logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
22m 17s

157 What Separates $3K Designers from $1...

Kady Sandel
About this episode

Most designers stay stuck at $3K projects because they’re pricing wrong, targeting the wrong clients, and positioning themselves as just another freelancer. The difference between a $3K designer and a $10K designer isn’t design skills. It’s how they run their business. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what separates the two with real examples you can apply today.

You will learn:

  • Why pricing by hours or deliverables is killing your income
  • How to position your services so clients happily pay $10K or more
  • What high-paying clients actually care about (it’s not your portfolio)
  • How to stop selling logos and start selling solutions
  • The mindset shift that helped me go from $3K to $12K projects


Grab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to redefine how you run your design business!

Aventive Academy’s Resources:

$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/

Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/

The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/

Mockup Magic: https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/

Brand Guidelines Template: https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/

12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit

Join My Weekly Newsletter: https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f

The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Up next
Aug 19
Rebranding Through the Eyes of a Founder (CPG) | EP 174
You’ve heard designers talk about rebrands. But what does it actually feel like on the founder’s side? In this episode, I sat down with the creators of three beverage brands who’ve rebranded their products multiple times — and they didn’t hold back. We talked about design, shelf ... Show More
39m 5s
Aug 12
173 How to Scale Your Design Business Without Burning Out
Scaling your design business doesn’t have to mean overworking, overdelivering, or overcomplicating everything. I spent years trying to grow by doing more. More services. More clients. More offers. And all it did was push me closer to burnout. In this episode, I’m walking you thro ... Show More
34m 17s
Aug 5
172 From Freelancer to Agency Owner - What I Wish I Knew
You don’t become an agency owner by accident. It takes intention, structure, and a shift in how you think about money, clients, and your own value. I spent years making mistakes that kept me stuck in the freelance cycle. From undercharging and customizing every project to thinkin ... Show More
36m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 10
Stop Designing for Your Client. Start Designing for the End User.
Too many Graphic Designers forget one brutal truth. Design is NOT for you, your portfolio, or even your client. It’s for their audience. Period. The client pays the bill, sure. But they’re not the one your work is for. And every time you forget that, your design gets weaker. Less ... Show More
38 m
May 20
Most Graphic Designers Aren’t What Clients Need. Are You Ready For The Future?
The most common misconception of being a graphic designer?To “make things look good.”That mindset is exactly why clients are moving on. Fast.AI can make things look good, faster, and cheaper. And customers are quickly flocking to a "Good enough" mentality.In this unapologetic epi ... Show More
38m 37s
Jul 22
The Designer Mindset Shift That Changes Everything and How You're Falling Behind Without It
Most graphic designers think their biggest threat is AI, bad clients, or lack of exposure. But the real problem? They don’t think like designers at all.Instead, they’re still stuck in the artist mindset—chasing aesthetics, taking feedback personally, and wondering why they’re und ... Show More
43m 16s
Aug 12
This Reddit Thread Thinks Being "Just" A Graphic Designer Is Risky...Do You?
Most graphic designers think being “just” a designer is safe. But when a Reddit thread exploded over whether it’s actually risky, we didn’t just scroll past. We tore it apart!Some takes were spot on. Others completely missed the mark and sounded like entitled designers crying bec ... Show More
1 h
Oct 2024
112\\ Powerful Marketing Tips (That Actually Works!) to Get High-End Interior Design Clients with Hassan of MC Luxury
Are you struggling to attract high-end clients as an interior designer? In this episode, Hassan from MC Luxury shares the proven marketing strategies that can help you land more projects and grow your brand. From using Instagram to build a personal brand to leveraging email marke ... Show More
35m 54s
Jun 2024
The Canva Conundrum: Are DIY Tools Undermining Graphic Design?
Ever feel like Canva's DIY approach is turning everyone into a "designer" including your  customers? It's a slap in the face for pros who see their craft being butchered by templates and shortcuts.This week on The Angry Designer podcast, we tackle the real problem with ... Show More
48m 3s
Jun 24
This Mindset Is Limiting Your Graphic Design Career
Many graphic designers are stuck and they don’t even know it.They price based on feelings, take feedback like a punch to the gut, and chase originality over clarity…all because they’re thinking like artists, not designers.This mindset starts early with crayons, sketchbooks, prais ... Show More
35m 24s
Feb 2025
Graphic Design Business Lessons by Andy Warhol. Turning Your Creativity Into Cash!
Graphic designers are taught to create, not sell—and that’s exactly why so many talented designers stay broke. The harsh reality? Talent alone won’t make you successful.The industry is full of insanely skilled designers who struggle to make ends meet while less talented ones cash ... Show More
44m 27s
Feb 2025
Why Creative Freedom is a Graphic Designers Kryptonite—And How to Actually Unlock Your Design Genius
Graphic designers love to complain about brand guidelines, tight budgets, and impossible client restrictions—but what if those so-called limitations are actually the secret weapon to better design?That’s right—constraints don’t kill creativity; they fuel it. The best designers, t ... Show More
51m 38s
May 27
AI, Cheap Clients & Bad Logos Are The Best Things to Happen to YOU with Allan Peters & James Barnard
Graphic designers love to blame AI, cheap clients, and garbage logos for the downfall of the industry. But what if those things are actually your biggest opportunity?While most designers are panicking about race-to-the-bottom pricing, automation, and template trash flooding the m ... Show More
1 h
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami