Kenyan Designers Are Killing Their Own Rates

Description

No guest this episode, just the KDK Krew, unfiltered, getting real about AI, client pricing, and why so many Kenyan designers are still undercharging for their work.They open on the one thing that still trips up designers years into the craft: not the software, not the design itself, but understanding the client and the market. From there it becomes a full breakdown of value-based pricing: why a well-placed billboard can justify a six-figure quote while a random poster can't, and what designers can learn from how structural engineers price a building.Then the conversation turns to AI. The Krew tackles the question every designer is being asked right now, "why should I pay you when I can just prompt AI?", and makes the case for the human judgement no prompt can replace. They also call out the industry's race-to-the-bottom pricing culture, explain why a logo should never cost 500 bob, and close with a shoutout to a KDK community member who just graduated as a product designer.Whether you're a freelancer still guessing your rates, a design student about to enter the industry, or a studio owner tired of explaining your pricing, this one's for you. Design pricing in Kenya, AI vs designers, and building a career that pays what it's worth.Chapters0:00 - That One Has Been The Hardest5:52 - How Long Have You Been Designing?7:33 - The Hardest Part of Design Isn't The Software10:59 - Does Your Appearance Decide If Clients Trust You?16:56 - Why Charging Clients Still Feels Impossible18:47 - How Much Should You Charge For A Billboard?20:56 - What Designers Can Learn From Structural Engineers22:41 - Why Won't Designers Price Like A Supermarket?24:16 - Startup vs Corporate: Why The Price Isn't The Same26:00 - Getting Paid A Percentage Instead Of A Flat Fee29:46 - The Worst Thing A Client Has Ever Said32:16 - Why Pay A Designer When You Can Prompt AI?36:57 - Why Kenyan Designers Need To Stop Undercutting Each Other39:07 - Shoutout To A KDK Community Graduate40:44 - What To Expect At The Next KKLive EventBook your ticketGet your ticket for the next KKLiveJoin the KDK communityWebsiteCampus DriveWhatsApp CommunityLinktreeFollow KDKYouTube: Kenyan Design KonversationsXInstagramTikTokKDK MerchandiseMusicHappy Days by Scandinavianzhttps://soundcloud.com/scandinavianzMusic promoted by Audio LibraryCreative Commons, Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)Free download / stream