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PODCAST

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Design Mentor and Coach

A show for the curious creatives who want to learn what it takes to become an interior designer. Welcome to the Design Curious podcast! Each week, you"ll learn practical skills every designer needs to develop regardless of whether you want to work for yourself or someone else. You"ll learn secrets from professional interior designers to help you avoid costly mistakes & regrets. You"ll be encouraged & empowered to overcome your fears of change, failure & money. With my 20 yrs of

arts design

All Episodes

00:28:11

191 | Why Your Contract Is Your Business Bestie

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/05/18

If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to include in your interior design contract—or worse, you’ve avoided contracts altogether because they feel overwhelming—you’re not alone.I see so many designers relying on verbal agreements or vague expectations, thinking things will “just work out” because the client relationship feels good. But that’s exactly where problems begin. Miscommunication, scope creep, late payments, and blurred boundaries can quickly turn a dream project into a stressful

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00:41:00

190 | 5 Principles for Designing Healthier, Happier...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/05/11

Have you ever designed a space that looked beautiful… but somehow didn’t feel right to live in?As interior designers, we’re trained to focus on the visible—colors, materials, layouts, and architectural elements. But what if the real purpose of design goes deeper than aesthetics? What if the home isn’t the final product—but the medium that shapes human happiness, relationship quality, and overall well-being?In this episode, I sit down with architect Talor Stewart to explore the powerful concept of

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00:22:44

189 | Design Systems That Create Freedom, Profit, and...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/05/04

Have you ever felt like your interior design business depends entirely on you—your time, your energy, your creativity?I see many designers start with passion and talent, only to end up overwhelmed, juggling project management, client communication, bookkeeping, procurement, and marketing… all at once. And before long, that dream business starts to feel like a never-ending job.The truth is: burnout isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong creatively—it’s a sign that your business systems aren’t

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00:25:28

188 | How Interior Designers Sell Premium Services...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/04/27

Have you ever lowered your prices just to get a client?Most interior designers assume that being “more affordable” makes it easier to sell. But what if that belief is actually costing you premium clients—and positioning your work as less valuable?In this episode, I sit down with luxury market messaging and pricing strategist Miriam Schulman to unpack a powerful mindset shift that can completely change how you sell your services. We dive into the belief triad—a simple but transformative framework

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00:20:04

187 | The Real Reasons Interior Designers Struggle to...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/04/20

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe I just need more experience… more projects… a better portfolio…”, I want you to pause right there. Because the truth is, most interior designers don’t struggle with client acquisition because they lack talent. They struggle because they lack structure, clarity, and confidence in how they present their value.I’ve seen incredibly talented designers sit on the sidelines, waiting for clients to come. At the same time, I’ve watched designers with less experience stay fully

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00:27:59

186 | Struggling With Paint Colors? Understanding...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/04/13

Have you ever stood in front of dozens of paint swatches wondering why two “neutral” colors look completely different on the wall? Understanding undertones is one of the most challenging aspects of interior design—even for experienced designers.Many homes today are filled with gray furniture, gray walls, and gray finishes, yet they still feel flat, cold, or unfinished. The missing piece? A deeper understanding of color theory, undertones, and how to layer color intentionally.In this episode, I sit

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00:22:35

185 | Are You Making These Interior Design Business...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/04/06

When most people start an interior design business, they assume the hardest part will be creating beautiful spaces. But in reality, the design isn’t the biggest challenge — the business side of interior design is where many new designers struggle.I've seen talented designers make the same mistakes repeatedly when they first start their businesses. These mistakes don’t happen because they lack creativity or skill. They happen because no one teaches designers the sales guidance, client boundaries,

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00:33:29

184 | How Coaching Makes Your Interior Design...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/03/30

Are you building your interior design business in a bubble?If you’re anything like I was in my early years, you probably assumed the hard part was the design. You thought, “If I can create beautiful spaces, the rest will fall into place.” But what no one tells you is this: guesswork is expensive. Shooting from the hip on markups, contracts, pricing, and processes can cost you years of profitability—and a whole lot of stress.In this episode, I sit down with award-winning interior designer and

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00:16:34

183 | Key Steps That Help Interior Designers Attract...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/03/23

If you’ve ever said, “I’ll take any client I can get,” you’re not alone. Most interior designers start there — saying yes to every project, every personality, and every request… even when it drains their time, energy, and confidence.But here’s what I want you to know: dream clients don’t just appear because you’re talented. They’re attracted to clarity, confidence, and structure. And without clear boundaries, a professional contract, and a strong onboarding process, even the most exciting project

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00:26:49

182 | How to Build Financial Confidence as the CEO of...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/03/16

