Episodes

  • 027: Sales, Listening, and Money: My Takeaways from LuAnn at UP Expo

    027: Sales, Listening, and Money: My Takeaways from LuAnn at UP Expo
    Mar 26 2026

    At the IP Expo, LuAnn Nigara shared a message that felt equal parts business coaching, mindset shift, and reality check—and it’s one I knew I wanted to bring back to our podcast community.

    In this solo episode, I’m reflecting on the biggest takeaways from her talk and why they matter for interior designers at every stage of business. From embracing the idea that sales is part of service, to setting real revenue goals, to having clearer conversations about money, this episode is all about building a design business with more confidence and intention.

    I also dive into one of the most important reminders from her talk: the best salespeople are often the best listeners. When we slow down, ask better questions, and truly hear what our clients need, we create stronger relationships and better outcomes.

    Whether you’re an emerging professional or a seasoned designer, this episode is a reminder that business skills do not take away from your creativity—they support it.

    Stay Connected:

    1. Sign Up for Our Newsletter
    2. ASID San Diego Website
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Follow us on Instagram
    5. Ask your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.
    6. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
    7. Share this podcast with a fellow designer in your community
    8. Questions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    27 mins
  • 026: Behind the Scenes of My Interior Design Business

    026: Behind the Scenes of My Interior Design Business
    Mar 19 2026

    On this solo episode of the Interior Design San Diego Podcast, Rachel Larraine Crawford pulls back the curtain on the reality of running a full-service interior design business.

    After years of being asked by students and fellow designers what her days actually look like, Rachel walks you through her weekly rhythm—from focused admin days in her 500 sq ft ADU studio to client meetings, sourcing sessions, job site visits, and everything in between.

    With 8–10 active projects at any given time—including a Brazilian steakhouse, second homes, kitchen remodels, and a one-of-a-kind astrology reading room—this episode offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the balance of creativity, logistics, leadership, and relationship-building that defines the profession.

    You’ll hear how Rachel structures her week for efficiency, how she collaborates with her design assistant to manage procurement and operations, and why the “non-glamorous” side of design is actually what sets great designers apart.

    Whether you're an emerging professional, a student, or simply curious about the industry, this episode demystifies the day-to-day and highlights what it really takes to bring thoughtful, well-executed spaces to life.

    Connect with Rachel

    rachel@tigerveil.com

    instagram.com/tigerveil

    Stay Connected:

    1. Sign Up for Our Newsletter
    2. ASID San Diego Website
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Follow us on Instagram
    5. Ask your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.
    6. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
    7. Share this podcast with a fellow designer in your community
    8. Questions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    26 mins
  • 025: From Concept to Creation: How Tecture Brings Custom Design to Life with Brittany Cartwright

    025: From Concept to Creation: How Tecture Brings Custom Design to Life with Brittany Cartwright
    Mar 5 2026
    What happens when interior design and fabrication live under the same roof?In this episode of the Interior Design San Diego Podcast, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with Brittany Cartwright, Design Studio Director at Texture, a Barrio Logan–based design and fabrication studio known for bringing bold, custom ideas to life.Texture has been shaping some of San Diego’s most memorable hospitality spaces—from beloved restaurants like Nolita Hall to cutting-edge installations for biotech campuses. What sets them apart is their unique ability to design, engineer, and fabricate complex elements all in-house, giving designers and clients a seamless path from concept to installation.Brittany shares how Texture started with three architecture students working out of a garage and evolved into a multidisciplinary studio collaborating across hospitality, multifamily, commercial, and experiential design. She also explains how their recent rebrand into Texture Studio and Texture Architectural Fabrication (AF) reflects the company’s growing specialties.Whether you're a designer with a big idea, a student exploring career paths, or a creative curious about fabrication, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how collaboration turns imagination into reality.What You’ll Learn in This Episode• How Texture combines interior design and fabrication to streamline projects• Why involving fabricators early in the design process can save time and budget• The design process Texture uses—from programming and concept through installation• What designers should understand about lead times, sequencing, and fabrication realities• How collaboration across disciplines leads to stronger, more creative design outcomesKey TakeawayOne of Texture’s biggest strengths is their ability to bridge the gap between design vision and physical construction. By collaborating closely with fabricators, estimators, and engineers from the beginning, designers can push creativity further while staying grounded in what’s possible.Community Spotlight: Texture Open House & SDAF EventBrittany also shares details about Texture’s upcoming open house in Barrio Logan as part of the San Diego Architectural Foundation Open House.RSVP HereThe event will feature:• A behind-the-scenes look at Texture’s fabrication shop• Local artists, makers, and designers exhibiting work• A panel discussion with architects, designers, and builders (including Rachel!)• A community graffiti mural project• A Oh San Diego Wrap Party featuring espresso martinis, music, and local vendorsWrap Party Tickets HereIt’s a unique opportunity for the San Diego design community to connect, collaborate, and celebrate creativity together.Guest BioBrittany Cartwright is the Design Studio Director at Texture Studio, where she leads the interiors team on hospitality, retail, and multifamily projects. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Brittany joined Texture over a decade ago and has helped grow the studio from a small five-person team into one of San Diego’s most dynamic design and fabrication studios.Her work focuses on creating immersive spaces while collaborating closely with fabrication experts to bring complex custom ideas to life.Stay Connected:Follow Tecture here: instagram.com/tecture & instagram.com/tecturestudioTecture WebsiteSign Up for Our NewsletterASID San Diego WebsiteLinkedInFollow us on InstagramAsk your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodesShare this podcast with a fellow designer in your communityQuestions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    37 mins
  • 024: From San Diego to Global Stage: Lorena Gaxiola's Journey in Design, Licensing, and Creative Expansion

