Designed for the Creative Mind™

My next guest has a lot of experience in turning obstacles into opportunities. Ginger Curtis is the owner and founder of Urbanology Designs, an author, speaker, and serial entrepreneur. She is an expert in modern luxury design and passionate about all things beautiful. After surviving cancer, she began Urbanology Designs in 2015 to inspire and help others elevate their homes' beauty, comfort, and...

My next guest is Lezlie Swink, the founder of Swink Social Co, a social media marketing agency dedicated to helping interior designers grow their businesses and stand out in the digital world.   In this episode, Lezlie shares what she feels is the most common mistake designers make on Instagram, if Reels are worth it, and how often we should be posting content. Listen in for how an expert who runs...

We all know that we are in a very visual industry. Photos and images are eye-catching, but the written word is still needed in interior design. Your designs may be beautiful, but how are you differentiating yourself from other designers when people visit your website?   My next guest is Kamala Nair. She is a meticulous copywriter, brand voice expert, and acclaimed novelist with twenty years of pro...

Hey, y'all. You may have noticed that there have been a few rereleases of previous episodes recently. There is a reason behind that, and in this short solo episode, I want to share some exciting updates happening around here. I also talk about the importance of reorganizing and prioritizing tasks in your business and giving yourself some grace to avoid overwhelm and maintain your sanity.   Michell...

Hey, y'all, welcome back to the podcast. I am excited to have the fabulous design duo Bryan and Mike Yates on the show today. They share the story of when and where they first met, why they decided to move from New York to Texas, and how they balance working together as a married couple.   We also talk about the importance of relationship building, not only with potential clients but with builders...

Have you ever thought of creating an online course but have no idea where to start? Ariel Schiffer is the Founder of Dreampro, the first-choice course creation agency for entrepreneurs and small business owners. She has over 10 years of experience working with Fortune 50 companies, non-profit organizations, small businesses, and private companies to develop their professional and leadership develo...

What kind of experience do you give your clients? While yes, you are hired to create beautiful, functional spaces, as a luxury provider, you are also providing a luxury experience for your clients.   In this episode, I am sharing what we call our ML Experience. This is what we use to lead our clients through the entire process with authority so they know they can trust us. It shows we are confiden...

Structuring your business the right way can help you navigate in any economy, no matter where you are in your interior design business. Whether you are just starting out or already a few years in, I am sharing ways for you to uplevel your business during these uncertain times. My intention today is to give you some inspiration and courage to keep going even through all the uncertainty. Because ult...

Hey y'all, welcome to the 100th episode of the Designed for the Creative Mind podcast! For this special episode, we thought it would be fun to look back at how ML Interiors Group has changed and grown over the years.   Debbie, Megan, and I chat about how our processes have evolved, important things the team has learned working together over the past 10 years, and Debbie & Megan's new roles at ML I...

Do you want to get out of the project management role and get back to designing? Wish you could have someone help you with tracking, backorders, re-selections, and scheduling. It is possible, and my next guest is here to explain how.   In this episode, she explains why outsourcing the non-creative parts of your business is the best option for continued growth. We also discuss the benefit of workin...

Here is another audience favorite I thought would be a great episode to replay this week. How do you handle pricing your services? Send me a DM on Instagram, and let's chat about it!   In this episode, I am sharing my view of flat-rate pricing versus charging an hourly fee for your design services. Although I am a huge fan of value-based pricing, there are some times when you will need to charge c...

Have you ever been to High Point Market? If you haven't, you may be surprised to hear that High Point, North Carolina, is a vibrant city year-round if you know where to go. My next guest is here to share why coming to High Point off-Market will be valuable to your business.   Jane Dagmi is the managing director of High Point x Design (the "x" stands for "by."), a non-profit organization that champ...