The moment you file your LLC… the moment you accept your first client payment… the moment you start working with vendors or contractors…You are no longer “just a creative.” You are the CEO of your business.As Danielle Hayden and I discuss in this episode, one of the biggest mistakes interior designers make is thinking they can outsource their financial understanding to bookkeeping services, financial automation, or even AI tools like QuickBooks integrations or ChatGPT.Here’s the truth: AI is

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00:18:28

181 | How to Capture Stunning Photos of Your Interior...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/03/09

Have you ever finished a beautiful project… only to realize you have nothing to show for it?I’ve seen so many talented interior designers pour their heart, time, and creativity into a space — only to walk away without the one thing that helps them book their next client: professional portfolio photos. Without strong website images or scroll-stopping social media visuals, it becomes harder to build trust, showcase your design expertise, and grow your business.In this episode, I’m walking you through

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00:21:42

180 | 5 Biophilic Design Elements That Create...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/03/02

Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt calmer, without knowing why? Or noticed how a room flooded with natural light just feels better to be in? That’s not an accident. It’s your nervous system responding to your environment, and it’s exactly why biophilic design matters more than ever in interior design today.In this episode, I’m sitting down with returning guest and seasoned residential designer Martha Lowry to unpack what biophilic design really is — beyond the buzzword. We’re

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00:20:57

179 | Design Skills Series: 6 Business & Project...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/02/23

Most interior designers come into this career because they love design. They love creating beautiful spaces, developing a strong design vision, and dreaming up what’s possible for a home. But what many designers don’t realize—until they’re already in it—is that great design alone is not enough to create successful residential projects or happy clients.I see this all the time with newer designers and even experienced creatives who feel overwhelmed, underpaid, or constantly putting out fires. They

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00:24:43

178 | 5 Lessons on Building an International Interior...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/02/16

What if the fear holding you back isn’t failure—but the thought of never trying at all?In this episode, I sit down with Elliot James, founder of a multi–award-winning international interior architecture studio, to talk honestly about what it takes to build a creative career that spans countries, cultures, and markets. Elliot didn’t follow a traditional path. He didn’t wait until everything felt “safe.” Instead, he followed his curiosity, his ambition, and his passion for design—sometimes with

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00:18:01

177 | Design Skills Series: 5 Practical Design Skills...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/02/09

Have you ever been standing in front of a client, mid-conversation, and suddenly realized you should know the answer—but you don’t feel confident saying it out loud yet? Maybe it’s a color choice, a furniture size, or how to fix an awkward layout. These moments can shake your confidence as an interior designer, especially when you know you have the creative instinct but haven’t fully honed the practical skills yet.In this episode, I’m continuing our design skills series by focusing on the practical

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00:37:15

176 | A Modern Approach to Feng Shui for Interior...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/02/02

As interior designers, we spend so much time thinking about how a home looks, but what if the real question we should be asking is how a home feels?If you’ve ever walked into a space that was beautiful on paper but somehow felt off, heavy, or uninspiring, this episode is for you.I sit down with feng shui expert Amanda Gibby Peters to explore how interior designers can intentionally work with energy, layout, and environmental cues to create homes that genuinely support their clients’ lives. We talk

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00:16:03

175 | Design Skills Series: 6 Skills Interior...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/01/26

If you’ve ever wondered why design school didn’t quite prepare you for the real world of interior design, you’re not imagining it. I hear this all the time—from designers who invested years (and money) into a degree, and from those who skipped school altogether and worry they’re already behind.The truth is, many of the skills required to run a successful interior design business are not taught in the classroom.In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually matters once you leave

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00:28:36

174 | Core Elements Every High-Converting Interior...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/01/19

“A good website really should be qualifying your inquiries and increasing them as well.”Does your website actually do that? Or does it simply exist as a gallery of pretty images while you continue to explain yourself over and over again in emails, DMs, and discovery calls?If you’ve ever hesitated before sending someone your website link, or felt a little cringe when a potential client says they want to “check out your site,” this episode is for you.Today, I’m sitting down with Elle Kwan to unpack

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00:27:55

173 | Design Skills Series: The Soft Skills That Set...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/01/12

Many interior designers spend years honing hard skills like CAD drafting, space planning, and material selection—yet still feel stuck when it comes to client relationships, confidence, or stepping into leadership. I see this all the time, and it can be incredibly frustrating when you know you’re talented, but something still feels like it’s holding you back.The truth is, talent alone rarely sets designers apart anymore.What creates real career longevity and opportunity in interior design is how you

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00:36:44

172 | How Designers Build Profitable Design...

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business... ·

2026/01/05

If you’re an interior designer who feels deeply creative but secretly anxious about sales, pricing, or talking about your value, this episode is for you.Too many designers believe that great work should “sell itself,” only to find themselves undercharging, overdelivering, and wondering why their business still feels financially fragile. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable talking about money, struggled to raise your design fees, or worried that niching down will limit your opportunities, you are not

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212 results

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