence that comes out of you after learning all this information and taking it from a professional who has done it time and time again for years is PRICELESS.”
Giselle, Wander Design Co.
“This has completely changed my business and was the turning point for me. No revisions for the last 5 projects! I’m more confident, and my clients are more confident in me as a result.
I was able to hit my first $10k month which is a huge accomplishment!”
Lauren, Lola Design Co.
Pay in Full Bonuses
Pay in full, and on top of some savings you’ll also snag these bonuses!
Bonus 1
Email Marketing for Designers Masterclass ($300 value)
Wishing you could attract your ideal clients to your inbox, and sell them your services on auto-pilot? In this action packed recorded workshop I’m dishing on email marketing specific for designers! Best of all? I uncomplicate it and dish on the tools + tactics to make it a breeze.
Bonus 2
Client Email Marketing Templates ($100 value)
To make it even easier for you, our copywriter drafted 4 quarterly emails ready to schedule for your clients. Keep top of mind for potential and current clients — sans the icky salesy feeling. 🙂
Bonus 3
Brand Presentation Copy Template ($100 value)
It’s not enough to send beautiful designs to your clients, the strategy is what sells clients in your presentation. Use our mad-libs plug & play template with your next brand presentation. Our swipe copy makes it easy — including a word bank for various design styles. Let’s get you those zero revisions!
there’s even more where that came from
Aside from all the juicy video training and walkthroughs, you’ll also get full access into my exclusive-to-SYS template vault.
Delightfully time-saving design templates (which have saved approximately 5000 hours of SYS students’ lives!)
What’s Included:
50+ Designer Client Swipe Files: Our collection of client canned responses. Everything from the professional “we’re not quite the right fit” to the “can you send me a testimonial?” response.
$199
20 Beautiful Brand Mockups: built for our zero-revision brand presentation method.
$47
Discovery Template: See the exact research our team digs for — it’s your guide for design that has your client jumping for joy and telling everyone they know about your work.
$99
Brand identity design client process workflow: Our exact branding client process workflow system ready to plug and play with each new client that comes your way.
$99
Automated Client Timeline Template: One click, and you’re all set for creating a project timeline in seconds.
$27
Client Questionnaire: Swipe our exact client questionnaire, so you cover all the critical questions to create a successful design.
$47
Web Style Guide: The template we use to create web style tiles for our clients. Simply swap out the colors, type and graphic elements within minutes for a polished style guide for your clients!
$99
Best Resources Guide: A complete guide to the resources that run my business, from apps, to project management, to design tools, to services — it’s your one-stop shop, I’ve done the research for you!
$47
Brand Presentation and Brand Guideline: Showcase your design proofs in a proven successful presentation — this is our secret sauce and it’s yours for the taking!
$347
that’s a $1,000 value included!
“Hands down this is THE greatest thing I’ve done to invest in my business. There is no question that’s off-limits for Jamie, and I feel like I’m being personally mentored! I’ve grown exponentially, and am raising my rates.”
London Rodriguez
You’ll also get instant access to:
- 52 video training modules – but don’t be overwhelmed by that number! The videos are to-the-point, fluff-free, and easily actionable
- Behind-the-scenes tutorials of our workflows, masterclass recordings, and processes
- 10 templates
- 50+ swipe files from project inquiry + sticky situations to raising your prices, + project wrap-up
- Our go-to resource doc of favorite font foundries, print vendors, mockups, etc.
- Task lists to make sure you’re on track and taking action
- Beautiful downloadable worksheets to help you focus and plan with ease
“Spruce Your Studio was literally the single best investment I’ve made for my business so far… and probably always will be. In ten years, I will look back and say, ‘that was the turning point to making this work.’”
Rebekah Peluszak
How does SWD work?
Take Note
As soon as you enroll, get that oh-so-pretty notebook ready to learn: the course isn’t on drip, so you have instant access to binge on some templates and process lessons!
Take Action
Work through your lesson worksheets, take action along the way with each task list checklist and then load your new swipe files and templates to your workspace… we’ll get you to zero revisions in no time!
Book Clients
Fast forward a few weeks, and you’re set: uplevel your design business with a tailored red-client client process, workflows and templates ready to go, and clear positioning on how you serve your clients best so they come back for more!
Your Investment
Sure, you could figure out all these shortcuts, processes, and hacks on your own, between Pinterest scrolls, hours of podcasts, and blogs galore.
Or, you could take a short-cut:
Swipe the system we put together after over 10 years in the freelance design industry (5 full-time design studio, 5+ freelancing), and gain an intimate group of fellow designers to boot.
- 52 video lessons
- Access to the Template Vault (10+ templates)
- Task lists + worksheets
Pay in Full
Payment Plan
Want a peek inside Spruce Your Studio?
“Prior to taking SYS, I didn’t have my process outlined. Although I was super organized, I was recreating every step. Now there’s templates, processes and swipe files to speed up the process. The One Logo Solution is my absolute favorite take-away. I’ve implemented it and have never looked back! This course is AMAZING!”
Nikki Fanshaw
Spruce Your Studio
is a glass-slipper fit if you’re just starting up your design business OR you’ve been at the game for a few years
- If you’re in a 9–5, have been freelancing for a hot second (hey, coffee shop designing on weekends is where many of us start!), and just *know* that by streamlining and tightening your process you’d be able to play at a much higher level and attract the clients you need to go full-time, SYS is for you.
