Designer and studio owner Erik Herrström shares his journey from Sweden to Vienna and the experiences that shaped his career. He talks about working with global brands like Nike, Google, and Spotify, the leap from freelancing to running his own studio, and the lessons learned along the way. Erik reflects on the value of networking, learning from others, and embracing mistakes as essential steps in building a successful creative business.

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Freelance photographer and podcast host Ulrich Aydt shares his path into photography and freelancing, the challenges of pricing creative work, and what he’s learned from hosting creative therapy sessions. He talks about building community, staying balanced while juggling projects, and why collaboration and asking for help are essential for any creative.

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In this solo episode, we reflect on what it’s been like having guests on the podcast so far; what surprised us, what challenged us, and what we’ve learned. We also share a behind-the-scenes look at our newest side project: a pricing calculator for creative work in collaboration with Daniel Gremme, which we’ve started building in public. Plus, we hosted our first ever event with Ladies Wine & Design at the studio to have a conversation about pricing here’s how it went.

Daniel Gremme: Website

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Pricing in the creative industry is one of the hardest things to learn. Through a lot of trial and error the Rebeccas were able to gain confidence in knowing their worth and also asking for an amount that represented it. Jump in and learn what NOT to do, and take away some tips on how to get better at pricing your work.

Who are we and what are we doing here? In this intro episode the Rebeccas from Same Same Studio talk about how they got to where they are now, their motivation for starting a podcast, and what to expect in future episodes.

This episode is in German. Julia and Clara, the founders of Frendz Club, share how they built a branding studio rooted in creative clarity and smart business thinking. They tell us all about managing finances and adapting to market changes as well as building strong client relationships and staying true to their values. They give us insights into what it really takes to sustain a creative business today.

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Hongwei Tang, a creative technologist, shares his journey through the creative industry, discussing his diverse background in graphic design, photography, and coding. He reflects on his transition from internships to freelancing, his experiences with Spark AR at Meta, and the impact of the platform's closure on his career. Hongwei also addresses the evolving role of AI in the creative field and offers valuable advice for aspiring creatives, emphasizing the importance of community and overcoming fear in the pursuit of self-employment.

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In this conversation, Gernot, a seasoned brand designer and strategist, shares his journey from Austria to various global cities, including Dublin, London, and New York, before returning to Austria to establish his own branding studio, Duo. He discusses the evolution of his career, the unique business model of his previous company, Proxy, and the challenges and opportunities in the branding landscape, particularly in Austria. Gernot emphasizes the importance of creative strategy, client education, and authenticity in branding, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Duo:

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Happy Pride Month! This is a more serious episode where we discuss the implications of rainbow washing and what companies really need to be doing to support the LGBTQIA+ community.

In this short snippet from our course Creative Business Essentials, I highlight four reasons why you should not be using hourly-based pricing for you creative services.

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In this episode we talk about what is was like for Rebecca R to hold down the fort while Rebecca B was away on holiday. Can ChatGPT replace us? Listen to find out!

In this episode we speak IN GERMAN about what it's like being self-employed in Austria. We discuss what we think are the most important things to think about before starting a business here. SPOILER: don't do it lol.

Slavko Pejić founded mama said no, an independent, creative-led advertising agency. He joined us on the podcast to talk about his experiences going from being employed to self-employment, and what's next for his agency.

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It's been an interesting month for us in regards to the podcast. We had THREE people come on as guests. In this episode we share our experience as well as what else we were up to in April.

In this episode, we look back at August and share what we’ve been working on behind the scenes. From project updates and website development to experimenting with SEO strategies, we cover the progress and challenges that shaped the month. We also talk about launching our Creative Club, the ongoing struggles freelancers face with pricing, and why industry standards matter. Plus, we reflect on balancing social media engagement with real value, and what we’ve learned along the way.

Sebastian Gansrigler is a designer, photographer and founder of Softcover – a shop in Vienna that handpicks indie magazines, art books, photo books and small editions. It is the first and only shop in Vienna to focus on independent publishing and topics like photography, graphic design, art and culture. We invited Sebastian onto our podcast to talk about his journey going from being a freelancer offering creative services, to opening a physical store selling physical products.

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Marietta Bernal is an illustrator and 3D artist with an upbeat aesthetic. She creates engaging characters, objects, and situations, blending the everyday with the surreal. We invited her on our podcast to talk about her work and business.

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We are starting a network built on transparency! Our discord will be a place for self-employed creatives to exchange tips, resources, referrals, a place to vent, a place to feel connected when you are often all alone in running your business. Join now

In this episode we talk about why it makes sense to have a minimum project rate and how changing our pricing strategy led to a healthier work life balance. Not everyone will have the same minimum project rate, and tbh ours might even change after posting this podcast lol.

We are beginning a new era soon and March was all about the planning for what's to come here at Never Went To Business School podcast.

That actual creative work you do is not always the deciding factor when it comes to being successful. Running a business requires skill in just that. You can be an average designer, but a great business person and you will have more success than a "better designer".

It's been a while sorry! We have been BUSY mostly on YouTube. In this episode we talk about what we were up to in February and how it compares to the start of the year.

We were recently fired by a client, and it wasn't the first time it has happened to us. Sometimes a business relationship is not compatible, requirements change or the client simply decides they want to work with someone else. And you know what? Thats OK. We have fired our fare share of clients over the years as well. In this episode we talk about our experiences with getting fired and firing.

