100 Episodes of Design Wisdom: Key Lessons from Interior Design Business Conversations
What 100 Conversations with Interior Designers Reveal About Building a Successful Business
Episode 100
In this milestone 100th episode, I reflect on the journey of creating Design Dialogues and share the most valuable lessons I've learned from conversations with designers across 100 episodes. From the importance of clear communication to building resilience, these insights have not only shaped the podcast but transformed how I approach my own design business.
Hope you enjoy the episode
Beth xx
After 100 episodes of the Design Dialogues podcast, I have gathered invaluable insights from conversations with interior designers at every stage of their journey. In this episode, I reflects on the patterns, strategies, and wisdom that have emerged from these discussions.
100 conversations, 100 stories, 100 reasons I am still so inspired to show up here every week and keep having these important discussions.
Whether you're just starting your design business or looking to take your established studio to the next level, these lessons offer a roadmap for creating a business that's not only profitable but also personally fulfilling.
Lesson 1: Communication is Everything
If there's one theme that has appeared consistently across 100 episodes, it's that clear, proactive communication forms the foundation of every successful design business.
From how we onboard our clients, to how we set boundaries, to how we manage expectations when things don't go to plan, to how we manage our staff, to how we manage our clients—the designers who thrive are the ones who've learned to communicate clearly, calmly and confidently.
This doesn't mean getting it perfect every time. In fact, one of the most memorable quotes from a guest was, "Don't expect perfection, they just expect to be kept in the loop."
What This Means for Your Design Business:
Proactive Updates: Don't wait for clients to ask for information—provide regular updates even when there's nothing significant to report
Transparent Processes: Clearly communicate your design process from the beginning
Boundary Setting: Establish and communicate boundaries around communication, revisions, and availability
Expectation Management: Address potential delays or challenges immediately rather than hoping they'll resolve themselves
Sometimes we think professionalism means polished and perfect, but more often than not, it just means being present.
Lesson 2: Strong Relationships Build Strong Businesses
Another consistent theme throughout the podcast has been the power of relationships in building sustainable design businesses.
The designers I speak to who are building really sustainable, fulfilling businesses, they're not doing it alone. They're investing in their relationships. They're building trust. They're supporting others and asking for help when they need it.
These relationships extend far beyond just clients:
Trades and Contractors: Cultivating reliable partnerships with skilled tradespeople
Suppliers and Vendors: Building relationships with those who can help source the perfect pieces
Mentors and Coaches: Learning from those who have already navigated similar challenges
Peers and Community: Connecting with fellow designers for support and collaboration
Even Competitors: Finding ways to support rather than undermine others in your field
It's not about who you know, it's about how you treat the people you know. The quality of relationships matters more than the quantity.
What This Means for Your Design Business:
Invest Time in Relationship Building: Schedule regular check-ins with key partners
Support Others Generously: Share resources, knowledge, and opportunities
Create Win-Win Scenarios: Look for ways to make partnerships mutually beneficial
Ask for Help: Don't hesitate to reach out when you need support or guidance
Lesson 3: Resilience is a Muscle
Running an interior design business requires more than just creative talent—it demands resilience in the face of challenges.
We don't talk about this enough in Design Land, but running a studio takes bucket loads of resilience. Running a studio, managing projects, juggling creativity with running a business is hard.
Throughout 100 episodes, guests have openly shared their struggles:
Periods of burnout
Clients ghosting them
Projects falling through at the last minute
Financial challenges
Creative blocks
Yet the common thread among successful designers isn't an absence of difficulties—it's their ability to move through them.
The one thing they all had in common, they didn't give up. They adjusted, they re-evaluated, they asked for support, they learned how to bounce back.
What This Means for Your Design Business:
Build Support Systems: Create networks that can help during challenging times
Develop Healthy Coping Strategies: Find ways to manage stress that don't lead to burnout
Practice Flexibility: Be willing to adjust your approach when things don't go as planned
Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge progress even during difficult periods
Learn from Setbacks: Use challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement
It's not about avoiding hard things. It's about building the capacity to move through them. If you stay stuck in the hard things, then you never get to the next chapter.
Lesson 4: Keep Learning Always
The final lesson that emerges clearly from 100 episodes is the importance of continuous learning and growth.
This one is close to my heart because it's one of the reasons I started the podcast in the first place. I wanted to keep learning. I wanted to keep evolving.
Successful designers consistently demonstrate a growth mindset—they're curious, open to new ideas, and willing to invest in their development.
The designers I've spoken to over these hundred episodes all share one thing. They all have a growth mindset. They're curious. They try new things. They invest in themselves. Not just creatively, but strategically.
This commitment to learning extends beyond design skills to include business acumen, technology adoption, marketing strategies, and client management techniques.
What This Means for Your Design Business:
Formal Education: Courses, workshops, and certifications that expand your skills
Informal Learning: Podcasts, books, and articles that provide new perspectives
Peer Learning: Mastermind groups and communities where you can learn from others
Experimentation: Trying new approaches and systems in your business
Reflection: Regular assessment of what's working and what needs improvement
That's what makes the difference between a studio that just survives and one that thrives.
The Power of Shared Experience
Perhaps the most powerful insight from 100 episodes of Design Dialogues is that there's no single formula for success in interior design. Each designer must find their own path, but they don't have to figure it all out alone.
If I've learned anything from this podcast, it's that we are all figuring it out as we go. There's no one perfect way to run a design business, but there are shared experiences. There is wisdom in community, and there's so much power in hearing someone say, me too.
This community aspect—the ability to learn from others' journeys, mistakes, and successes—is what makes continuous learning so valuable. It's also why platforms like Design Dialogues play such an important role in the industry.
Building a Business That Feels Good from the Inside Out
Success in interior design isn't just about creating a business that looks impressive from the outside. It's about building something that feels fulfilling and sustainable from the inside.
Here's to the next 100 episodes, here's to more real conversation and here's to building design businesses that not only look good on the outside, but feel good on the inside too.
This holistic view of success—encompassing not just profitability but also personal satisfaction, work-life balance, and creative fulfilment—represents perhaps the most important lesson of all.
Your Next Steps
Whether you're just discovering Design Dialogues or have been listening since episode one, these four key lessons provide a framework for evaluating and strengthening your own design business:
Assess your communication systems: Are you proactively keeping clients informed? Do you have clear processes for managing expectations?
Invest in your relationships: Which relationships in your business need more attention? How can you better support your network of trades, suppliers, and peers?
Build your resilience muscle: What strategies do you have in place for navigating challenges? How can you better prepare for the inevitable ups and downs of business?
Commit to continuous learning: What areas of your business would benefit from new knowledge or skills? How are you staying curious and open to growth?
By focusing on these four areas—communication, relationships, resilience, and learning—you'll be well on your way to building a design business that not only survives but truly thrives.