Students in classroom lecture learning about branding and self-imaging management.

Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship

Even the best artist or designer needs to know the business behind their craft.

In an effort to provide business expertise to our students, CCS offers a Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. The Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship is intended to provide students of art and design the business skill sets necessary to successfully launch a small business venture. It concentrates on foundational skills as well as branding, marketing, and financial management. The minor is completed by two capstone classes that fine-tune skills and provide opportunities for advanced business research and creative, real-life interaction with business owners and leaders specializing in the creative fields.

Curriculum

The five courses required to complete the Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship are:

DAS 213, Business Practices
DAS 313, Branding Essentials
DAS 314, Financial Essentials
DAS 315, Structural Essentials 
DAS 316, Pre-Launch Essentials
Business Practices (current CCS required course DAS 213)

This course prepares students to function as professional artists and/or designers. It provides an introduction to contemporary business theories, trend analysis, and branding techniques and practices. As well, students learn and use basic project management principles, project costing models, and the elements of business plan design.
(Prerequisite(s): DEN 108, DFS 100)

Branding Essentials (DAS 313)

This course prepares students to connect their creative practice with prospective customers and clients through the study of contemporary marketing techniques. The course builds on knowledge gained in DAS-213 Business Practices to deepen student understanding of fundamental business concepts and methods.
(Prerequisite: Business Practices)

Financial Essentials (DAS 314)

This course instructs students in principles of financial management specifically related to the needs of artists and designers. It builds on knowledge gained in DAS-213 Business Practices to deepen student understanding of fundamental business concepts and methods. Through coursework and practice, students develop a set of skills and tools relevant to operating a small or growing start-up company, working in an independent freelance practice, or working in a corporate design studio or other creative environment.  (Prerequisite Business Practices)

Structural Essentials (DAS 315)

Students in this course are exposed to advanced concepts and practices of business leadership. The focus will be on translating the knowledge of leadership into sound practices that support artists or designers and the creative work they pursue.  The primary concepts in this course will include leadership theories and teambuilding practices to create an understanding for how to integrate the artist/designer into the creative marketplace. Students will complete a leadership portfolio and a teambuilding project.  (Prerequisites:  DAS-213 Business Practices; Branding & Image Management and Money Management)

Pre-Launch Essentials (DAS 316)

DAS-316 follows DAS-315 to form the capstone experience of the Minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. 

Students will focus on operational and oversight aspects of their venture, including studying, selecting and integrating information analysis and business software into a customized enterprise reporting platform.  This review will include accounting information, project management and team communication, search engine optimization, customer acquisition and retention, digital marketing optimization, and enterprise resource planning.  Interpersonal
skills training will include internal team and business partner management, customer service and satisfaction, and business development, sales, and presentation training. 

Finally, students will secure a mini-internship with an appropriate entity.  Mini-internships must be approved in advance.  As needed, Design Core Detroit will help through their Design Network. This course can be used for Liberal Arts or General Elective credit.