Product Design Defined with Sophie & Harrison Mills
Creatives Ignite provides creative solopreneurs with weekly inspiration & honest insights about running a creative business. Encouraging creatives to keep their creativity ignited by exploring new tools and techniques, making messes, and connecting with people all around the world.
This week we have a special Saturday show. No show Wednesday, it’s on Saturday, normal time just a different day.
I am excited to feature another type of product designer this week. This is a father daughter duo and I am excited to have them on the show. I got to eat dinner with Sophie and her parents a few years ago and it was the highlight of my 2023 Creative South.
Harrison Mills is the designer and Sophie is the artist with an endless imagination. I am psyched to interview them both about this venture and how they test products, figure out prices, and decide on venues to participate in.
You ready to be inspired from this dynamic duo?
I hope you will join us LIVE for Episode 484 on Saturday, Oct 12, 2024 at 7:30pm BST / 2:30pm ET / 11:30am PT / 8:30am in Hawaii. Sign up here to get the link delivered to your inbox. https://creativesignite.com/signup
Listen here
Questions
Sophie & Harrison, can you give everybody a little background about how you started this business and essentially got into product design?
Sophie you started on paper and traditional analog materials, then your dad would clean them up and vectorize them, right? Now you are also working on the iPad in Procreate, do you have a favorite?
How does her starting on the iPad help you Harrison?
How do you define what you do as a Product Designer?
What types of events have you participated in as a vendor? Which ones have been the most successful and how are you defining success? (monetary, getting brand awareness out there?)
Harrison how has your traditional graphic design experience helped you in deciding which products to invest in? How do y’all test which designs will go on what items? Sophie how much input do you have on choosing products?
What are some of the biggest benefits you have seen in your daughter as a result of this endeavor?
Do you have any monetary or financial goals for the business for the year? For the next 10 years? What about goals of being part of different festivals and other events? Or is giving back a part of your company values?
How do you measure quality in a product? How have you adjusted vendors because of quality issues? (No need to name any vendors just helpful to know what things to look out for.)
What has been your favorite product so far?
What are some things to look out for when deciding on selling at a festival? What makes Creative South a great place to start selling?
Are there anythings to look for when deciding what to sell or not sell online? Are you running any ads or will you for Black Friday?
What is your favorite part of coming up with new products?
What type of person is your best customer?
Sophie how much time per week do you draw characters that potentially might become part of this series?
What’s next for you? Any big plans for the company or an upcoming new product?
Connect with Sophie & Harrison
Website: G. C. Grumpy Frog Official Website and Clothing: https://www.gcgrumpyfrog.com/
Shop: https://www.gcgrumpyfrog.com/shop
Instagram: https://instagram.com/GCgrumpyfrog
Transcript
Transcript will go here