Design Curious | Interior Design Career and Business Podcast Podcast By Rebecca Ward CID | Interior Design Mentor and Coach 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
Listen for free

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
  • 183 | Key Steps That Help Interior Designers Attract Dream Clients

    183 | Key Steps That Help Interior Designers Attract Dream Clients
    Mar 23 2026

    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 can quickly turn into one you resent.


    In this episode, I’m walking you through how to identify and attract your dream clients — not by chasing them, but by designing your business in a way that naturally draws them in. When you shift your money mindset, define your non-negotiables, and confidently communicate your process, you stop attracting bargain shoppers… and start attracting aligned clients who respect your expertise and value interior design as a professional service.


    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    ✔️ Define dream clients with clarity and boundaries

    ✔️ Build a structure before landing your first client

    ✔️ Strengthen money mindset to attract aligned clients

    ✔️ Use niching to attract ideal projects

    ✔️ Leverage networking for warm referrals


    Read the Blog >>> Key Steps to Attracting Your Dream Interior Design Clients


    NEXT STEPS:

    📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves


    🎯 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:

    📌 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

    02:56 Building Dream Clients

    3:48 Setting Non-Negotiables and Client Expectations

    6:24 Money Mindset and Pricing Confidence

    8:25 Recognizing Aligned Dream Clients

    10:54 Networking for Referrals

    13:00 Acting Like Your Future Designer Self
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    17 mins
  • 182 | How to Build Financial Confidence as the CEO of Your Design Business With Danielle Hayden

    182 | How to Build Financial Confidence as the CEO of Your Design Business With Danielle Hayden
    Mar 16 2026
    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 powerful, but it cannot replace CEO responsibility.With automation and financial tech, many designers assume their systems are handling everything correctly. But inaccurate bookkeeping, duplicated transactions, or improperly reconciled accounts can quietly damage your financial health — and no AI tool will raise a red flag. Instead, it will confidently analyze flawed data and give you misleading conclusions.If you want sustainable business growth, better business decisions, and long-term business protection, you must understand your numbers. In this episode, Danielle shares a powerful framework to help you step into your CEO role with clarity — without doing everything yourself.Featured GuestDanielle Hayden is the co-founder and CEO of Kickstart Accounting Inc., a bookkeeping and accounting firm dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs understand their financials through bookkeeping, financial analysis, and strategic support. With a background as a CFO, Danielle’s mission is to equip business owners — from six figures to beyond — with the tools and insights they need to build profitable and sustainable businesses.What You’ll Learn in This Episode✳️ Why CEOs must understand their business financials✳️ AI limitations in financial analysis and decision-making✳️ Hidden risks inside QuickBooks financial automation systems✳️ Danielle’s framework for deciding when to become an S Corp✳️ Four essential roles for a strong money teamRead the Blog >>> Financial Confidence for Design CEOs with Danielle HaydenNEXT STEPS:📺 Watch this free webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right 👉https://rwarddesign.myflodesk.com/5moneymoves🎯 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:📌 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 Bio2:51 The Hidden Risks of Financial Automation and QuickBooks6:27 Why AI Cannot Replace Financial Expertise9:45 Embracing Your Role as CEO10:14 3-Step Framework for Becoming an S Corp13:42 When to Hire Bookkeeping Services15:08 The 4 Essential Roles on Your Money Team20:00 The CEO Dashboard and Financial Clarity21:33 Building a Sellable Business23:29 Getting the Right Support as a Business Owner
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    27 mins
  • 181 | How to Capture Stunning Photos of Your Interior Design Projects

    181 | How to Capture Stunning Photos of Your Interior Design Projects
    Mar 9 2026

    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 how to consistently get portfolio-worthy photos of your interior design projects — even if you're new, working with real-life clients, or unsure how to approach photography contracts, styling, or working with an editorial photographer. Because when you have high-quality interior photography, everything changes — your portfolio strengthens, your brand elevates, and your work finally gets the visibility it deserves.


    What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    ✔️ Secure client permission through photography contracts

    ✔️ Choose editorial over real estate photographers

    ✔️ Style spaces for magazine-quality photos

    ✔️ Capture storytelling photo composition

    ✔️ Plan photography into project expenses


    NEXT STEPS:

    🎯 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:

    📌 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: Why portfolio photos matter

    2:16 Getting Client Permission in Your Contract

    3:46 Scheduling Photography Early

    4:53 Choosing the Right Photographer

    7:15 Styling for Photo Shoots

    9:58 Using Natural Light and Layered Images

    11:05 Capturing Horizontal, Vertical, and Detail Shots

    12:16 Organizing and Using Photos

    16:02 Photography as a Business Expense
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    18 mins
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