Cohort 2

Make your ideas memorable and get buy-in. Learn how to pitch and present your work for maximum impact.

Ian Wharton

Sell the Idea: Storytelling for Design

Google

frog

Dyson

Spotify

Gymshark

Ever struggled to get someone to see what you see?It's not the idea; it's the way it's sold. Even the best ideas in the world can fall at the first hurdle — when they are communicated to the people needed to bring them to life. Whether that's a design manager, an executive, a $10m client or an investor. Keeping an idea alive at this moment is the real challenge. This course will arm you with three principles to do just that. 'Storytelling' is a superpower, but usually unactionableYou've probably been told to "just use storytelling." Like everyone else, you likely found that vague and unhelpful. And yet, it's the most important skill to have if you want to accelerate your work and career. This course simplifies storytelling into a single element that you can easily use to your advantage. If you dislike pitching, you're not alonePresenting your work can feel exposing. Most people don't want to do it or fear it. That can wreak havoc on how an idea is expressed. The good news is this isn't a skill reserved for an elite few; you just need a simple method of preparation so you can confidently walk into the room, whatever the stakes. The three principles in this course: 1) Inciting IncidentThe only part of storytelling you need to make your idea compelling and memorable. 2) ContextOur ideas need to be fully understood. This exercise, when neglected, causes the majority of unfulfilled ideas. 3) The SurgeonEffective selling that avoids caricatures and theatrics. Plus: 🙋‍♀️ Live Q&amp;As and discussions⚡️ 3x real-world pitch examples✍️ Hands-on projects👏 Collaboratively solve a pitch brief💡 Hard-fought lessons about what not to do🔍 Q&amp;A Library (60+ minutes of new content for 2025) Join over 2,000 alumni from some of the world's best design and creative teams, including: •&nbsp;Metalab•&nbsp;Google•&nbsp;Ticketmaster•&nbsp;Gymshark•&nbsp;BBC•&nbsp;Huge Inc•&nbsp;Spotify•&nbsp;Accenture•&nbsp;Dyson•&nbsp;Lululemon•&nbsp;Frog•&nbsp;Wieden + Kennedy•&nbsp;Publicis Groupe•&nbsp;Dentsu•&nbsp;Havas

Ideas with unmistakable potential. Join 2,000+ alumni.

Design, product and strategy professionals in agencies or in-house teams who need to sell their work to clients or managers.

Founders of startups from the stages of Pre-Seed to Series A who are going through growth or venture capital fundraising.

Cross-functional teams who are required to conduct frequent internal ‘upwards selling’ to VP-level execs or the C-suite.

Who this course is for

Masterfully delivered pitches

Make storytelling actionable. One practical tool so you can use it to your advantage.

No more vague theory

A simple method to ensure your idea isn't misunderstood.

Avoid the common pitfalls of pitching ideas

See the principles in action. Learn from client, VC and high-profile talent pitches.

Learn from real-world pitch examples

Hands-on putting the principles to use as a community.

Live workshopping of briefs

Provide a brief description for each module as a way to sell the value of what students will be learning throughout the course.

First Module

Second Module

Third Module

Course syllabus

Course trailer

Meet your instructor

Product Design Director, Future Platforms

Trusted by the world's best teams

Work through the 21 lessons (18 video) in your own time.

💡 Go at your own pace

Hands-on ways to apply your learnings.

👉 Apply the principles with projects

I'll answer all of your questions about the course and my pitching and management experience over 20 years.

🙋‍♀️ Two live Q&A's

In one live session, I'll show you a real-world client, VC and high-profile talent pitch, and share the mistakes I've made so you can learn from them.

⚡️ 3x pitch examples delivered live

Working together, we'll deconstruct and tackle two fictitious briefs. We'll apply the principles and see how they form a foundation for any pitch no matter the stakes, or the odds.

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