Gina Hacken I From Designer to Design Business Owner
Gina Hacken is the principal designer and owner of Gina Lauren Interiors. We recently had a conversation about work-life balance, where she shares how she leveraged years of experience in the industry to ultimately launch her own design business to be there for her family and fulfill her passion for design on her own terms. […]
Building a Diversity-Based Business
In episode 122 of the Design Biz Survival Guide, we welcomed Hillary Kaplan and Miriam Silver Verga – principal designers of Mimi & Hill, a full-service interior design firm based in Westfield, New Jersey. Hillary and Miriam shared how they met, their passions, their distinct differences, and how their relationship culminated into a design business. […]
Master the Art of Hiring
We recently welcomed Jamie Van Cuyk, Owner and Lead Strategist of “Growing Your Team,” a consulting firm specializing in mastering the art of hiring, on the podcast. In the episode, Jamie shared her process of identifying candidates, developing an effective interview, and evaluating personality and fit. Jamie started hiring while working in operations leadership at […]
Balancing Residential, Commercial, and Hospitality Design
We recently welcomed Garrison Hullinger, founder and principal designer of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design, on the podcast. The Portland-based firm has been recognized as one of the 100 fastest-growing businesses in Oregon and SW Washington, but the design journey for Garrison has been one of patience, self-discovery, and reinvention. In the episode, we discuss the […]
The Evolution of a Business and a Brand
Heidi Callier did not follow the typical design route to get where she is today. Yet, she is incredibly successful and well-known for her unique style. We recently had Heidi on the podcast, where we discussed the evolution of her widely respected brand and the impact that becoming a brand has on the continued growth […]
10 Lessons Learned After a Decade in the Biz with Michelle Dirkse
In Episode 118 of Design Biz Survival Guide, we welcomed Michelle Dirkse – owner and Creative Director of her namesake interior design studio. The Seattle, Washington-based design business is celebrating their 10-year anniversary, and Michelle pulled back the curtain to reveal some valuable lessons learned along the way. We all know how scary, overwhelming, and […]
Implementing Reliable Systems To Keep You in Your Zone of Genius
Jarret Yoshida is the owner and principal designer of Jarret Yoshida Interior Design, based in New York. Jarrett was recently on the podcast and shared his journey from politics to interior design and the challenges he faced and overcame during the development of his interior design business. We also discussed facing the fear of finances […]
Three Tips for Better Digital Organization in 2023
Interior designers have many documents to keep track of, from emails, invoices, shopping receipts, pictures, and more. A lot of the time, they are saved in multiple locations on a computer and phone or in physical folders. Files are lost, which adds stress to our lives, whether we realize it or not. We recently chatted […]
Top Three Recession Strategies for Your Design Business
Do you know your design business well enough to have a plan to protect yourself during a recession? Luckily, there are steps you may follow to ensure your business is safe, and you can make any necessary pivots to stay afloat during tighter times. Katie McFarlan is the owner of Dakota Design Co., an operations […]
The Details are in the Data with Kate Lester
From the moment Kate Lester of KL Interiors and Kate Lester Home committed to a career in design, she also committed to creating a profitable and effective business model. She’s had many realizations along the way and keeps it super real with her clients and on Instagram. By sticking to her business model, her employees […]
Why Processes and Transparency are Important for Your Interior Design Business with John McClain
John McClain is the Creative Director and CEO of John McClain Interior Design, based in Los Angeles, CA, and Orlando, Fl. John has built his successful interior design business on a foundation of processes and transparency. John experienced a pivotal moment in his design career that prompted him to implement formal processes and an extensive […]
