Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast cover art

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

By: Rebecca Ward CID | Interior Design Mentor and Coach
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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 experience, I'll help you on the RIGHT WAY to get started. Discover if interior design is the career for you!Rebecca Ward, CID | Interior Design Mentor and Coach Art
Episodes
  • 194 | Building Your Interior Design Website? Essential Website Lessons From Robyn White

    194 | Building Your Interior Design Website? Essential Website Lessons From Robyn White
    Jun 8 2026
    If you’re an aspiring interior designer or you’re still in the early stages of building your business, chances are you’ve asked yourself questions like: Do I really need a professional website yet? Should I invest in custom website design? Or can I just use a template for now?I hear these questions constantly from designers inside my programs, especially when they’re trying to balance launching their business with managing their budget wisely. And honestly? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options — WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, SEO, branding, copywriting, templates, custom builds… suddenly creating a website feels harder than designing a room.That’s exactly why I invited website designer Robyn White back onto the podcast.In this episode, we unpack what interior designers actually need when it comes to website design, how to know the right level of investment for your stage of business, and what questions to ask before hiring a website designer. We also talk about minimum viable product websites, brand strategy, portfolio photos, AI renderings, website maintenance, and why perfectionism may be holding you back from getting clients.Featured GuestRobyn White is the founder of RDW Design Studio, where she combines luxury market insight with strategic website design for interior designers. With a background working at one of the world’s most prestigious art galleries, Robyn brings a rare blend of strategy, aesthetics, and high-end client understanding to every project. She specializes in helping interior designers elevate their online presence through thoughtful brand strategy, SEO-conscious website design, and customized digital experiences that attract aligned clients and opportunities.What You’ll Learn in This Episode✳️ When to invest in custom website design✳️ Questions to ask website designers before hiring✳️ Templates versus custom websites for beginners✳️ Website platforms: WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace✳️ Building a portfolio without completed client projectsRead the Blog >>> Essential Website Lessons Before Building Your Interior Design Website NEXT STEPS:🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠ Check out our Designer's Playlist!*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design Grab your freebies:📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my CareerConnect With Me:📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign 🌎 Website at rwarddesign.comThanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...Timestamps0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio4:02 Questions to Ask a Website Designer8:59 SEO, Copywriting, and Branding Explained11:13 Website Designer vs. Branding Specialist15:12 Templates vs. Custom Websites19:52 Minimum Viable Product Websites22:00 Building a Portfolio Without Client Projects25:51 On Using Stock Photos27:01 AI Renderings for Interior Designers28:25 How to Choose the Right Website Designer31:12 Website Maintenance After Launch
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    38 mins
  • 193 | Struggling with Self-Doubt? Overcome Imposter Syndrome in Your Design Career

    193 | Struggling with Self-Doubt? Overcome Imposter Syndrome in Your Design Career
    Jun 1 2026

    Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not experienced enough to call myself a real interior designer”?


    Or maybe you scroll through social media, comparing your work to polished projects, and suddenly feel like you don’t belong in this industry at all.


    That quiet voice of self-doubt—what we call imposter syndrome—can creep in at any stage of your interior design career, especially when you're just starting out.


    I want you to know something important: feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean you are one. In fact, it’s often a sign that you’re growing, stretching, and stepping into a bigger version of yourself.


    The truth is, every interior designer—yes, even seasoned professionals—has faced these same thoughts at some point. The difference isn’t whether they feel it… it’s how they move through it.


    In this episode, I’m walking you through what imposter syndrome really looks like in a creative career like interior design, why it happens, and how you can overcome it. If you’re ready to stop second-guessing yourself and start building real confidence in your design business, this is for you.


    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    ✔️ Why imposter syndrome signals growth, not failure

    ✔️ How social media fuels designer self-doubt

    ✔️ Ways to build real, lasting client confidence

    ✔️ Practical steps to overcome creative career insecurity

    ✔️ How mistakes strengthen your design expertise


    Read the Blog >>> Overcome Imposter Syndrome in Interior Design

    NEXT STEPS:

    🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)


    🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start building a design career with clarity, confidence, and support, 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠


    Check out our Designer's Playlist!

    *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

    *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

    *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design


    Grab your freebies:

    📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right

    📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

    🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career


    Connect With Me:

    📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

    🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

    🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com


    Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

    Timestamps

    0:00 Introduction

    3:47 What Imposter Syndrome Really Means

    5:00 The Danger of Comparison on Social Media

    9:18 Building Confidence from Within

    14:45 Identifying Limiting Beliefs and Patterns

    16:20 Learning and Growth Through Action

    19:08 Practicing Design in Your Own Home

    20:58 Handling Mistakes With Confidence

    25:23 Developing a Pioneer Mindset
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    31 mins
  • 192 | The Biggest Money Mistakes Interior Designers Make (And How to Fix Them) With Lauren Nist

    192 | The Biggest Money Mistakes Interior Designers Make (And How to Fix Them) With Lauren Nist
    May 25 2026

    Have you ever finished a project and thought… “Wait, where did all the money go?”


    One of the biggest mistakes creatives make is treating money as something that shows up at the end—rather than something that needs structure from the very beginning. And that mindset? It quietly drains your profit, your energy, and your confidence.


    In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Nist, a bookkeeping and advisory expert who works behind the scenes with creative businesses. Together, we unpack the most common money mistakes interior designers make—from underpricing and scope creep to poor billing systems—and how to fix them. If you want financial clarity, stronger boundaries, and a business that actually pays you back, this is your starting point.


    Featured Guest

    Lauren Nist is a co-founder of Magnolia & Main, a virtual bookkeeping and advisory firm dedicated to helping small business owners gain financial clarity and confidence. With years of experience supporting creative and service-based businesses, Lauren specializes in simplifying the money side of business—from pricing and billing systems to job costing and cash flow management. Her approachable, judgment-free style helps entrepreneurs feel empowered, supported, and in control of their finances.


    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    ✳️ Why creatives struggle with financial structure

    ✳️ How to protect your cash flow early

    ✳️ Billing ahead vs. acting like the bank

    ✳️ Spotting red flags in client behavior

    ✳️ Simple profit planning for interior designers


    Read the Blog >>> Interior Design Money Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

    NEXT STEPS:


    🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)


    Check out our Designer's Playlist!

    *️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

    *️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

    *️ Switching Gears to Interior Design


    Grab your freebies:

    📺 Watch the Webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right

    📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

    🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career


    Connect With Me:

    📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

    🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

    🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com


    Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

    Timestamps

    0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

    2:50 Lauren's Journey into Accounting for Creatives

    5:32 Common Money Mistakes Creatives Make

    7:38 Building a Financial Framework

    10:44 Pricing Strategy and Billing Ahead

    14:54 Identifying Ideal Clients and Red Flags

    18:58 Balancing Job Types and Profitability

    21:48 Reviewing Job Costs and Client Feedback

    31:06 Habits for Staying Profitable
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
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