Insight: Five top tips I wish I knew when starting a design studio
Hondo is a dynamic design practice that creates purposeful and impactful experiences, collaborating with like-minded clients across the world. To help our community navigate their career we decided to ask Fran Méndez for the top five tips he needed to know when starting a studio.
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Gain experience:
Both creatively and operationally
Before starting your own studio, make sure you understand how studios actually work — not just from a design perspective, but from the business and operational side too.
Many people assume running a studio means more time designing, but the reality is often the opposite. At the beginning, you’ll need to wear many hats: project manager, accountant, client handler, strategist, and more.
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Define your values and direction:
Do it early
Take the time to understand what kind of design you want to do and who you want to work with. What’s missing in your portfolio to attract those clients? What does your studio stand for?
This isn’t about being overly ambitious — it’s about having clarity, even if you start small. Design is a long-term game, and defining your voice early can shape the opportunities that come your way.
Grow your network:
Beyond your friends and family
Stay connected, but don’t limit yourself to your immediate circle. While friends may become future collaborators or clients, expanding your network — especially beyond the design industry — will open unexpected doors.
Be proactive: attend events, reach out, share your work, and be curious — talk to people in other fields.
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Curate your presence:
Online and offline
In today’s competitive landscape, visibility is key. Treat your online presence (website, social platforms, directories) with care — and don’t neglect in-person visibility either.
Talk about your work, show up, and share your perspective. This is how you’ll build trust, relationships, and real opportunities.
Go for it:
Start now and learn as you go
Don’t overthink it, simply do it. You’ll never regret having tried. The amount you’ll learn in the process is invaluable and impossible to replicate elsewhere. There’s no perfect moment to start, so take the leap and learn as you go.
For more about Hondo, the clients they work with and the projects they’ve previously created visit: https://www.hondo.studio/
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