Print like a Professional: Starting a Business

This workshop is for members of Spudnik Press only. If you are not currently a member please join or renew prior to registering for the workshop.

This twofold workshop begins with a focused panel discussion featuring three successful print-based entrepreneurs followed by each participant benefiting from an individual consultation with one of the panelists.

The panel discussion will investigate how each artist has defined the scope of their business, who are their customers, how they find clients, and how they approach and balance risk taking, artistic production, marketing and self-promotion, and the administrative side of being an entrepreneur.

After the panel, each presenter will meet one-on-one with participants. Participants can use this mini business consultations to simply practice their elevator speech, ask about their specific concerns like setting up wholesale accounts, or get feedback on their website and online presence. Each participant will have one 10-minute session with one of the presenters.

Lastly, each panelist will bring along and share a useful resource to help manage their business (such as a budget analysis worksheet) to help participants apply what they learn to their own business ideas.

Online Enrollment:

Presenter Bios:

Jenna Blazevich, Vichcraft

Vichcraft is the independent and collaborative, multi-disciplinary studio of Jenna Blazevich.

With a focus on visual storytelling, she strives to craft and perfect charmingly unique brand experiences. Her agency experience has allowed for a portfolio ranging from small to large client projects. Vichcraft has a current focus on building small, meaningful brands, and partnering with their purpose-driven leaders to build an authentic visual identity.

Combining hand craft processes and tactile mediums with a digital design skill-set, Jenna strives to work right around the line between art and design to visually translate ideas. Her background in textiles and pattern-making continues to inform her approach as a graphic designer and feminist artist.

Jill Ruzicka, Hello Paper

Hello Paper Co. is a design studio specializing in letterpress greeting cards and wedding invitations. Our cards are handprinted on 100% cotton paper using a vintage press. We create hand-made, environmentally friendly paper products without the stuffy attitude.

All of our letterpress and foil stamped cards are designed, hand-printed and assembled in Chicago, IL. We use vintage presses and 100% pure cotton paper, making each card a unique piece that is also tree free, acid free and biodegradable.

Erin Chlaghmo, Relativity Textiles

Erin Minckley Chlaghmo is an artist, teacher and mother of two boys. Her passion for pattern led her to screen printing and fabric dyeing while studying in Chicago. After receiving her MFA in Fiber & Materials Studies, she worked for a variety of fabricators and artists, including a local wallpaper manufacturer. Learning how to set up an artwork in Illustrator for print production for many accomplished design houses, Chlaghmo decided to branch out on her own and start her own label. It is through the process of learning textile design techniques and teaching them to others that Relativity’s philosophy was born.