The resources and expertise available from outside branding consultants and designers are impressive, but the cost not always practical. Learn how to draw on your own creative power and authentic knowledge to bring even the biggest projects in-house, no matter how small your staff or your budget.

###

Nine steps:

1. Be patient. You can’t start your redesign tomorrow!
2. Trust each other. You’ve got this, and you have to believe it.
3. Cross-train. A skills bottleneck spells doom.
4. Know individual strengths, and play to them. Focus on the work your team members do best and like most.
5. Get—or stay—really organized. Systems are another vital time-saver.
6. Let your community do the talking. Invite everyone to tell you what makes your college distinctive—and listen to their answers!
7. Be inclusive, but only work with willing subjects. Prioritize those who have not traditionally been asked to share their experience, but don’t tokenize.
8. When you’re ready to apply what you’ve learned, start someplace big. You can’t do it all at once, so pick a high-level piece and let it trickle down.
9. Trust yourself, and fake it ‘til you make it.