The Design Guru Problem: When Educators Stop Designing
Chris Do stopped client work in 2018. Ran Segall stopped in 2020. Meanwhile, Brett Williams makes $3.1M/year still designing. Here's how to tell education-first from design-first.
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Every few months, someone new emerges on design Twitter with a "proven system" for building a six-figure design business. Their feed is perfectly curated. Their testimonials glow. Their course costs $2,000.
But here's what they don't show you: their actual client work. Their real design income. How they made money before the course launched.
After pulling together 50+ sources from Reddit, Twitter, YouTube, podcasts, and industry publications, a pattern became visible. Some of the biggest names in design education haven't done client work in years - while others balance teaching with an active design practice.
The difference matters more than most designers realize.
TL;DR for Busy Designers
EDUCATION-FIRST (Course income exceeds design income):
- Chris Do (The Futur): Stopped client work December 2018. Now runs a 7-figure education business.
- Ran Segall (Flux Academy): Stopped client work ~2020. Now runs a $2M/year course business.
DESIGN-FIRST (Still actively practicing):
- Aaron Draplin: Runs DDC as a one-man operation, still takes logo clients. Teaching supplements design work.
- Will Paterson: Runs his own design agency, shows real client work process on YouTube.
- Brett Williams (Designjoy): Generates $3.1M/year from design work, still handles 30-40 clients solo. Course is supplementary.
Bottom Line: Know what you're buying. Education-first creators teach historical expertise. Design-first creators share current practice.
The Economics That Created This Split
Let me be straight about this: the economics of design education create a perverse incentive structure.
According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy is projected to grow from $250 billion to $480 billion by 2027. Top course creators can earn over $1.3 million in a single launch.
Meanwhile, the average UX designer earns $106,380 per year. Graphic designers earn around $61,300.
The math is brutal: a single successful course launch can equal a decade of design salary.
This creates a fork in the road. Some designers discover they can make 5-10x more teaching than designing, and pivot fully. Others keep teaching as a supplement while maintaining their practice. Both are valid choices - but buyers should know which they're getting.
How I Researched This
This analysis draws from documented public sources:
- Podcast interviews where educators discuss their business models
- Their own statements about when they stopped client work
- Public revenue disclosures from interviews and case studies
- Course pricing directly from their websites
- Portfolio and project evidence of ongoing design work
This article has no affiliate links. No one paid for coverage. All claims are sourced.
PART 1: EDUCATION-FIRST DESIGNERS
These designers built legitimate credentials, then fully pivoted to education when the economics made sense. They are no longer practicing designers - they are educators who used to design.
Case Study #1: Chris Do (The Futur)
Chris Do is the founder of The Futur, one of the largest design education platforms. He's also the founder of Blind, an Emmy-winning motion design studio. His credentials were real. But here's what the timeline shows:
Evidence: Chris Do Stopped Client Work in 2018
1. His Own "Freedom Date" Statement
According to multiple interviews, Chris calls December 2018 his "freedom date" - the point at which The Futur "fully transitioned away from client work."
In his own words from a Creator Science interview: "It's been a blissful seven years since then."
That's seven years without doing client design work.
2. Why He Stopped
Chris has been transparent about this. In a School of Motion interview: "I was thinking, wait a minute, we're in a line of business that's not going to be around. I don't want to be waiting for my death. The writing was clearly on the wall."
3. The Revenue Numbers
Evidence for where his income now comes from:
| Revenue Stream | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Pro Group Membership | $1M+ annually with 900+ members at $2,496/year |
| The Futur Overall | 7-figure business growing "300% year over year" |
| Speaking Fees | $30,000-$50,000 per event |
| One-on-One Coaching | Reportedly worth "$10,000/hour" according to testimonials |
| YouTube | 2.65 million subscribers with monetization |
4. The Course Catalog
The Futur offers numerous courses:
- Business Bootcamp
- Painless Pricing ($49-$499 range)
- Typography 01
- Lettering 01
- Stylescapes
- Brand Strategy Fundamentals
- Logo Design & Construction
- How to Negotiate
- The Perfect Proposal
Plus a content library of 5,000+ hours of recorded material.
5. His Previous Design Income (For Context)
Blind, his design agency, had $80 million in gross billings over 22 years. That's roughly $3.6M per year on average.
His education business now generates 7 figures annually - comparable to his peak agency years, but with better margins and without production overhead.
6. What Happened to Blind?
His former agency Blind has repositioned as a "brand strategy consultancy". Chris himself noted his "senior team of Creative Directors" handles any remaining client work - he doesn't.
7. The Team Structure
The Futur operates with 8 people working remotely focused on education content.
Summary: Chris Do
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Last Client Work | December 2018 |
| Years Since Designing | 7+ years |
| Education Revenue | 7 figures annually |
| Pro Membership Revenue | $1M+ annually |
| Speaking Fee | $30,000-$50,000 |
| YouTube Subscribers | 2.65 million |
| Course Library | 5,000+ hours |
| Current Focus | 100% education |
Chris Do built real credentials over 22 years. Then he stopped designing and became a full-time educator. Both things are true.
Case Study #2: Ran Segall (Flux Academy)
Ran Segall founded Flux Academy, one of the most popular web design education platforms. He had nearly 20 years of design experience. His credentials were legitimate. But the numbers tell a story:
Evidence: Ran Segall Stopped Client Work Around 2020
1. His Own Podcast Statement
In an April 2024 interview on Josh Hall's podcast:
"About four years ago he actually stopped doing client work and just focused on education."
That's his own statement: no client work since approximately 2020.
2. The Revenue Comparison
This is where it gets interesting:
| Income Source | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Former Freelance Design | $250K/year | Flux Academy website |
| Current Course Business | $2M/year | Everything Is Marketing podcast |
His course business makes 8 times what he made as a freelance designer.
3. His Own Assessment
In his Creator Science interview, Ran acknowledged: "While he's a good designer, he's better on video than most people" - and considers that his "superpower."
He explicitly chose to lean into what makes him the most money: education, not design.
4. Student Scale
The scale of the education operation:
- 9,400+ students enrolled across courses
- 3,000+ students in Webflow Masterclass alone
5. Course Pricing
Direct from the Flux Academy website:
| Course | Price |
|---|---|
| 9 Course Bundle | $3,495 |
| Webflow Masterclass | $695 |
| Framer Masterclass | $695 |
| Web Design Masterclass | Varies |
| Brand Design Mastery | Varies |
| Standout Portfolio | $140 |
6. Recognition as an Educator
Ran was a 2022 Finalist for Webflow's Community Educator of the Year - notably an educator award, not a designer award.
7. Content Production Focus
Evidence of where his time goes:
- 580,000+ YouTube subscribers
- Weekly podcast "Life In Flux"
- Team of 8 people focused on the education business
- Main goal: "building a team to transfer the business from himself to a real business"
Summary: Ran Segall
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Last Client Work | Approximately 2020 |
| Years Since Designing | 4+ years |
| Former Design Income | $250K/year |
| Course Revenue | $2M/year |
| Revenue Multiple | 8x former income |
| Total Students | 9,400+ |
| YouTube Subscribers | 580,000+ |
| Current Focus | 100% education |
Ran Segall was a successful freelance designer. Then he discovered he could make 8x that income teaching others. He made the rational economic choice.
PART 2: DESIGN-FIRST EDUCATORS
These designers teach as a supplement to their active design practice. They still do client work. Their teaching reflects current practice, not historical expertise.
Case Study #3: Aaron Draplin (Draplin Design Co.)
Aaron Draplin is a legendary designer known for logos, the Field Notes brand, and an unmistakable aesthetic. He teaches on Skillshare. But unlike Chris Do or Ran Segall, he still actively designs.
Evidence: Aaron Draplin Still Does Client Work
1. One-Man Operation By Choice
From Skillshare: "Some entrepreneurs choose to staff up and outsource work in order to grow, but Draplin has taken a different tack and remained a one-man operation. He credits his low overhead with giving him the freedom to experiment with new types of design and take on work he genuinely loves."
He chooses to keep doing design work. He hasn't outsourced it or stopped.
2. Ongoing Client Work
His clients include Nike, Burton Snowboards, Esquire, Red Wing, Ford Motor Company and the Obama Administration. Recent work includes an Obermeyer logo design featured in December 2024. His work exemplifies the timeless logo principles that separate enduring design from trends.
3. Recent Activity (2024-2025)
His active schedule shows ongoing work, not retirement:
- Dec 2024: Obermeyer logo design feature
- Jan 2025: Record Collectors Club podcast appearance
- May 2024: Creative Boom podcast on "keeping things small and fun"
- April 2024: DesignThinkers podcast
- Ongoing: "Merchmas 2025" products on his website
4. Field Notes: Active Product Business
From Fast Company: Field Notes has "sold over 10 million notebooks and operates in 2,000 stores worldwide" and "just completed its best year for sales and revenue with 2025 tracking to exceed those numbers."
This is active product design work, not passive course income.
5. Speaking Fees Support Design, Not Replace It
His speaking fee is $10,000-$20,000 - meaningful income, but he's done over 550 speaking appearances as a supplement to design work, not a replacement.
6. Merchandise Supplements Logos
From Behance: "It's nice to have the money coming in but now I have to make room for less logos just to handle the merch."
He's reducing logo work slightly to handle merchandise - but still doing logos. Not stopping entirely.
7. Teaching Philosophy
His Skillshare classes focus on his actual process - watching him design, not hearing theories about design. Students say they enjoy his classes because "he's as blunt about the challenges of the life of a freelance designer as he is generous in sharing every hard-won nugget of wisdom."
Summary: Aaron Draplin
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Still Doing Client Work | Yes - remains a one-man operation |
| Recent Projects | Obermeyer (Dec 2024), ongoing logo work |
| Teaching Income | Supplement to design work |
| Speaking Fee | $10,000-$20,000 |
| Skillshare Classes | 8 classes showing actual process |
| Field Notes Revenue | Best year ever in 2024 |
| Book Status | 12th printing |
| Current Focus | Design first, teaching second |
Case Study #4: Will Paterson (Will Paterson Design Studio)
Will Paterson runs a design studio and has 940,000+ YouTube subscribers. Unlike Chris Do or Ran Segall, he shows his actual client work process on camera.
Evidence: Will Paterson Still Does Client Work
1. Owns and Operates a Design Agency
From Logo Geek: Will Paterson "is a creative director, designer, branding expert and YouTuber who has been designing for over a decade, beginning as a freelance artist to now being the proud owner of his own design agency."
He runs an active agency. Not a course company.
2. YouTube Shows Real Client Work
His channel is distinctive because he walks through actual client projects - "step-by-step through the process of creating real-world client projects like a logo for a swanky cocktail bar."
This isn't theory. It's his actual work in progress.
3. Clients Come From Content
When asked if YouTube attracts clients, Will said on Logo Geek: "All the time. Yeah, most of the people that email me... have that element of trust, so they become a client in one way or another."
His content generates design clients, not just course sales.
4. Client Roster
He's worked with Adobe, Instagram, and Skillshare - not as a course creator, but as a designer.
5. Team Structure for Client Work
From millennial entrepreneurs: "He hires other people to help out with all client needs under his name."
He's scaled his design practice, not abandoned it.
6. Teaching Supplements Practice
Will has Skillshare courses and speaking engagements, but the key difference: his teaching content shows his current work process, not historical expertise from years ago.
Summary: Will Paterson
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Still Doing Client Work | Yes - owns and operates a design agency |
| YouTube Content | Shows real client work process |
| Clients Include | Adobe, Instagram, Skillshare |
| YouTube Subscribers | 940,000+ |
| Current Focus | Design first, content supports practice |
Case Study #5: Brett Williams (Designjoy)
Brett Williams runs Designjoy, a subscription-based design agency that generates $3.1 million in 2024 - and he still does all the design work himself. He also has a course. The key: design remains his primary income.
Evidence: Brett Williams Still Does Client Work
1. Solo Operation Generating $3.1M/Year
From Getlatka: "In 2024, Designjoy's revenue reached $3.1M up from $1.5M in 2023."
And from his LinkedIn: "Running a $100k/m one-man design agency."
He's still doing the design work himself. Not outsourcing. Not managing a team. Designing.
2. Active Client Load
From Lifestyle Roll: "He's a solopreneur handling up to 30 or even 40 recurring clients and their requests."
His clients pay $4,995-$7,995 per month for unlimited design requests.
3. Revenue Growth Shows Active Work
The trajectory from Starter Story:
- 2021: $833K
- 2022: $1M
- 2023: $1.5M
- 2024: $3.1M
This growth comes from design work, not course sales.
4. The Course is Supplementary
He has Productize Yourself - a course at $149 with 5,000+ students. But at $149 × 5,000 = ~$750K total (lifetime, not annual), while Designjoy generates $3.1M per year.
His course teaches what he's actively doing. Not what he used to do.
5. Still in the Trenches in 2025
From a June 2025 podcast: Brett Williams "runs a $2M/year one-person business" - confirming he's still actively working, not retired to teaching.
6. The Productized Model
Unlike traditional agencies, Brett uses Trello for async client work with 24-48 hour turnaround. He delivers one task at a time, no calls, no proposals. This is active design work at scale.
Summary: Brett Williams
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Still Doing Client Work | Yes - handles 30-40 recurring clients solo |
| 2024 Design Revenue | $3.1M |
| Course Revenue | ~$750K lifetime (5,000 students × $149) |
| Revenue Ratio | Design work generates 4x+ more per year than course lifetime |
| Monthly Design Income | $100K+/month |
| Current Focus | Design first, course teaches what he's actively doing |
Brett Williams is proof that you can teach and practice. His course revenue is a fraction of his design income - and his course content reflects his current work, not historical expertise.
What kind of results do clients pay $5,000/month for? Check our analysis of 26 Branding Success Stories to see the transformations that justify premium design fees - and why active designers like Brett command those rates.
THE KEY DISTINCTION
The difference isn't that education-first designers are bad and design-first designers are good. The difference is what you're buying:
Education-First (Chris Do, Ran Segall)
What you get:
- Expertise accumulated before they stopped designing
- Business and mindset content (their current expertise)
- Large-scale production values
- Community and networking opportunities
What you don't get:
- Current knowledge of 2026 tools and client dynamics
- Insights from active practice
- Real-time market experience
Design-First (Aaron Draplin, Will Paterson, Brett Williams)
What you get:
- Current, active practice shown in real-time
- Techniques they're actually using with clients
- Up-to-date tool knowledge
- Authentic challenges and solutions
- Proof their methods work (they still use them daily)
What you don't get:
- Polished, large-scale course production
- Extensive business coaching infrastructure
- Huge community networks
Red Flags for Identifying the Difference
1. When Did They Last Do Client Work?
Both Chris Do and Ran Segall have been honest about this when directly asked - but it's not prominently featured in their marketing.
2. What Do They Actually Show?
Aaron Draplin and Will Paterson show themselves designing. Chris Do and Ran Segall talk about designing.
3. What Awards Do They Win?
Ran Segall was nominated for "Educator of the Year." Aaron Draplin still gets design awards for his logos.
4. Who Gives Testimonials?
Look for client testimonials about design work, not just student testimonials about courses.
5. How Much Content Do They Produce?
Running a $2M+ course business requires constant content production - YouTube videos, podcasts, social media, email marketing. There aren't enough hours in the day to do that AND take on meaningful client work.
The Pattern
Going through designer community discussions, one observation kept coming up:
"The most 'liked' and 'successful' designers on social media are the least successful in real life. Real busy successful people don't have time to make trendy posts/reels everyday."
This matches what Andy Budd observed: "A few designers have successfully monetized their knowledge, personality and following in a way that means they no longer have to do design work."
The key word: "no longer have to."
Some chose to stop. Others kept going. Know which you're learning from.
The Uncomfortable Truth About Guru Claims
Here's something nobody talks about: gurus inflate their numbers to sell courses.
When someone claims they make "$2M/year" or "$150K/month," ask yourself: is that gross revenue or profit? Is that consistent or their best month ever? Are they including course sales in those "design income" figures?
The reality is that course creators have a massive incentive to appear more successful than they are. Their entire business model depends on you believing that their "system" works. The bigger the numbers, the more courses they sell.
Be skeptical of:
- Round numbers ("$100K/month" vs "$87,342/month")
- Revenue without context (gross vs net, one-time vs recurring)
- "Lifestyle" content mixed with income claims
- Before/after stories without verifiable details
What Actually Works for Learning Design (Mostly Free)
The design education industry wants you to believe you need their $2,000 course. You don't. Almost everything is available free.
Free Resources That Work:
- Coursera CalArts Specialization - Complete graphic design fundamentals, free to audit
- YouTube Channels from Working Designers:
- Will Paterson - Shows actual client work process
- The Futur - Business advice (even if Chris doesn't design anymore)
- Flux - Web design tutorials
- Logos by Nick - Logo tutorials
- Free Software:
Books Over Courses (For Fundamentals)
For the price of one guru's course, you can buy every foundational design book ever written:
- The Non-Designer's Design Book by Robin Williams (~$25)
- The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman (~$15)
- Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug (~$25)
- Logo Design Love by David Airey (~$20)
Real Work Over Simulated Projects
The designers who get hired aren't the ones with the most course certificates. They're the ones with real work in their portfolio.
Do real projects - even unpaid ones initially - rather than simulated course projects that look identical to thousands of other graduates.
Reddit designers consistently say: "It is completely possible to become a full time designer without paying lots of money for training and software, but you have to pay with willpower and motivation."
The Due Diligence Checklist
Before spending more than $500 on any design course:
1. When Did They Last Do Client Work?
Can you find evidence of client work from the last 12 months? Not just portfolio pieces - actual recent projects.
2. What Type of Content Do They Show?
Do they show themselves actually designing? Or do they mostly talk about design concepts and business?
3. What's Their Primary Income Source?
Has the educator publicly discussed their business model? Both Chris Do and Ran Segall have been relatively transparent when asked directly.
4. Free Content Quality
Evaluate their free YouTube content first. If the free content shows real design work, the paid content is more likely to be valuable for learning actual skills.
The Honest Truth
Chris Do and Ran Segall both built legitimate design careers. They both made rational economic decisions to pivot to education when the math made sense. They've both been relatively transparent about this when asked directly.
Aaron Draplin and Will Paterson chose differently - they kept design as their primary focus and use teaching to supplement and share their ongoing practice.
Neither choice is wrong. But the buyer should know what they're getting.
When you pay for a course from someone who hasn't done client work in 4-7 years, you're learning historical expertise from a professional educator.
When you pay for content from someone actively doing client work, you're learning current practice from a working designer.
Both have value. Just don't confuse one for the other.
Related Reading
If you're making decisions about design education or your design career, these resources provide additional context:
- When to Rebrand: The CEO's Decision Framework - Understand how business leaders think about design investments
- 26 Branding Success Stories - Real examples of design work that transformed businesses
- What Legendary Designers Understood About Logos - Timeless principles from designers who actually designed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chris Do still doing design work?
According to his own statements, Chris Do's "freedom date" was December 2018 - the point at which The Futur "fully transitioned away from client work." His agency Blind still exists, but he has stated that his "senior team of Creative Directors" handles client work. Chris himself has been focused on education for 7+ years.
Is Ran Segall still doing design work?
According to a 2024 podcast interview, Ran "about four years ago actually stopped doing client work and just focused on education." He has been a full-time educator since approximately 2020.
Is Aaron Draplin primarily a course creator?
No. Aaron Draplin remains a one-man operation doing active client work. He has 8 Skillshare classes, but his primary business is Draplin Design Co. and Field Notes - not course sales.
Does Will Paterson still do client work?
Yes. Will Paterson owns and operates a design agency. His YouTube content shows his actual client work process, and clients regularly come to him after watching his videos.
How much does Chris Do make from education?
The Futur is described as a 7-figure business. The Pro Group membership alone generates $1M+ annually. His speaking fees range from $30,000-$50,000 per event.
How much does Ran Segall make from courses?
According to the Everything Is Marketing podcast, Flux Academy does "$2M/year in sales." His former freelance design income was $250,000/year - meaning his course business generates 8x what he made designing.
What's the best way to learn design without expensive courses?
Reddit designers consistently recommend: free Coursera CalArts courses, YouTube tutorials from working designers who show their process (like Will Paterson or Aaron Draplin), books like The Non-Designer's Design Book, and most importantly - doing real projects rather than simulated course work.
Is Brett Williams primarily a course creator?
No. Brett Williams runs Designjoy, which generated $3.1M in 2024 from active design work. He handles 30-40 recurring clients himself. His Productize Yourself course at $149 is supplementary income - design work generates 4x+ more per year than his course has earned in its entire lifetime.
How can I tell if a design educator is still practicing?
Check for recent client work (last 12 months), see if their content shows them actually designing vs. talking about design, look at what awards they've won recently (educator vs. designer awards), and see how much content they produce (running a $2M course business leaves little time for client work). Compare their course revenue to their design revenue - if design income is still the majority, they're practicing.
Chris Do vs Aaron Draplin: Which approach is better for learning?
It depends on what you want to learn. Chris Do excels at teaching business strategy, pricing, and mindset for creative professionals - skills he refined during 22 years running Blind. His content is polished, comprehensive, and business-focused. Aaron Draplin excels at showing actual design craft - you watch him build logos in real-time, make mistakes, and solve problems on the fly. If you need business systems, go with The Futur. If you need to improve your actual design skills, watch Draplin work.
Ran Segall vs Brett Williams: Who should I learn from?
Ran Segall (Flux Academy) offers structured courses on web design and Webflow with a community of 9,400+ students. His content is organized into curriculum-based programs. Brett Williams doesn't teach web design - he teaches how to productize design services at scale. His $149 course shares the exact systems he uses to run Designjoy. If you want to learn web design tools, Flux is the choice. If you want to learn how to run a high-revenue solo design business, Brett's approach is more relevant.
Is The Futur Pro Group worth $2,496/year?
The Pro Group provides access to 5,000+ hours of content, live coaching calls, and a community of creative professionals. It's worth it if you specifically need business coaching, pricing help, and community accountability. It's not the best choice if you primarily need to improve your technical design skills - for that, hands-on practice and watching working designers (like Draplin, Will Paterson, or Logos by Nick) would be more effective and significantly cheaper.
Is Flux Academy worth the price?
Flux Academy's 9-course bundle costs $3,495. Individual courses like the Webflow Masterclass are $695. The courses are well-produced and comprehensive. They're worth it if you're specifically learning Webflow/Framer and want structured curriculum. However, much of the same information is available through Ran's free YouTube content, Webflow University (free), and other resources. The paid courses add structure, community access, and accountability - decide if that's worth the premium.
Co-Founder & Strategic Visionary at FullStop
Haris Ali D. is the Co-Founder and Strategic Visionary at FullStop, a full-service branding, digital and software development agency he co-founded in 2012. With expertise spanning brand design, digital marketing to custom software development, web and mobile applications Haris has helped hundreds of businesses transform ideas into market-ready solutions. He's passionate about AI innovation and helping SMBs compete with enterprise-level digital presence.
