The Design Strategy School by Davey and Krista is a step-by-step system designed to teach designers how to design, price, sell, and deliver strategic brands and websites. It’s built for anyone from beginners to experienced pros. The main catch is that some bonuses don’t become available until after the refund period.
What the Course Covers
This course is structured around 9 main modules, with an additional 20+ bonuses included. Judging by the module list, it aims to be a complete system for running a design business with a strategic focus.
The core curriculum starts with business foundations, including a “Studio CEO Essentials” module. It then moves into design fundamentals with “Design Principles” and “Elements of Design.” From there, you get into the practical application of “Brand & Logo Design” and “Customize a Showit Site.” The course also covers getting clients with “Marketing for Designers,” “Build Your Mailing List,” and “Paid Advertising.” It wraps up with a “Portfolio Projects” module.
Beyond the core modules, the 20+ bonuses offer a lot of practical assets. You get templates like the “Canva Starter Logo Pack,” a “Brand Presentation Canva Template,” and a “Proposal Canva Template.” There are also workflow aids like “Canned Workflow Emails” (which appears twice on the list, so maybe there are two sets or it’s a typo), a “Clickup Workflow Template,” and “Brand Strategy Worksheets.” For tools, you get an “AI Prompt Pack for Designers” and the “DK Design Bot*.” Business calculators like the “Pricing & Offer Calculator” (also listed twice) are included, along with a “Designer’s GEO Guide + Checklist.” Website assets include the “Edisto Website Template*” and “3 Santorini Licenses*.” You also get a “Grid & Layout System,” “Illustrator Logo Presentation File,” “Full Brand Presentation File,” “Passion Project Generator Prompt,” and a “Designer Directory Listing” (which is a one-year listing upon course completion).
What Is Missing, Thin, or Unclear from the Published Curriculum
While the course aims for a complete system, some areas are explicitly not covered or details are thin. For instance, the creator states this isn’t about design trends, so don’t expect specific trend forecasts or how to incorporate them. It also doesn’t focus on passive income models or selling templates, which some designers might look for in a business course.
On paper, the bonus list is extensive, but the repeated listing of “Canned Workflow Emails” and “Pricing & Offer Calculator” makes me wonder if those are distinct items or errors in the list provided. Also, some bonuses like the “Edisto Website Template*”, “DK Design Bot*”, and “3 Santorini Licenses*” have an asterisk, but the creator doesn’t publish what those asterisks mean. Are they limited-time, specific versions, or something else?
The course promises to teach you to earn $4,500+ per brand + website project and build a six-figure income working part-time. However, the exact depth of the business strategy for scaling to six figures, beyond pricing and marketing, isn’t detailed in the module names.
What You Need Before You Start
Before jumping in, you’ll need a general sense of aesthetics. The course is compatible with several key design and project management tools: Showit, Illustrator, Canva, and Clickup. You don’t need to know how to code, which is a plus for many designers. The creator also doesn’t say you need to know how to use Showit or Illustrator before taking this course, implying it might cover the basics or teach you as you go.
Who It Is For, and the Level It Assumes
Design Strategy School by Davey and Krista is made for “all skill levels,” which is a pretty broad claim. The creators state it’s for:
- Designers tired of winging projects or second-guessing their work.
- Designers wanting a repeatable system instead of starting from scratch.
- Those ready to charge for strategy, not just execution.
- Designers who want clients who respect their expertise and boundaries.
- Anyone wanting a business that supports their life, not consumes it.
- Beginners opening Illustrator for the first time.
- Designers refining a studio that’s already booking clients.
- Those seeking a robust foundation.
- Experienced designers looking to refine their process and elevate their strategic offerings.
Given this wide range, it seems the course aims to build a solid foundation that can benefit both newcomers and those looking to professionalize an existing practice. The promise of teaching beginners opening Illustrator for the first time suggests a hands-on, foundational approach.
Who Made It and Why That Matters for What You Will Learn
The course was created by Davey and Krista. Their background is significant: they built their system from a $100k design education and 15+ years of real client work. They’ve refined this proven system over 10+ years for building strategic brands, high-converting websites, and profitable design businesses. This background suggests the content will be grounded in real-world application and tested strategies, not just theoretical concepts. You’re learning from people who have been in the trenches and built a successful business themselves, focusing on practical, repeatable systems.
Who Should Skip It
You should skip Design Strategy School if you’re primarily interested in design trends or a generic “how to start a business” overview that doesn’t focus on strategic design. It’s also not for you if your main goal is passive income or selling templates. The course requires a general sense of aesthetics, so if you’re starting from absolute zero on that front, you might find it a bit fast-paced. Also, keep in mind that some of the 20+ bonuses aren’t available until after the 14-day money-back guarantee period has passed.
So, should you get it?
If you’re a designer at any stage looking for a practical, step-by-step system to build a strategic brand and web design business, this course looks promising. It’s especially well-suited if you want to charge for strategy and not just execution, and gain clients who value your expertise. However, if you’re looking for trend reports or a focus on passive income via templates, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Questions people ask
Will this course be open again soon?
The creator doesn't publish details about future course openings or enrollment periods.
Do I get immediate access to the course?
Yes, you get immediate access to the course, though some bonuses will not be available until after the refund period has passed.
Will this course teach me to run a business?
Yes, Design Strategy School teaches how to design, price, sell, and deliver strategic brands and websites, including a Studio CEO Essentials module and marketing lessons.
Do I need to know how to use Showit or Illustrator before taking this course?
The creator states the course is for all skill levels, including beginners opening Illustrator for the first time, implying prior knowledge is not strictly required.
Prefer to buy directly from Davey and Krista at full price? See the official page.
