Jessica Meharry, a visiting assistant professor at the Institute of Design, has co-authored a new book aimed at guiding students in starting their own design studios. The book, titled "Working with Design Clients: Tools and Advice for Successful Partnerships," was published by Bloomsbury in late 2024. Meharry collaborated on this project with Meaghan Dee, an associate professor of graphic design at Virginia Tech.
The book is described as the result of extensive interviews and research involving both faculty and students. According to Meharry, it aims to assist students in understanding how to work effectively with clients. She states, “It’s really about helping students understand how to work with clients,” adding that it can guide them from learning basic client interaction skills to managing a fully operational student-run studio on campus.
"Working with Design Clients" covers various topics including invoicing, internal billing, conducting feedback sessions with clients, community engagement ethics, and more. It also addresses essential managerial aspects such as defining work roles and handling logistics and planning. The final section specifically targets student-led studios.
Meharry emphasizes the importance of practical experience for design students: “Design is so much about practice that we believe students have to experience that right away in their education and not just after they graduate.”
The research for the book was supported by a grant from the AIGA Design Educators Community. Both authors will discuss their publication during a virtual event scheduled for March 25, 2025.