Table of Contents
- I killed my design agency in 30 days
- 8 steps I’d take to reboot my design agency
- Step 1—Think customer
- Step 2—MVO (minimum viable offer)
- Step 3—Update LinkedIn profile
- The three critical updates:
- Step 4—Get a list of potential clients
- Step 5—Daily designs
- Step 6—Update portfolio
- Step 7—Get reps
- Step 8—Launch agency
- The uncomfortable truth about "free" work
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- Don’t start a design agency until you read this
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I killed my design agency in 30 days
A few years ago, I did something spectacularly stupid. I launched a design agency with all the confidence of a crypto bro in 2023. Thirty days later, it was dead.
And failures are the best teachers you’ll ever have, unlike that design bootcamp you dropped $15K on, this lesson actually stuck.
So grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, because I'm about to walk you through 8 steps on how to reboot it. And more importantly, how you can avoid making the same bone-headed mistakes I did.
8 steps I’d take to reboot my design agency
If I could travel back in time, here's exactly what I'd do differently:
Ready to build something that actually makes money instead of just looking pretty in your portfolio? Let's dive in.
Step 1—Think customer
Here's where most designers mess up (myself included): We think about what we want to design, not what people actually need.
The reality check questions:
- Who am I targeting?
- What niche plays to my strengths?
- What problems do they actually face?
Let's get specific. Instead of "I help businesses with design," try this:
"I help Y Combinator founders with zero design resources find product-market fit through rapid prototyping and landing page optimization."
See the difference? One sounds like every other designer on LinkedIn. The other sounds like someone who actually understands startup life.
Why this works:
- YC founders are identifiable and findable
- They have a budget (or access to it)
- They have a specific problem (no design help)
- The niche is narrow enough to dominate
Pro tip: Don't overthink this part. Your ideal customer will likely evolve as you work with real people. The goal is to start somewhere specific, not to nail it perfectly on day one.
Step 2—MVO (minimum viable offer)
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Remember when Instagram started as Burbn? Yeah, they didn't try to build everything at once either.
Your first offer should pass the "Three Quick Tests":
- Can I execute this alone?
- Can I deliver it quickly?
- Can I showcase it online?
My example: "For $100, I'll redesign your landing page in 48 hours."
Why this works:
- Low price removes friction
- Quick turnaround creates urgency
- Easy to share results online
What NOT to do:
- "Complete brand overhaul and digital transformation" (unless you enjoy stress-induced hair loss)
- Anything that takes more than a week to deliver
- Services that can't be easily explained in one sentence
Pro tip: Create your service page today using this exact template: "I redesign [specific thing] for [specific people] in [specific timeframe] for $[specific price]."
Step 3—Update LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is doing more heavy lifting than a powerlifter at the Olympics. Most designers treat it like an afterthought. Big mistake.
The three critical updates:
Banner: Social proof + who you serve
- Before: Generic design patterns
- After: "50+ landing pages redesigned for YC startups"
Featured Section: Direct link to book your services
- No more "check out my portfolio"
- Add a Calendly link or service page
Headline: Speak directly to your customer
- Before: "UX Designer passionate about creating meaningful experiences"
- After: "I help YC founders find PMF through rapid design iteration"
Pro tip: Download the LinkedIn mobile app right now. Change your headline to speak directly to your customer, then take a screenshot of your current banner.
Open Canva, search "LinkedIn banner," and create a new one with this exact format: "[Number] [deliverable] for [target customer]" with your face on the right side. Upload it immediately. Don't spend more than 15 minutes on this—perfection is procrastination in disguise.
👉 How To Brand Your LinkedIn Profile for UX Designers
Step 4—Get a list of potential clients
Here's where most agencies die: They wait for clients to find them. That's like waiting for your crush to text you first—it might happen, but don't hold your breath.
The system:
- Set up a simple CRM (Notion works fine)
- Compile 50 potential clients
- Find their contact details
- Track your outreach
CRM Columns:
- Company name
- Contact person
- Email/LinkedIn
- Contacted (date)
- Followed up (date)
- Status (cold/warm/hot/dead)
Where to Find YC Founders:
- YC company directory
- Twitter (search "YC S24")
- LinkedIn (filter by YC experience)
Pro Tip: Open Notion and duplicate this template URL. Rename it "Agency Prospects." Right now, add 5 companies from your Step 1 research.
For each, find the founder's email using tools like Hunter.io or just try firstname@companyname.com.
Don't overthink the system—just start collecting names. Set a daily goal of adding 2 new prospects. Consistency beats perfection.
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Step 5—Daily designs
Content marketing for agencies is simple: Show, don't tell.
The daily design strategy:
- Redesign one hero section per day
- Post before/after on LinkedIn/Twitter
- Tag the company (after posting, not before)
- Share in relevant communities
Example post: "Day 23/100: Redesigned @StartupX's hero section. Improved clarity by 40% and reduced cognitive load. Here's what I changed..."
Why this works:
- Generates conversation starters
- Demonstrates skill better than any portfolio
- Creates daily touchpoints with your audience
- Builds your reputation as someone who "gets it"
Pro tip: Create your first daily design post template in Figma right now. Use this exact format: "Before" screenshot on the left, "After" on the right, your logo in the corner, "Day X/100" at the top. Save it as a component.
Then pick any SaaS landing page that sucks (there are thousands), screenshot it, redesign just the hero section in 30 minutes, and post it today with this caption: "Day 1/100: Quick hero redesign. What would you change?" Tag the company. Hit publish.
