4.9
(8 ratings)
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn how to pitch and present your ideas effectively using classic narrative techniques used by the world's best design teams.
4.9
(8 ratings)
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn how to pitch and present your ideas effectively using classic narrative techniques used by the world's best design teams.
Course alumni
Course overview
➤ Get your ideas made
If you want your ideas made, which is the most honest and respectable way to advance a career or company forward, they must be sold well and without deception.
➤ Proven approach
The material in this course has been used to sell ideas to the boards and C-Suite of the Fortune 500, leading VC funds, and high-profile international talent including a former US presidential candidate.
➤ Practical, applicable
No more vague, unactionable 'storytelling' theory. Three simple and widely applicable principles to give you a method of preparation whether you're selling to your design manager, an investor or a $10m client.
➤ More efficient teams
Take top-of-funnel ideas and R&D through to validation more quickly when ideas are communicated clearly and effectively. Getting internal consensus on new ideas will become your teams' superpower.
01
Design, product and strategy professionals in agencies or in-house teams who need to sell their work to clients or managers.
02
Founders of startups from the stages of Pre-Seed to Series A who are going through growth or venture capital fundraising.
03
Cross-functional teams who are required to conduct frequent internal ‘upwards selling’ to VP-level execs or the C-suite.
Learn the single most important part of narrative structure
Use the Inciting Incident to make your idea compelling and memorable so it can be easily retold.
Avoid the common pitfalls of pitching ideas
No more unnecessary theatrics. Just clear, effective communication.
Learn from real-world pitch examples
See the Principles in action. Learn from client, VC and high-profile talent pitches.
Live workshopping of briefs
Hands-on putting the Principles to use as a community.
3 interactive live sessions
Lifetime access to course materials
21 in-depth lessons
Direct access to instructor
2 projects to apply learnings
Guided feedback & reflection
Private community of peers
Course certificate upon completion
Maven Satisfaction Guarantee
This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.
Sell the Idea: Storytelling for design
Week 1
Oct 7—Oct 13
Events
Fri, Oct 11, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM UTC
Modules
Week 2
Oct 14—Oct 18
Events
Wed, Oct 16, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM UTC
Fri, Oct 18, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM UTC
Modules
Post-Course
Modules
4.9
(8 ratings)
20 years of design and innovation as the creator of award-winning and internationally bestselling digital products.
Ian has been honoured by the Apple Design Award, the Royal Television Society, and the Art Director’s Club in New York. He is the Founder of VC-backed healthtech company Aide Health, Founding Partner of digital product studio Zolmo and published author of Spark for the Fire: How Youthful Thinking Unlocks Creativity. He previously served as part of the design leadership for agencies in WPP and Publicis Groupe.
Ian has spoken at 30+ conferences worldwide, including Semi Permanent, Cannes Lions, and Thinking Digital. He has written for Fast Company, Sifted, The Guardian and Creative Review.
He is also an advisory board member of D&AD Shift and a member of the Board of Governors at Arts University Bournemouth, one of the top creative institutions in the UK.
More here: ianwharton.com
Simon Cox
Michael Wanelmaier
Dan Whitehead
Troy Suda
Kevin Johnston
Christopher Poots
Join an upcoming cohort
Cohort 2
$599
Dates
Payment Deadline
2-4 hours per week
💡 Go at your own pace
Work through the 21 lessons (18 video) in your own time.
👉 Apply the principles with projects
Hands-on ways to apply your learnings.
🙋♀️ Live Q&A at the end of Week 1
1 hour
I'll answer all of your questions about the course and my pitching and management experience over 20 years.
⚡️ 3x pitch examples delivered live
1 hour
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.
👏 Live group session in Week 2
1.5 hours
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.
Want to make 'storytelling' more actionable? You're not alone.
Using three beloved feature films, this free lesson covers the definitions of the Inciting Incident — the only part of narrative structure you need to use when selling an idea, whatever the stakes. It covers:
➤ What is it?
➤ Why is it so crucial?
➤ How do we use it to our advantage?
Get the free video lesson 👇
What will I learn?
What stage of a career is this for?
What if I can't join the live sessions?
What isn't covered?
How often will this run?
Why do you support D&AD Shift?
Join an upcoming cohort
Cohort 2
$599
Dates
Payment Deadline