Ever proposed a really cheap price for your services and then created a product worth ten times what you sold it for? Yeah we've been there more times than we're proud of. While it can make sense to do it, it can end in many uncomfortable discussions later down the road.

In this new series of episodes we will be doing a monthly update on how the past month went at Same Same. We talk about what projects we've been working on and more day to day insights into our lives managing the company.

We invited Studio Sirene to have a conversation that explores the dynamics of a design collective, focusing on the unique structure, roles, and responsibilities within the group. We discuss their approach to client relationships, financial logistics, and the importance of work-life balance. They also share insights on hiring practices and offer advice for those looking to start their own collective.

Website: https://sirene.studio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.sirene/

For those that are up to date you will have already heard that we left Instagram. Leaving a platform we spent so much energy on for many years did not come easy, but knowing that we can now put that energy into mediums that make sense for us made the decision easier.

It's no coincidence that when we niched down which services we offered the leads came flooding in. Don't be afraid to scare off customers, you don't want just any client you want a client that respects what you do and wants to pay you good money for it. Creative Business Essentials – Get the full course

It's our birthday! Same Same Studio turned 4 years old this month. It has been a wild ride up until now and while we are currently thriving (again), there were many times when we were barely surviving. In this episode we reflect on the highs and lows of the last four years.

The freedom that running your own business gives you is definitely the major reason why people would choose self-employment over working for someone else. The thing we underestimated is how much time really goes into the business and how little time is left to do the "actual work". In this episode we discuss the reality of running a design studio.

In this episode we talk about our 2025 goals and how we plan on continuing the success from the previous year. Last year was a lot of tying up loose ends, which means we weren't able to focus on moving forward as much as we would have liked. 2025 is an opportunity for us to grow again.

In this special year-end episode, we take a look back at 2024 — the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Join us for an honest recap where we reflect on the challenges, and share our thoughts on what this year taught us.

We all know those perfect Instagram feeds that almost look like a single image. While they are nice to look at, what value do they offer and are they authentic enough? In this episode we talk about the differences between Instagram and TikTok and aesthetic content vs. authentic content with personality.

Being on the client side of things recently when we were looking for a video editor, there were some patterns we noticed in the freelancers that contacted us for the job. In this episode we talk about our experience as a client looking for creative services, and what turned us off vs. what made us want to work with someone.

With design tools like Figma, Framer, Canva and Adobe amping up their AI capabilities you have to wonder as a designer whether your work will be replaced by AI in the future. In this episode we talk about where we think AI is going in the creative industry and how you can set yourself apart as a creative business.

Ok so the title is a little click-baity, but what we're really trying to say here is that your portfolio should not be your number one priority when you start out. Your network is so much more important than getting your portfolio to look beautiful and in this short episode from our Creative Business Essentials series explains why.

In this episode we celebrate 100 episodes of Never Went To Business School. We go over what it has been like and what we want to improve in the future.

In this episode we discuss our intentions behind the development of our course Creative Business Essentials. Posting about the course online often does not allow for us to provide the full context behind what we do, which is why we decided to make an episode about it.

Yes yes we've said many times we hate hourly-based pricing, but for some types of work it makes the most sense to use this pricing method. There are ways to make hourly-based pricing less of a headache and you can generate liquidity without having to chase clients by implementing certain boundaries.

Whenever we post anything about our business successes on Threads we are met with mostly positivity, but the haters still manage to leave a bigger impression initially. In this episode we unpack some of the comments made on a post that went semi-viral recently.

This is the first in a series of short episodes brought to you from Creative Business Essentials. Our course is for anyone starting out in the creative industry, and for people who continue to struggle to make their creative business profitable. In this short snippet we go over five reasons why you are not working with your dream clients.

Starting a business is tough, and it's easy to feel like things aren’t working fast enough. But the truth is, most success comes from sticking it out, even when it gets hard. In this episode we talk about the most common things that contribute to failure in creative business.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of knowing your target audience when it comes to running a successful creative business. Understanding your ideal clients helps you shape your brand, create lasting relationships, and stand out from the competition. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, don't forget to keep analysing the target group in order to measure success. It might be hurting your business if you don't!

Value and money don't mean the same thing for every client. Whether it's about priorities, goals, or budget constraints, each person sees value through a unique lens. While some people spend their money to see Taylor Swift, others will feel like it is a waste, and then there are those spending millions for Justin Bieber to sing at their wedding.

Why are some designers quick to criticize others' rates? We explore the root causes of this judgmental mindset, how it impacts the industry, and what can be done to foster a more supportive environment. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, this conversation sheds light on the importance of valuing different pricing strategies and the need for mutual respect in the creative field.

There are so many bootcamps and most of them are super overpriced and don't even teach you what you really need in a real world frontend development job. We think they are a scam and there are better ways to become a frontend developer.

Starting a business for the first time is always going to be a lot of learning by doing, and we sure made some mistakes when started our design studio. In this episode we explore how we would go about starting a creative business today and how it would be different to what we did four years ago.

In this conversation, we critically analyze an article promoting the idea that being a generalist is more beneficial than specializing in a specific field. We discuss the implications of this perspective on the creative industry, emphasizing the importance of specialization, adaptability, and the potential harm such narratives can cause to freelancers and creatives.

Our business course is almost ready for release and we can finally share more insights on what will be included in the course. Sign up to our newsletter for updates and for first access! Newsletter sign up

As a business you always want to have liquidity and retainers are the best and fastest way to achieve that. It not only gives you peace of mind financially, but also builds a foundation for long-term partnerships. It removes the stress of having to take on every single project and client that comes your way.