Design for success—information for small businessesDesign for successANN ARBOR—Michigan small businesses looking for design assistance can find free information and opportunities for interaction at an expanded University of Michigan Web site.

Design in Biz, developed by U-M’s School of Art and Design with support from a $1.5 million, five-year grant from the Ameritech Foundation, offers online tutorials and interactive discussions on graphic and industrial design questions and projects.

An “eBusiness readiness” section gives businesses a comprehensive guide to planning how to take their business to the Internet.

Starting on the animated home page, visitors can jump directly to the section of the site most useful to them, whether graphic design or the new product design and eBusiness readiness sections. Once inside, the “Help Forum” hosts questions and gives visitors an opportunity to post their own design examples for constructive feedback from Michigan designers and other visitors.

Basic steps to take in working with a designer and basic design theory are explained and case studies of successes are presented. A wide variety of worksheets are available online to assess everything from marketing and communication plans and industrial design to product lines, what has worked and what has not, and how a business can send the message it wants to its customers.

To explore the opportunities in design for a new or existing business, visit http://www.designinbiz.org or contact Jack Williamson at jhwill@umich.edu or the project manager Rhonda DeMason at hesselti@umich.edu.

Design in BizeBusiness readinessHelp Forumhttp://www.designinbiz.org