Hey, y'all. Due to the popularity of this episode, we are re-releasing my chat with Nancy Ganzekaufer. Enjoy!   Welcome back to the Designed for the Creative Mind podcast. Y'all are in for a special treat today as my next guest is the amazing Nancy Ganzekaufer. She is a Business Coach, Speaker, Body Language Trainer, and Author. We had a fabulous discussion about how best to respond in different s...

Are you using social media to market your interior design business? My next guest says you're doing something wrong if you're not getting ideal clients from social media.    Darla Powell is a retired police sergeant, turned interior decorator, and turned CEO of her own marketing agency for interior designers, Wingnut Social. Darla helps professionals in the interior design space attract their idea...

Tonya Comer has been named one of the Top 20 African American Interior Designers in the United States. She is the Principal of the boutique interior design firm, Tonya Comer Interiors, and an award-winning product designer with products that have sold around the globe.   In this episode, Tonya shares her story of hitting rock bottom and how it helped her learn the ultimate lessons for living an em...

My next guest is Kaci Ackerman, a Certified Business Manager and ClickUp expert. Kaci has helped over 1000 business owners streamline their businesses with ClickUp. She saves CEOs 10 hours a week and increases their profit by 25% with a robust and automated ClickUp system.   In this episode, Kaci explains what ClickUp is and how it saves time, the platforms it can replace, and why having a project...

My next badass guest is Molly Schoneveld. She is the founder and CEO of The Storied Group--a PR firm for interior designers and luxury lifestyle clients. Molly shares how her background in communications and her experience in the entertainment industry led her to the interior design business.   In this episode, Molly and I also chat about what magazines are currently looking for, how to use social...

My next guest is Liz Lidgett, an art advisor and gallery owner based in Des Moines, Iowa. Her gallery operates differently than the traditional gallery. She wants to provide original art pieces at every price point and help people learn how to budget for, find their style, and incorporate art pieces into their homes.   Liz is here to share her insight with our listeners and help build confidence i...

My next guest is another graduate of our Interior Design Business Bakery. She is also a familiar voice in our Interior Designers Business Launchpad Facebook community, sharing her knowledge and experience with others in the group.   In this episode, Kristen Reyes shares how the Bakery has changed her business processes even though she already had years of interior design experience under her belt....

Are you on LinkedIn? It's not just for stuffy resumes anymore! LinkedIn has evolved into a fantastic place for networking, connecting, and engaging with people, both personally and professionally. Not only can you find high-end clients that need your services, but you can also showcase your services, post images of your beautiful work, and educate and inspire people in the process.   My next guest...

Tara Newman is the Founder and CEO of The Bold Profit Academy, where she teaches service-based business owners how to sell premium services and programs without the emotional stress of launching, worrying about ads, overwhelming social strategies, or complex funnels.    Tara is an expert in business strategy and industrial organizational psychology and a Profit First Certified Consultant. It's her...

My next guest started her business two months before the pandemic and during her first year of motherhood. Desiree Washington founded Designs By Des Interiors to help busy moms and professionals like herself create healthy spaces that would foster growth. By working through her own challenging experiences, she created healthy, comfortable environments for her growing family through a budget-friend...

My next guest is a Boston interior designer/photographer who teaches designers and home stagers to take stellar photos of their work using their smartphones.   As a former professional photographer, Linda Holt is no stranger to merging her creative eye with aesthetic appeal, having worked with more than 5,000 celebrities, actors, and models as one of Boston's top commercial headshot photographers....

My next badass guest is Ericka Saurit. She began her career as an interior designer, and now as a brand marketing strategist, focuses on helping interior designers transform their businesses into unforgettable brands through strategic storytelling.   In this episode, Ericka shares what a brand message is, why a clear and consistent brand message is one of the most valuable investments you can make...

My next guest is Brittanie Elms, the CEO and Lead Consultant for My Design Assistant, a virtual assistance agency for interior designers looking to reimagine their efficiency so that they can develop a life and business they love.   The My Design Assistant team helps designers develop actionable systems and tools so they can move their business forward efficiently and free up their time for creati...