Step 6—Update portfolio
Your portfolio is probably set up like a museum. Pretty, but not very actionable.
The service-first makeover:
- Move your new service to the homepage
- Add a clear "Book Now" button
- Include recent daily designs
- Add client testimonials (even if it's just one)
Example homepage update:
- H1: "Landing Page Redesigns That Convert"
- Subheading: "48-hour turnaround. $300. Guaranteed improvement."
- CTA: "Book Your Redesign"
Don't delete your case studies: Keep them, but make them secondary. Your service should be the star of the show.
Pro tip: Go to your current portfolio homepage right now. Add this exact section at the very top, above everything else: A hero section with your service offer as the H1, your 48-hour guarantee as the subheading, and a bright button that says "Book Now for $X." Link the button to your Calendly.
Move your case studies to a separate "Work" page. If you don't have a website, create one on Webflow using their "Service Business" template—it takes 2 hours max.
👉 Your UX Portfolio Homepage Is Sabotaging Your Career
Step 7—Get reps
This is where most people give up. They do five designs, get zero immediate clients, and assume it's not working. Wrong.
The 100-day commitment:
- Share one design daily for 100 days
- Ask for testimonials after each free redesign
- Follow up with companies 1-2 weeks after posting
- Don't sell in the initial message
Sample follow-up message: "Hey [Name], I redesigned your hero section last week ([link to post]). Curious—what did you think of the changes? Any feedback?"
Why this works:
- Builds top-of-mind awareness
- Creates multiple touchpoints
- Demonstrates consistency
- Generates social proof
Pro tip: Create a simple spreadsheet with 100 rows numbered 1-100. In column A, write "Day X/100." In column B, pick a different startup for each day (use the YC directory). In column C, write one specific problem their landing page has.
This is your content calendar for the next 100 days. Batch this work—spend 2 hours creating your full calendar. Now you never have to think "what should I post today?" again.
Step 8—Launch agency
Now you're ready to graduate from freelancer to agency owner.
The three-tier pricing strategy:
- Starter: Landing page redesign ($300)
- Standard: Full website redesign ($1,500)
- Premium: App redesign + strategy ($5,000)
Why three tiers work:
- Gives clients options
- Middle tier becomes most popular
- Premium tier positions you as high-end
When to raise prices:
- You're booked 2+ weeks out
- Clients say yes immediately
- You're getting referrals without asking
Pro tip: Don't wait until you have clients to create your pricing tiers. Do it today. Copy this exact template into a Google Doc:
"Starter Package ($300): Landing page redesign, 2 revisions, 48-hour delivery. Standard Package ($1,500): Full website redesign, 3 revisions, 1-week delivery, mobile optimization. Premium Package ($5,000): App redesign, user research, strategy session, 2-week delivery, 1 month support."
Adjust the numbers for your niche, but launch with these three tiers. Having pricing ready removes friction when prospects ask.
👉 Freelancing 101 (Part 1): 13 Lessons on Pricing and Client Acquisition
The uncomfortable truth about "free" work
Let's address the elephant in the room: Yes, you'll do some free work upfront.
The LinkedIn comments are already writing themselves: "Know your worth!" "Never work for free!" "Spec work is evil!"
Here's my controversial take: Strategic free work is the fastest way to build an agency.
What you get in return:
- Portfolio pieces that convert
- Testimonials that sell
- Network expansion
- Brand recognition
- Social proof
The catch: It has to be strategic. Random free work is just… random free work.
Strategic free work:
- Takes minimal time
- Can be shared publicly
- Targets your ideal client
- Leads to paid opportunities
- Showcases your core service
Random free work:
- Takes forever
- Can't be shared
- Outside your niche
- For anyone who asks
- Leads to more free work
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Common pitfalls to avoid
❌ Pitfall 1: Perfectionism paralysis
You don't need the perfect logo, website, or service description. You need customers. Start messy, improve as you go.
❌ Pitfall 2: Pricing too high too soon
Your first clients are buying your potential, not your portfolio. Price accordingly, then raise rates as you prove value.
❌ Pitfall 3: Trying to serve everyone
"I help businesses with design" is not a niche. Neither is "I design for startups." Get specific or get ignored.
❌ Pitfall 4: Inconsistent content
Posting daily for a week, then disappearing for a month kills momentum. Consistency beats intensity.
❌ Pitfall 5: Waiting for perfect timing
There's never a perfect time to start. The best time was yesterday. The second best time is now.
Don’t start a design agency until you read this
I could have saved myself $10K and a month of embarrassment if I'd followed this playbook from the start. But sometimes you need to face-plant spectacularly to learn the lesson that sticks.
This playbook isn't revolutionary. It's not a secret formula that design gurus don't want you to know. It's simple, actionable, and proven.
The market doesn't care about your fancy brand guidelines or your award-winning case studies. It cares about results. Give it results, document the process, and share it with the world.
Your resurrected agency is waiting. The only question is: Will you kill it with overthinking, or will you let it live through action?
Stop planning. Start posting. Your first client is out there waiting for you to help them. They just don't know it yet.
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:
1. Junior Designer Bundle: Transition into UX and craft an unforgettable portfolio & get hired.
2. Senior Designer Bundle: Become a design leader with systems to build healthier, happier teams.
3. UX Portfolio Critique: In less than 48 hours, get your 30-minute personalised video of brutally honest feedback.
4. Job Sprint Course: Stand out in an unpredictable job market by building a memorable personal brand and a killer job search strategy.
