Running Design Business on Publisher!

[Esh]

This may sound like a joke, but it's absolutely not!

Basically, I came across a middle-aged man today (I won't mention names for obvious reasons!) who runs quite a succesful small design and print business.
Thats not the joke.
This is. The only software he uses are: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Publisher for design!

Now I'm not sure if he was taking the p***, but when I saw his work, I could see it was amateurish, with lots of cutting/pasting and clip art...but he seems to be doing so well! Is it just good marketing or something? I mean he doesn't even have a website!

Anyway I'll go away now and continue to wonder.
I guess, at least it gives me some kind of hope if someone else is running a design business on Publisher.

[Katedesign]

He will be cheap. . .

[sweetums]

Cheap and nasty work will only get you cheap and nasty clients so it is no loss to the "real" designers out there!

[Esh]

Not that my work is great, but seriously, this guys work is really poor. It must be cheap pricing or something why he's so busy. If I manage to get hold of something I'll post it (hiding obvious info on it of course)....I've become a bit of a scrooge myself, but if he wanted to save on software he could always download free stuff. Either its that or he can't be bothered to move on with the times.

[Ian Bonner]

I think if you want to take yourself seriously then you have to buy serious applications. The fact that most of his work would struggle to get printed to a high standard says it all really.

[dot design]

I think if you want to take yourself seriously then you have to buy serious applications. The fact that most of his work would struggle to get printed to a high standard says it all really.

Yep like Ian says those applications (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Publisher) are limited, meaning they will limit you're work standard too. Design packages aren't everything but they are probably 90% these days!

[JohnRoss]

I came across a middle-aged man today (I won't mention names for obvious reasons!) who runs quite a succesful small design and print business... The only software he uses are: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Publisher for design!

I expect he delivers what he promises. That tends to be the bottom line in most supply business. Who cares what software he uses? It's like saying someone can't be a car mechanic because he doesn't own an electric spanner, it's irrelevant to the end customer.

[Ian Bonner]

I expect he delivers what he promises. That tends to be the bottom line in most supply business. Who cares what software he uses? It's like saying someone can't be a car mechanic because he doesn't own an electric spanner, it's irrelevant to the end customer.

Yeah you're right he must do. But I would think if you asked him about his third party involvement he would admit to finding it a lot harder to achieve his final product to the client than most because of the programs he uses. Its about having the right tools for the job.

You might even find he is making more money by doing it this way because of the work he has to put in to finding the right companies to source to. Is that a good or bad thing for the paying client? I don't know.