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How I Run My Design Studio
How I Run My Design StudioIt's been four years since I gave my freelancing a makeover, transforming it into what is now 8px.studio. It's been quite a journey, growing from a solo venture to a design studio with two full-time designers and a bunch of talented contractors. When I embarked on this journey, I made a conscious decision to measure success differently. For me, it's not just about the numbers in the bank account. It's more about how this venture fits into my life. Does it make me happy? Does it give me time to breathe and live outside work? These were my benchmarks. But, I won't deny that there's this niggling thought at the back of my mind – the growth potential is massive. Yet, I've held back. I haven't gone all out in hunting for clients, my marketing efforts have been, let's say, 'relaxed', and our portfolio could do with more regular updates. There's definitely room for improvement. The biggest puzzle for me has been finding that sweet spot between simplicity and customization. Automation isn't straightforward in a business where each project is as unique as the client behind it. Yet, it's these creative, one-of-a-kind projects that fuel my passion. So, I’m trying to find the right mix of efficiency and creativity. In this article, I will guide you through some of the key aspects of how I have run my design studio for the past 4 years. Although I only added more people to my team about 1.5 years ago, nothing has really changed in the way I operate it. So, you may find some ideas here on how to apply it to your own solo business or a small studio with employees or contractors. Please note that my business is constantly evolving and changing. I will delve deeper into each aspect in the future and share what I have learned as we progress.
Tip of the weekUse spacebar to reposition selection in FigmaWhen selecting multiple elements in Figma, you can easily reposition your selection by holding down the SPACEBAR. First, click and drag to select the elements you need. Then, without releasing the mouse button, press and hold the SPACEBAR. While holding it, you can move the entire selection to a new position. This feature is incredibly useful for adjusting the layout quickly without having to deselect, move, and then reselect the elements. It streamlines the process, making your design workflow more efficient and intuitive. Try it out in your next Figma project! What got me inspiredGemini - Google DeepMindCheck out this new landing page for Gemini by Google DeepMind. It's stunningly simple and clean - kinda reminds me of those sleek Apple product pages. What really caught my eye is the neat floating navigation bar. It's super user-friendly and adds a touch of elegance without making things cluttered. It's a great example of how keeping things simple and functional can make a design stand out. Just wanted to drop this bit of inspiration in your inbox! Take the Next Step
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Rafal Tomal
Join 20k+ people who love good design. Get my best tips, resources, and strategies to elevate your design skills and grow your business.
Design Through Fast Iterations We often dive deep into design theory and spend hours on tutorials learning new skills. But I don’t think we focus enough on practical techniques that actually help us achieve the best results. You can have all that design knowledge, but you still need a process that helps you stay creative, make those little decisions at every step, and find the best solution. When I first started designing, I’d often stare at a blank page, unsure of where to begin. My usual...
Auto Layout in Figma: to use or not to use? Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the debate around auto layout in Figma. On one side, you’ve got designers who say skipping auto layout makes their work faster—they don’t have to get bogged down in the details, and it speeds up their process. On the other hand, some argue that auto layout is essential for efficiency, helping to maintain consistent spacing, reposition elements easily, and ensure everything is pixel-perfect. Personally, I’ve...
It’s Typespiration Time! Lately, I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for the days when design was just pure fun—no business plans, no client deadlines, no specific goals, just the joy of creating. So, I decided to revisit one of my older side projects, Typespiration. It reminded me of a time when I could simply create, share, and not worry too much about anything else. For those of you who haven't heard of it before, Typespiration is a collection of simple designs that play with different sets...