How to build and monetize a community

Ultimately, Grace created the community she needed the most — a supportive space to learn about design, grow her network, and eventually make IRL connections. That authenticity became the foundation of Design Buddies, and there’s much to be gleaned from her journey in building a sustainable, thriving space for creators and designers.

Lead with a common goal:

Grace’s community thrives because its members share a common purpose: building successful careers in design. They’re eager to learn, support one another, and grow together. This unified goal is what drives engagement and fosters genuine IRL connections.

Also, make sure to audit your community regularly. Stay attuned to their needs by asking: What challenges are they facing? What value can you offer to help them grow? Recognize how your community will evolve over time and adapt your offerings to meet their changing needs.

Authentic engagement:

Grace has grown Design Buddies through in-person and online events across multiple countries, starting with small Zoom gatherings where members would collaborate on design projects together. Her authenticity, partnered with the timing (most of us were hungry to engage and build online community in 2020), bolstered these events as they eventually reached up to 300 people in cities like Bangkok and 200 in Singapore.

Her approach to these events is personal. She hosts meetups in various cities, aiming to connect with community members directly. For her, it’s not just about professional networking but creating genuine human connections — allowing designers at different career stages to interact and support each other.

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Design cohorts: This is the bulk of their revenue. A recent partnership with UXGO, a member-driven career platform for UX career development, bolstered this side of the business. Grace runs four cohorts per year with about 40 students, priced at $6,600 each.

Brand deals: This stream fluctuates. She made $100,000 in brand deals last year, and $40,000 so far this year (at the time of this interview), mostly from design tool companies and events.

Recruiting : Companies have paid up to $30,000 to match with a founding designer, $15,000 for senior designers, $10-15,000 for mid-level, and $5,000 for junior designers.

🔴 Building a $1M design community on Discord