Learning Lab

As a small business owner, appropriate, consistent design can sometimes seem hard to achieve. Some of that is down to simply not having the time or skills to make good design work. Other times it’s because visual design seems less critical in comparison to more traditional business metrics, such as cost per sale, customer satisfaction, or new client acquisition. However, the simple fact is that without good design, you have no way of efficiently organizing or marketing what you do in the best possible light. In this course you will learn how to use free and simple design tools to create a visual design system for your business. By the end of the course, you will have a set of design tools and templates to help you streamline and grow your business.

The spring 2025 series will take place both in-person and virtually on Zoom. The first two sessions on January 14th and 21st will be in-person at Pratt Manhattan (144 W 14th St), with the January 28th and February 4th sessions taking place over Zoom. All sessions will take place from 5:30pm – 8pm. Businesses must commit to all four sessions to participate.

This 5-part workshop series equips you with the skills to build a website that attracts customers and grows your business. From understanding the basics of SEO to claiming your digital domain to website design, we’ll guide you through every facet of website creation, ensuring that your online presence stands out. Learn about the different, cost-effective website platforms, finding one that fits your budget. Classes are interactive and provide one-on-one support throughout, ensuring you leave feeling confident and empowered.

The first two classes will take place over Zoom, followed by three classes in-person at Pratt Institute’s Manhattan campus (144 W 14th St).

*Outcomes For Participants *
* Develop a clear website strategy aligned with your business goals.
* Create a visually appealing website using proven design and branding principles
* Understand cost-effective website hosting/platform solutions.
* Learn SEO basics to improve search ranking and increase organic traffic.
* Understanding of basic website analytics.
* Gain confidence to maintain your own website on an ongoing basis.

This 3.5 hour workshop intensive will support entrepreneurs in developing an appropriate mood and accessible language to market to their prospective audience. As you lockdown the complexity of your mission statement into a digestible, concise paragraph you will reflect on your passion points— that are at the very foundation of your business—and understand who you will best serve. You will also consider being accessible in your reach and explore creative prompts to build an awareness of unspoken language. By better understanding your business’ value in the industry, you will be able to create or revamp the messaging you would like others to receive to grow your business.

*Outcomes For Participants *
* Have the space to ponder the mission of your business and the value you add to that mission as owner
* Work collaboratively with facilitator and peers to brainstorm your business advantage over competitors, and research competitors in your trade that can impact your business
* Writing workshop time to organize, edit and construct your mission
* Competitive analysis of your competitors’ strength and weaknesses to inform your business choices
* Business storytelling guidance to develop the art of explaining yourself, your business and reaching your audience and future employees, suppliers, vendors, etc.
* Considering how you can take steps to make your business more accessible through your branding choices
* Create art responses where words may not yet be developed to help better understand what motivates you and what worries you in this process

In our increasingly volatile world, business collaborations are becoming more and more important to build networks, respond to changes in markets and innovate/diversity in offerings. Implementing strategic collaboration plans in global uncertainty calls for continuing tactical interventions, to better realize/adjust short & long term goals.

This program aims to advance collaboration efforts of businesses through 1:1 advisory with two 1-hour consultation sessions. Businesses must attend “Marketing Collaborations” prior to joining this program and must commit to both sessions to participate.

*Outcomes For Participants *
* Revising strategic plans to identify opportunities tailored to collaboration partners, ideating solutions for areas that need troubleshooting
* Identifying business actions to advance collaboration efforts
* Identifying strategic tactics within active or prospective collaborations

Consultations will be scheduled between March 17 and April 4. The application deadline is February 17.

Previous participation in Made in NYC’s Marketing Collaborations workshop series is a pre-requisite for this program.