Help offered to Michigan’s small businesses

EDITORS: Blurbs and PSAs follow.

ANN ARBOR—Design information and assistance for Michigan’s small businesses is available free of charge from a new Web site developed by the University of Michigan’s School of Art and Design with funding from Ameritech.

“Design-in-Biz,” at www.designinbiz.org, offers businesses help in developing and marketing a more profitable and cost-effective product or service. Michigan businesses can also become part of an online learning community with other small businesses, U-M design faculty, and design professionals to share expertise, tips, and strategies focused on small business needs.

“Good design can give small business a powerful tool to optimize their operations, products and services. Our Web site can be a first step for many small businesses to quickly learn how design can work for them,” says Jack Williamson, director of the project.

The Web site outlines basic steps in working with a designer and explains what a design is while offering case studies of various programs that have found success through design. Worksheets are available online to assess any current communication plans&#8212what has worked and what has not, and what message the business wants to send to its customers.

For additional information, visit the Web site at www.designinbiz.org or contact Jack Williamson at jhwill@umich.edu or the project manager Rhonda DeMasson at hesselti@umich.edu.

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PRINT: Business alert! Design information and assistance for small Michigan businesses is available free of charge from a new Web site developed by the University of Michigan School of Art and Design with funding from Ameritech. Businesses can learn how design can help them develop and market more profitable and cost-effective products and services. Businesses can also become part of an online learning community with other small businesses, U-M design faculty, and design professionals to share expertise, tips and strategies focused on small business needs. Businesses can send in an image of one of their own design (a logo, a product, a package, etc.) and get a free online evaluation. The Web site address is www.designinbiz.org. Check it out.

RADIO: Business alert! Design information and assistance for small Michigan businesses is available free of charge from a new Web site developed by the University of Michigan School of Art and Design with funding from Ameritech. Businesses can learn how design can help them develop and market more profitable and cost-effective products and services. Businesses can also become part of an online learning community with other small businesses, U-M design faculty, and design professionals to share expertise, tips and strategies focused on small business needs. The Web site address is www.designinbiz.org. Check it out.

OR: Design information and assistance for small Michigan businesses is available free of charge from a new Web site developed by the University of Michigan School of Art and Design with funding from Ameritech. Businesses can learn how design can help them develop more profitable products and services, and they can join an online learning community with other small businesses, U-M design faculty, and design professionals. The Web site address is www.designinbiz.org.

OR: Free design information and assistance for small Michigan businesses is available at the new University of Michigan School of Art and Design Web site, funded by Ameritech. Learn how design can help create ore profitable products and services, and join their online learning community. The address is www.designinbiz.org.

School of Art and Designwww.designinbiz.orgJack Williamsonjhwill@umich.edu