- If you’ve started your design studio (getting business cards totally counts) but the client process has you tied in knots and you’re sick of spending the time you should be designing snooping on others’ sites to figure out their process, SYS is for you.
- If you’re a seasoned designer used to dealing with clients and managing projects but just KNOW you need to step into more of a leader role when it comes to the way you work, SYS is for you.
- If you’re already running a successful branding or web design studio and working with awesome clients but want to streamline your systems so you can take more time out for family or, you know, breathing, without taking a drop in income, SYS is for you.
- If you adore serving your clients, but feel burnt out from your shoot-from-the-hip systems and would love to be literally handed a proven blueprint so you could focus on your strength — actually designing! — SYS is for you.
- If you want to learn the ins and outs of the fast-becoming-famous Spruce Rd. Zero-Revision One-Logo-Solution, because you’re SO over providing a ton of options and then seeing them pick the one you knew they’d pick (secret? I used to do that, too!), SYS is for you.
What have others asked before joining Spruce Your Studio?
previously Share-worthy design
Do I have to be a brand identity designer?
Nope! This is for anyone who wants to pursue a design business in any design realm — whether on the side of a full-time job, occasional projects as a stay at home mom, or a full time business. This is perfect for brand identity designers, web designers, illustrators and graphic designers. The course walks through how I use business principles in my brand identity design business, but you can take these processes and apply them to your own business! We have over 500+ diverse designers in our alumni base (primarily brand and web designers).
Is this course for beginner or experienced design businesses?
Both! While this course provides a solid foundation + blueprint for beginners who haven’t ever booked a client of their own before, it is an equally valuable tool for experienced design studios. I’ve had complete newbies as well as established design studios with 10 years of experience sing praises about the content of this course and templates. Wherever you are in your design studio journey, you’ll walk away with an efficient process, templates and toolkit for your business.
What’s included with the community?
Eight weeks (until the end of 2020) of a private online community (Slack) and weekly group coaching calls. It’s your only ticket to one-on-one guidance from Jamie as well as an intimate group of design peers to lean on. This is not a huge Facebook group experience — this is a small intimate mastermind full of value, community and quick answers to your specific questions.
I’m 100% transparent and available to review your services, sites, sticky situations… you name it! If you need guidance for marketing, I’m here for you.
Jamie, I just don’t think I can spend that right now! Isn’t there a bigger payment plan??
Oh, friend, how I’ve been there: stepping out and trust falling into a business investment is a scary thing! Even years into my business, I get sweaty palms before hiring a coach or partner. But along the way, I’ve learned: when I invest in my business, and pay for a short-cut that lets me focus on what my strengths are, the money always, always comes back. And sure, there’s a TON of content out there these days. Could you learn these tricks on your own? Sure! But speaking from experience, that always zaps hours off my precious design work — which in turn always costs more in the long run. And don’t worry — I’m not a fan of buyer’s remorse: my 100%, 10-day happiness policy is yours for the taking … I want you to love the Spruce Your Studio program!
Do I even have time for this??
Heard! I mean, let’s be real: I’m running around in a ponytail and sneaks as a mama with a small business and team … I get it! If you commit to watching the videos (short + easy to watch) and taking action as you go, I’ll show you exactly what to say in emails, what processes to walk clients through, and tons of tips and tools that will save you HOURS in the long run. Using just one template from our template vault will save you so much time! I’ll set you up on a plan you can easily replicate.
There’s no WAY I could actually make money as a design studio.
Um, hi, that was me — I used to say the same thing back working as an employee designer! What I have learned is that being an entrepreneur is actually the most secure business move I could have ever made: working for myself, setting my own terms, setting my own prices … that’s actually been the ticket to creating an income stream that honors my family, and lets me be a mom, too. If it weren’t for my design studio, I wouldn’t be able to stay at home with the kiddos as much! It’s possible, friend. I want to show you how!
How long do I get access?
You’ll have access to the training + templates for the lifetime of the SYS program :). We’ve been going strong for 5 years, and have no plans to stop now. If we don’t open enrollment again, you’ll get access to all the files + training :). Once you’re enrolled, you can jump into the video lessons right away — grab that cup of coffee, kick up your feet, and feel free to binge-watch! Learn at your own pace and re-watch the lessons as many times as needed. I wanted to make this course available for your best convenience, so there is no set schedule — you’re the boss!
Can I sign up anytime?
To serve my students as best I can, enrollment is only open a few times a year. I’ll be offering the course again in the future, but can’t guarantee the price won’t go up each time the course goes back in the vault!
Do you offer refunds?
Oh no, we don’t want that! If you are unhappy with the course, let us know. I have a tight return policy — only because I want to make sure I’m attracting dedicated, serious students. I have worked so hard to make this course + templates a benefit, but I certainly understand the fear in buying something you can’t fully experience before purchase. As such, by purchasing, you’re agreeing to my happiness promise: if you complete the entire course and do all the work within 10 days and aren’t satisfied, just show me your work (promise I don’t make you jump through a bajillion hoops!) — I’m happy to buy the course back from you.
Is this course accessible for the deaf + hard of hearing?
Yes! There are captions on the video lessons.
I have more questions, how can I get in touch?
I’d love to chat with you, and make sure this is the right fit! Feel free to email me at: hello@sprucerd.com. Jamie personally responds to each and every message — looking forward to hearing from you!
