Work with Patricia van den Akker
Trainer. speaker. strategic consultant.
for creative organisations & businesses
Patricia works with cultural organisations, art schools and established creative professionals to deliver practical business training, professional development programmes, and strategic 1:1 advice.
We specialise in professional & business development for the creative sector
Led by Patricia van den Akker, director of The Design Trust, who has over 25 years of experience in teaching, advising and coaching creative sole traders and small business owners on all aspects of their business development.
We work especially with designers, craftspeople, illustrators and other visual creative professionals, and with creatives who teach and write.
Together with marketing and event specialist Anne-Marie Shepherd, Patricia designs and delivers training - in person or online - that is relevant, practical and tailored to the realities of creative businesses today.
For organisations
Business development training for creative professionals & graduates
Patricia works with universities, membership organisations, art studios and creative networks to deliver high-quality training for designer makers, artists, illustrators and other creative professionals.
This includes not just individual workshops or talks, but also the development of training programmes tailored to your audience or funding requirements.
Patricia has worked with …
Art schools, including University of the Arts London Incubator, Central Saint Martins Ceramics & Jewellery department, Royal College of Art, Leeds Arts University, West Dean College
Membership bodies, including Design-Nation, London Potters, Contemporary Glass Society, Basket Makers’ Association
Artist networks and studios, including Cockpit Arts, SPACE Studios, Hammersmith and Fulham Creative Enterprise Zone, Made Southwest, Hotwalls’ Studios, Farnham Creatives Network, New Brewery Arts
Sector organisations, including The King’s Foundation, QEST, Embroiderers’ Guild, GNCCF, Craft Festival/Find a Maker, Crafts Council, Goldsmiths’ Centre, Mastered, Hand & Lock Prize, Folksy, Enterprise Nation
What we offer
Talks and keynote speaking - on creative business, marketing, professional development, and teaching workshops
Conference speaking and panels - for design and craft events, festivals and sector gatherings
Workshops and masterclasses (in-person and online) - practical, engaging sessions tailored to your audience
Professional development programmes - for graduates, emerging and established craftspeople
Strategic input on training design - advising on training content, structure, and delivery
Professional development topics include:
Business planning, strategy, and time management for creatives
Marketing & selling: online, at craft fairs or wholesale
Costing and pricing for creatives
Managing, pricing and marketing of craft commissions
Creating and launching collections successfully
Teaching creative workshops and the business of teaching
We combine practical, real-world business knowledge with a deep understanding of the creative sector. All our training is designed to be relevant, up to date, and actionable - helping participants take confident steps forward.
Trusted by leading creative organisations
“We’ve worked with Patricia for many years, and our exhibitors consistently praise her workshops.
Her expertise matches her warmth and realism, and her understanding of the ever-changing challenges makers face is second to none.”
— Ann-Marie Franey, Director of the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
For creative business owners
Strategic consultancy & business coaching for accomplished creative business owners
For highly experienced and ambitious creative business owners who have built something substantial already - and are ready to reflect and work seriously on what comes next.
Patricia helps established creatives step back, explore the bigger potential and deeper purpose of their work, and make strategic decisions about their creative direction, positioning, business model and future opportunities.
Patricia’s 1:1 consultancy is for accomplished creatives with a distinctive body of work, exceptional skills and big ambitions. Their work is rooted in something deeper - from nature, place and cultural identity to craftsmanship, heritage and keeping specialist craft skills alive. Some are building a studio, ‘school’ or creative community to take their teaching business to the next level.
Patricia works with a very small number of committed clients - usually over 6 - 12 months, but often much longer to:
Define your longer-term personal and business direction
Strengthen your strategy, positioning, reputation & ideal client focus
Create a more sustainable business model around your best work, special talents, expertise, values and life’s ambitions
Refine your reputation, presentation and marketing approach - to become more confident and attract the best exhibition, commissioning and teaching opportunities for you
Turn big ideas into strategic priorities, practical plans and action
Have a space to dream, reflect honestly, be fired on, as well as challenged, deeply understood, and supported too
Build real confidence, focus and accountability
Patricia’s 1:1 support is not about doing more.
Controversially, Patricia rarely helps clients to ‘grow’.
Instead, this work is about less, but better: going deeper, becoming more distinctive and intentional, and building the right business around the work, ideas and contribution you want to be known for.
Fees start from £1,250 + VAT for a 6-months strategic development package, including an in depth 2-hour discovery ‘workshop’ and strategy questionnaire, the development of a strategic plan, and 4 online follow up coaching & accountability sessions.
Get in touch here with Patricia about working with her
If 1:1 coaching is not right for you (yet) check out our Business Club or Dream Plan Do memberships.
★★★★★
"A huge part of working with Patricia in the last 4 years has been having that one professional constant. I have a safe space to be really honest and having a sounding board has been transformative for me.
I know she is in my corner, cheering me on. The permission to think really big and be bold about what I want in my business & life and her ongoing support underpins so much of what I am achieving now.”
Hanny Newton - embroidery artist & teacher
★★★★★
"Patricia has a unique way of thinking about and challenging our practice from a very comprehensive perspective, not just the act of creating and selling the work but the consequences each decision may have on the lives of those that enact them.
She is frank, honest and open but not without an appropriate dose of playful mischief.”
Barnaby Ash & Dru Plumb - wood atelier Ash & Plumb
photo credit: Alun Calunder
★★★★★
"After working with Patricia, it feels as though a light has been switched on.
I trust my own judgement much more and have a clear sense of who I am as an artist. My thinking had to catch up before the next steps could happen. I can see my work belongs on a much bigger platform, and now I feel comfortable with that.
Annette Marie Townsend - artist
photo credit: Dewi Tannatt Lloyd