Design, Money, and Meaning

Reflections after Polish Graphic Design Talks #14

Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend Polish Graphic Design Talks #14 in Warsaw — a full day dedicated to one of the hardest, most avoided, and most necessary topics in our field: money.

The theme, Design & Money, hit close to home. As designers, we spend countless hours discussing form, color, typography, and visual identity — but we rarely talk about how design is valued, how we define our worth, and how we protect the business side of creativity.
This event did exactly that: it opened the curtain on what usually stays hidden

Real conversations, real documents

From the very beginning, the tone was refreshingly honest. No abstract theory, no sugar-coating — just designers talking to designers about contracts, budgets, payments, and boundaries.

The talks were built around real cases — actual invoices, cost estimates, and negotiation stories. It was both uncomfortable and liberating. I found myself thinking about all the times I had underpriced a project, said yes too quickly, or avoided a tough money conversation because I wanted to seem “nice” or “collaborative.”

What I took away

 

 

There were a few key insights that I brought home from the event:

Transparency builds respect. Sharing prices, contracts, and processes openly helps both sides understand value — and prevents misunderstandings.
Boundaries are creative tools. Saying no, defining scope, and charging for extra work doesn’t limit creativity — it protects it.
Design value ≠ hours worked. We sell ideas, clarity, experience — not just time. The “price per hour” model rarely captures the true impact of design.

Community over competition. Hearing other designers talk about the same struggles reminded me that we’re not alone — and that openness is a collective act of empowerment

Final thoughts

 

 

This event reminded me that design maturity isn’t measured only by how things look, but by how we sustain our practice — financially, emotionally, and professionally. Talking about money isn’t cynical; it’s an act of respect — for our craft, our clients, and ourselves.

I left Warsaw with a notebook full of notes, a head full of reflections, and a renewed sense of balance between creativity and commerce.
Because in the end, design and money aren’t opposites — they’re both about creating meaning and structure in the world.

My Bottom Line

Aliaksei Koval
typeface designer, calligrapher and educator

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