Class is in session
4.8 (12)
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Make your ideas memorable and get buy-in. Learn how to pitch and present your work for maximum impact.
Class is in session
4.8 (12)
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Make your ideas memorable and get buy-in. Learn how to pitch and present your work for maximum impact.
Course alumni
Course overview
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 designer's superpower, but usually unactionable
You'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 alone
Presenting 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 Incident
The only part of storytelling you need to make your idea compelling and memorable.
2) Context
Our ideas need to be fully understood. This exercise, when neglected, causes the majority of unfulfilled ideas.
3) The Surgeon
Effective selling that avoids caricatures and theatrics.
Plus:
• Live Q&As and discussions
• 3x real-world pitch examples
• Hands-on projects
• Collaboratively solve a pitch brief
• Hard-fought lessons about what not to do
Join teams from some of the world's best design and creative companies, including:
• Metalab
• Ticketmaster
• BBC
• Huge Inc
• Accenture
• Dyson
• Lululemon
• Frog
• Wieden + Kennedy
• Publicis Groupe
• Dentsu
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.
No more vague theory
Make storytelling actionable. One practical tool so you can use it to your advantage.
Avoid the common pitfalls of pitching ideas
A simple method to ensure your idea isn't misunderstood.
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
Dec
6
Dec
12
Dec
13
4.8 (12 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
Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts
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.
Make 'storytelling' more actionable.
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 👇
Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts