2025 Dream Plan Do VIP Club incl. festival + business planner handbook

We are very excited to bring back our Dream Plan Do VIP Club for 2025 … and this year it’s even better! Not only will you get our new and larger 2025 Business Planner Handbook to design the life and business you want, but also every quarter a 3 hour online strategy workshops to dream, plan and do (guided by creative business adviser, trainer and coach Patricia), plus you will get 8 x 90mins monthly online Reflect & Plan and Q&A Sessions with Patricia and Anne-Marie of The Design Trust.

Our Dream Plan Do VIP Club members will kickstart the year by joining Dream Plan Do Festival, our brand new online creative business planning experience (included in your VIP Club membership) from 15 – 17 January 2025 where you will be working ON your creative business to design and create the best business for you, your family, and your clients. Make deliberate time to plan the year ahead, by yourself and share with other professional creatives.

Using our updated 110-page A4 Dream Plan Do Business Planner Handbook (included in your VIP Club membership), you will create your own business plan for 2025, setting business goals for 2025 across all parts of your creative business, identifying key quarterly projects and creating 90-Day Juicy Project Plans and Marketing plans to get more sales, trade orders, workshop bookings or commissions.

But if you struggle on your own to stay on track, to get started or to finish important projects, or turn your plans and actions into reality … that’s why we created this Dream Plan Do VIP Club!

To get that extra dose of support, accountability & professional community! Every quarter you can join a live 3-hour Dream Plan Do workshop guided by Patricia van den Akker, plus at the end of each month there is a 90mins check in meeting too for additional reflection, planning and asking your questions. Your VIP Club membership encourages the maximum benefit of our creative professional community and accountability.

PLEASE NOTE: The Quarterly & Monthly Dream Plan Do sessions are NOT recorded, and this is by design. Because we want you to commit to yourself. To make regular time and space for you to work ON your creative business, to reflect and review, to plan ahead. We know the importance of having a date in your diary to show up and do this important work!

The Dream Plan Do VIP Club is strongly about wanting to work & connect with other creative professionals, to learn from each other, to share wisdom, to give feedback, support and accountability to each other. We have started to experience the power of working together on our creative businesses at the same time. The energy, inspiration and wisdom that comes from that collaborative experience. And we want to accelerate that even more in 2025 with quarterly + monthly sessions faciliated by Patricia, as well as our online VIP Club Directory & Forum.

Join our 2025 Annual Dream Plan Do VIP membership here below, which includes: the 2025 Dream Plan Do Festival, and our 100+ page 2025 Dream Plan Do Business Handbook, 4 Quarterly strategic workshops and 8 monthly ‘check in’ sessions.

the key facts

• Includes: 2025 Dream Plan Do Festival – our interactive creative business planning experience on Weds 15 – Fri 17 January 2025 (10am – 1pm UK)
• Each Quarter (4x per year, 3 hours each) Quarterly Strategy Workshop + each month (8x per year, 90mins each) Monthly Check In to reflect & plan plus Q&A to ask questions
• includes: 100+ page 2025 Dream Plan Do Business Planner Handbook
• Want to be part of a supportive community to grow your creative business?
• Want to stay on track? Get more support, accountability + community throughout 2025 with our 4 x quarterly workshops + 8 monthly Reflect & Plan Q&A sessions

what’s the ‘2025 dream plan do VIP CLUB’ membership’ organised by the design trust?

Planning is step one. But executing your business ideas is step two!

Do you struggle to get started with important jobs or projects? Got a tendency to procrastinate (especially when it really matters)?

Or do you find it difficult to finish a project? You are ‘nearly’ there but you keep on adding to it. Or live keeps throwing more important & urgent jobs at you? (Every single time!) Or you got a new idea that you want to try instead! You are good at creating new work, but gettig them ‘out there’ and shipping & selling isn’t your strong suit? So you are zig-zagging through life but not really getting the sales you want!

Or do you find it impossible to stay on track? Do you get easily distracted or lose confidence to turn your big ideas and plans into reality? Get overwhelmed with too many options and ideas?

You are not the only creative human being who find this hard! Let’s be honest most of us find this hard.

And also, running your own creative business is hard! You need to juggle a lot of different jobs, with very different skill sets. You need to make time for making, but also marketing, finance, social media … and yourself! Most of these skills were not taught at art school, and the world is constantly changing so you need to stay on top of all that. Especially as a sole trader!

Unlike an employee you lack a structure or framework to get jobs done. You don’t have Monday morning team meetings to turn up to, so there is less of a push to get it done …

We created the Dream Plan Do VIP CLUB for creative professional humans like you!

You are ambitious and want to grow (creatively & financially) but you are also a realist, and know that you need some extra support & external community to keep going, to keep your motivation up, to keep working towards your goals and big plans. You have realised that it’s hard to do this by yourself, and you need external accountability & deadlines to stay on track.

During the last three years of hosting our VIP Club Membership we have seen again and again the importance and immense power of not doing it alone and having external accountability. We encourage our creative VIP members to support each other. Not just during the live sessions when sharing your challenges and solutions with others who are in similar situations, but also in between the quarterly sessions when the real work in your business is supposed to be happening (!). We have been working with accountability for 5 years: checking regularly in on progress, challenges, providing practical solutions or a different perspective. Learning and growing together. Making new connections, creating accountability partnerships, meetups in real life, and we love it that the VIP Club has created many deep & meaningful friendships for our members.

In 2024 we introduced live sessions only, with no recordings. This was a deliberate decision, and a big success in our opinion. Just like you would turn up on time for a live in-person workshop or a gig or a meetup with friends … the Dream Plan Do VIP sessions are live only! Because we want you to be committed to yourself, to make that regular time in your diary to work on your creative business, your ideas. Your time to dream, plan and do. Because it’s essential. Especially if you are always too busy!

And the good news is that it’s your decision … to commit and reserve that precious time for yourself. Our Dream Plan Do VIP sessions are ‘meetings with yourself’. And then you do not need to feel guilty afterwards for never watching that recording! (Who hasn’t got a huge list of ‘one day I will catch up on these recordings’? LOL)

And for 2025? We will focus even more on building a supportive community!

What does that mean? We will provide in-depth quarterly workshops and now also monthly ‘catch ups’. But we will also encourage more collaborative discussions. Of course we all might have days that we don’t want to talk to others, but we really want you to show up for yourself and other creatives. We want you to put your camera on and be truly present. And maybe you do not want to talk or share on that particular day, but you can still show up to listen to other creatives, to give them feedback, energy and support in the break out rooms or chat!

Because very often it’s easier to see somebody else’s challenges and provide solutions than on our own! So you can provide that insight for another creative!

We will (finally!) have a Dream Plan Do VIP Club Directory where you can find other members and connect with them. You can search for specific disciplines, challenges, knowledge or location. In our new Directory Forum you will be able to post questions, answers & wins … throughout the year. 24/7.

No, the Dream Plan Do VIP Club is not for everybody … we don’t want bystanders but active participants who commit to themselves and support each other this year!

what is included in the 2025 dream plan do vip club membership?

When you join the 2025 Dream Plan Do VIP Club membership you get:

• The 2025 Dream Plan Do Festival – a 3-day morning online creative business planning experience on Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January from 10am – 1pm UK time where you will be designing and creating a business to be proud of. We highly recommend that you join these 3 mornings live to make the most of the collaborative nature of this business planning experience, but the 3 workshops will be recorded and you will have access till 31 December 2025.
• Our updated 100+ page A4 Dream Plan Do Business Planner Handbook – which you will be using throughout the year to manage yourself and your business, to add your ideas & notes, to set better goals & create do-able plans, and keep track of your progress! You will start creating and refining your plans for 2025 and beyond in here during the Festival.
• 4 x Quarterly Dream Plan Do VIP Club workshops: At the end of each quarter you will be dreaming & planning for one hour each, and focus on doing (and not doing!) for 40 mins. Guided by Patricia van den Akker. These quarterly workshops will take place on the last Friday of the quarter: on Friday 31 January, 28 March, 27 June and 26 September, from 10am – 1pm UK time.
• 8 x Monthly Reflect & Plan & Q&A: On the last Friday of each month we will host a 90mins Reflect & Plan session for that month, plus a 30mins Q&A where you can ask The Design Trust team and fellow VIP Club members any business questions. The dates for the monthly sessions are: Friday 28 February, 25 April, 30 May, 25 July, 29 August, 31 October, 28 November, 12 December, all from 11am – 12.30pm UK time.
• Dream Plan Do VIP Club Directory & Forum: You will be able to connect and search for fellow members, and post your questions and answers in the Forum for even more support & connection.

Remember that the quarterly and monthly Dream Plan Do VIP Club sessions are not recorded.

who is the ‘2025 dream plan do VIP CLUB’ for?

We created the Dream Plan Do VIP Club one-year membership especially for ambitious creative professionals who …

• Have got big, juicy plans for your creative business in 2025! You want to grow … creatively & financially. To create bigger & more ambitious work, and a more purposeful & meaningful business, to make a difference in the world. To show in better places, raise your value and prices, do better marketing! You know what to do, but somehow there is always something else that’s more important. You want to surround yourself by ambitious creatives who want to take those important steps and put in the work too. You want a bit of support, advice and accountability to make it happen this year!
• You find it hard to get started or to finish your projects, especially if they are important! You are serious about your business but something is holding you back, and that’s … you! You need to stop dreaming and planning, and start DOING!
• You are always busy and frankly never have the time to pause, reflect, dream, or plan ahead! As a soletrader you are juggling a lot of different jobs, and you might be caring for children or parents as well. You know how important it is to get off the hamster wheel, and you need more structure e.g. to have a ‘regular meeting with yourself‘ where you can check in, to see if you are still doing the right things, at the right time of the year. You want to be more effective with your time rather than efficient. Because you are aware that you need to make the most of your limited energy!
• You want to stop ‘winging it, and get serious about creating a better creative business! You need to stop making whatever you fancy, and become more strategic. Set goals for your finances, income, price points, but also implement actions that work. You need to spend more time and energy on your marketing, website and get to know your ideal clients. No longer in the ‘hobby’ mindset, but ready to become a professional!
• You are a soletrader but you know you can’t grow by yourself! You want to learn from and with other creatives. You want to show up for yourself, but also support other creative professionals with your wisdom, insights or practical solutions. You want to expand your network, and be present and connect deeper and honestly with fellow creatives. And maybe even make a few new friends!
• … and maybe you have purchased one of our planners, diaries or journals in the past, but never really used it regularly? You thought you would, but somehow you forgot? You want to make the most of it this year, and really use it to it’s full potential.

The Design Trust works only with creative professionals, especially in crafts, design, illustration, visual arts, photography. Our clients create & sell products, crafts, art, workshops, commissions, events, exhibitions. But we also work with gallery & shop owners, curators, coaches, consultants, event organisers, and even other small businesses who are not ‘strictly within the creative industries’ e.g. working in beauty/wellbeing, yoga & sport, film, theatre or food.

The Dream Plan Do VIP Membership is exclusively for creative professionals from across the UK and abroad. It’s more suitable if you have been in business for at least 2 years, but ideally longer. We love diversity and welcome creative professionals, regardless of gender or age, race, nationality, ability (but you need to be a business!), or faith. If you have any special needs then please get in touch with us on info@thedesigntrust.co.uk so we can provide additional support and assistance if required.

The ‘2025 DREAM PLAN DO VIP Membership’ IS not suitable, if …

• You have only recently started your business (in the last two years) or you make as a hobby. The VIP Club is for ambitious creatives who have survived the first two hard years of setting up in business, and we assume you have regular sales, and either have a website to get regular online sales, do events or get commissions. If you are thinking about starting a business or are in the first two years then you can still attend the Dream Plan Do Festival and use the Business Planner Handbook to start growing your business in the meantime. We look forward to welcoming you in the near future!
• You do not want to share your dreams, plans, actions or wisdom with other creatives. You do not want to learn, play, experiment or contribute to other creatives’ success. You don’t want to get outside of your comfort zone. Maybe it’s too confrontational or confidential. Maybe you are a super introvert or shy person. No problem at all, but the Dream Plan Do Festival is not for you as we are looking for contributors, not spectators! Especially in the Dream Plan Do VIP Club we expect you to put your cameras on, to be really present (and not secretly make or clean, send another email or check in on your socia media). We want our VIP Club members to commit to themselves, to make time to dream + plan + do, to follow through and put in the work, to contribute, to show up – for yourself + for your fellow VIP Club members.
• You are busy on the last Friday of the month in 2025. Remember … our Dream Plan Do VIP Club sessions are live only, and won’t be recorded. It doesn’t mean that you have to turn up for every single session (you will get a lot of value if you only turn up to the Quarterly sessions!). But if you are already doing something else on Friday mornings (UK) then don’t sign up as you won’t be able to join in!

If you have any questions if the 2025 Dream Plan Do VIP Club is for you, then please email us on info@thedesigntrust.co.uk

Join the 2025 annual dream plan do membership here below for all year support

included in the price … 2025 dream plan do business planner handbook

For 2025 we have created and designed a brand new business planner handbook! With many of your favourite exercises but also many new ones!

• This will be your beautifully designed guide throughout the year … you will use it during the Dream Plan Do Festival to set your goals, start creating your quarterly plans and monthly actions, and track your progress. With Quarterly reviews, planners and trackers that we will use and update in advance or during our Quarterly VIP workshops. With the End of Year Review to reflect, and plan ahead.

• It’s partly a business planner, and partly a handbook! With 100+ pages, in a larger format than before (A4 horizontal, 29.7 cm x 21cm), with a softback full colour cover and full colour design. Printed on high quality recycled paper that doesn’t bleed. It’s perfectly bound like a book, and you can lay it flat. Great quality to use your business planner throughout the year … at home, in your workspace or when you are on the move.
• It starts with ‘The Business Handbook’ (40 pages): Organised in key business chapters, including: You, Your Creativity & Production, Your Marketing & Your Finance. It’s packed full with Patricia’s favourite ‘coach-like’ exercises, planning tools and expert tips to work on your business growth and direction. You will find many answers in here … like having a creative business adviser on call at any time you need it!
• The core: 60 pages Business Planner, with a complete planning system from big to small, across all the essential business departments, especially created for creative professionals (based on Patricia’s 25+ years as a creative business adviser, trainer + coach). To help you focus and get clarity, and turn big ideas into annual goals, strategic quarterly projects, monthly & weekly actions to achieve what you want. All together in one place. To come back to again and again throughout the year, and to keep track of your progress! To move your business forward in the right direction for you.
• Are you doing the right things at the right time? Many creative businesses are seasonal, with very busy & very quiet times, with loads of sales opportunities or crickets … are you using the quiet times to get ready for the busy times? Do you use the seasonal energy to your advantage?
• Each quarter review & plan the next 90 days with two visual Wheel exercises, the 90-day Juicy Goal and action plan, and Quarterly Marketing & Content planners – with our timely topic suggestions! Update your finance & marketing trackers each quarter (homework before our Quarterly VIP sessions!) or month to stay on top of the facts and numbers in your small creative business.
• Each month review & plan the next 30 days with our top tips of what to focus on that month across your business, space for your monthly goals & actions, and a one-page calendar overview for each month.

*** PLEASE NOTE: This is not a dated diary. It does not have weekly or daily pages. It’s a business planner handbook. Between 2020 and 2024 we produced a diary which included the business planner and handbook, but due to increasing paper prices and more creatives using electronic or paper diaries we decided not to include the weekly diary pages for this 2025 edition. For more details see the FAQ below.

what will you make of 2025?

We would love to work with you throughout 2025. To help you achieve your big juicy goals, work on your important strategic quarterly projects, to boost your knowledge and confidence.

But most of all … we know that many creatives need external support and extra energy, wisdom and perspectives to achieve their dreams.

Together we can achieve so much more.