Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast

When does a career in interior design begin? Is it when you enroll in classes or get hired as an intern? Well, your interior design journey starts way earlier than that. It is when you decide it is the career you want. Then, what are your next steps after deciding you are interested in interior design? In this episode, I share the roadmap I created to help you plan for your dream career in interio...

Is it possible to learn and grow as an interior designer, even if you've been in the field for a while? Absolutely! Ellen Walker, today's special guest, is a testament to this. She has been an inspiration to watch as she shares her expertise and journey to becoming an award-winning interior designer. It's helpful to hear how everybody achieves success since everyone's story is different. It's been...

Ever wonder why interior designers pick between residential and commercial design? In today's episode, I give you the inside scoop on what it's like to be a residential interior designer. Based on my experience, I outline the pros and cons of working with clients one-on-one. The concept of home and nurturing connects with me deeply and personally, which helps me be passionate about residential int...

Did you know that your own personal experiences can help you niche down and speak authentically to the interior design market you serve? It’s all about really understanding their needs and who better understands them is one of their own. Today's special guest, Kricia Palmer, is a doctor turned interior designer and life coach who left clinical medicine to pursue her Interior Design degree. Thr...

Do you want to start 2023 right? I know you do, and I want you to win the new year. That's why, in this episode, I'm sharing my planning process. It's the same process I took to accomplish all six goals I had written down for my interior design business for 2022. But that didn’t happen by accident. If you want to learn what goals are worth setting for your interior design career or business, how t...

Have you been thinking of pivoting but are still unsure? Perhaps, you want to start a podcast? Well, you'll find this episode helpful if you need help like I was. Why? Because my podcast coach is here to share her inspiring interior design journey with us. Instead of getting a degree, Bethany began her interior design career as an intern. What gave her the confidence to do this? Her learning-by-do...

Need help deciding what to put on your Christmas wish list? Since fourth grade, I have always enjoyed learning and reading. The hope of understanding, growing, transforming, and changing is essential and inspiring. So it's great to see others embrace that growth mindset as well. In today's episode, I share 23 books you should check to know more about interior design as a career and a busin...

Have you ever felt like you're all alone on your interior design journey? It's like there need to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything, yet you feel tempted to take on everybody as a client even though it's not a good fit. If you have difficulties saying no, want to focus on serving the right clients, and want more freedom and control over the little time you have, this is where suppo...

Are you planning to launch your interior design business? Starting a business can be an overwhelming process, but don't worry - I have a list of action items (a part of the business starter checklist from My Design Mentor) that’ll help you get started, as well as some helpful tips on the tasks you'll need to complete to make your business dreams a reality. This is the business starter kit I wish I...

How do interior designers create beautiful and functional rooms? This week's guest, Martha Lowry, approaches interior design using mathematics! For some people like Martha, the design and math parts of her brain are intertwined. But despite successful careers in mathematics, computing, cooking, and teaching, why did she transition into interior design? Why could not she get past the desire to go i...

Do you like the smell of new furniture? Does it give you happy feelings whenever you're around them? Wouldn't it be nice to hang out with other designers after exploring showrooms? If you are an Interior Designer, whether you work for a firm, are self-employed, or are a student, it is important to attend furniture markets like High Point Market. This market is the largest in America, occurring twi...

Have you ever listened to a podcast and thought, "Hey, I feel the same way, too! I could do that"? That's how Jodie Carter felt when she first heard Kimberley Seldon on the Business of Design podcast. An amazing designer with a ton of knowledge to share, she has partnered with the Business of Design coaching program to help others start their own interior design businesses. If you're like her, who...

Would you believe me if I tell you I still struggle with imposter syndrome? Despite graduating, getting my license, starting my own interior design business, and getting clients, it still affects my confidence. Honestly, it’s a mindset issue that requires ongoing management. I wish it only happens in the beginning, you know? Like a right of passage, but no. It crops up at different points in my ca...

Are you a generalist interior designer who takes on anyone and everyone as a client? Do you get distracted by the latest interior design trends you tend to bounce around a lot? Is it always a matter of taking any job opportunity you can get, even if it isn't sustainable? I get it. I fell for those traps too when I started. And the problem with being a generalist is you don’t honor what you’re good...

When I started my interior design career, I was clueless about some things. It was a bit overwhelming. To give you at least an overview of what you are getting yourself into, I share some information with you. Whether you are applying or interning for a job in an interior design firm, want to start your own design business, or grow your firm into a larger company, this episode is for you. Listen t...

Do you have a full-time career and want to launch your interior design business? Is it possible to make it happen even though you work 40 hours weekly? Perhaps you always wanted to be an interior designer but took a different career path for some reason. Don't worry. My guest Andrea and I got you! Because in today's episode, she'll share how she juggled a full-time trading career with a side hustl...

Do you have a design degree? How about an experience in graphic design, design studies, or interior architecture? Are you trying to pursue a career in interior design but not sure which expertise to pick? Apart from one-to-one full-service design, there are a lot of other design careers out there, whether you're working for someone else or running your own business. It is not cut and dry because s...

Have you ever sketched a plan for your dream home? Do you give home styling advice to your friends? Perhaps you simply enjoy designing beautiful spaces. Whatever your creative passion is, you can turn it into a sustainable career and business in interior design. The journey of our special guest, Tracy Dyck of S3 Interior Design, proves this. Her first kick at interior design started at about seven...

In the interior design industry, internships are common. In fact, my design firm receives many requests for them. But why is an interior designing internship necessary? How does an intern approach it? What to expect from it? What should an intern do and not do to have a successful internship? Today, I share the do’s and don’ts of an interior design internship and provide alternatives you can try t...

Is it possible to have a family and be a professional simultaneously? How do you succeed in interior design if you lack both the degree and experience? What is the ideal approach when couples run the same company? Fueled by the desire to be more available for her kids, my guest Suzanne tried different careers, including real estate and staging, but realized she prefers working with people who want...

What is fear? It's the single-most crippling feeling and thought that will leave you stuck at your unsatisfying job for far too long, keeping you from starting your passion today. The thing is, fear when facing a career change is often brought up because you, like most people, are resistant to change. I get it. Change is hard, but it's usually good. So, if you're thinking about or already decided...

How does one start a career in interior design? Is it really required to have drawing skills to make it in this space? Do you really need to go to interior design school for it? If these questions have been bugging you, don't worry. Because our guest for this episode shares her interior design journey that began only when she was already two years into college. Would you believe it if I told you s...

Did you know that Interior Designers are not the same as Interior Decorators, even though they’re being used interchangeably? Did you know that by making your home the best it can be for your needs and tastes, you can go out into the world and be the best version of yourself? This is how you can improve people's lives through interior design. In the first episode of Design Curious Podcast, discove...

Hi! I am Rebecca Ward, your Interior Design Mentor & welcome to Design Curious Podcast. This show is for the curious creatives who want to learn what it takes to become an interior designer. Whether you are curious about a career in interior design (maybe you are trying to decide your college major!) or you are stuck in a job and desire to make a career change (the one you love), this show is...