    024: From San Diego to Global Stage: Lorena Gaxiola's Journey in Design, Licensing, and Creative Expansion
    Feb 26 2026

    This week on Interior Design San Diego, Rachel sits down with Lorena Gaxiola—San Diego native and global design force—whose career spans luxury hospitality, high-end residential, product licensing, and international practice. Lorena shares how curiosity, systems, and a whole lot of courage helped her scale from local projects to designing around the world—while staying grounded in purpose, people, and energy.

    What you’ll hear in this episode
    1. How Lorena’s architecture-rooted upbringing shaped her “superpower” in design
    2. The real reason merchandising/model homes became her masterclass in branding + emotional connection
    3. How she landed opportunities with major retailers and built product/licensing partnerships (hint: ask, show up, follow through)
    4. Her definition of “style”: experiential design—less ego, more user experience
    5. Practical advice on contracts, IP ownership, and building a small-but-mighty international firm

    Stay Connected:

    1. Sign Up for Our Newsletter
    2. ASID San Diego Website
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Follow us on Instagram
    5. Ask your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.
    6. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
    7. Share this podcast with a fellow designer in your community
    8. Questions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    44 mins
  • 023: Teaching Tomorrow’s Designers: Jessica Newman on What’s Changing in the Classroom

    023: Teaching Tomorrow’s Designers: Jessica Newman on What’s Changing in the Classroom
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode, Rachel sits down with educator and designer Jessica Newman to talk about the evolving world of interior design education—and why students today are uniquely positioned to lead the future of the industry.Jessica shares her journey from fine arts to hospitality design (including time at Hirsch Bedner Associates) and into academia, where she now champions sustainability, technology, and inclusive pathways into the profession.What we cover:How today’s design students are reshaping the industry with ethics, sustainability, and tech-forward thinkingWhy associate degrees and community college pathways deserve more respectHow AI is being integrated into design education (and why it’s a tool—not a threat)Palomar College’s new Bachelor of Science in Building Performance & Environmental Design—and why it’s a game changerHow firms can support students through mentorships and internships (and why it benefits everyone)Get involved:Jessica invites designers and firms to connect with students through internships, mentorship, guest lectures, and real-world collaboration. Email her at: jnewman1@palomar.eduInfo on Palomar's Interior Design program: Interior Design at Palomar College - Interior DesignInfo on Palomar's BPED program: Bachelor of Science in Building Performance and Environmental Design - Building Performance and Environmental Design Perspective and Sketching for Designers - YouTubeJessica's Book: Perspective and Sketching for Designers (Fashion Series): Newman, Jessica, Beduhn, Jack: 9780132574945: Amazon.com: BooksJessica's art paintings: JESSICA NEWMAN - ARTISTCityscape paintings of San Diego: Jessica Newman ArtAbout Jessica Newman:She is an associate professor and the lead faculty for the Interior Design department at Palomar College. She is also the co-lead for Palomar’s first bachelors degree program in Building Performance and Environmental Design. Jessica is a designer, artist, author, and professor. She has an AA and BFA in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and an MFA in Painting and an MA in Interior Architecture and Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Jessica has worked for a number of architecture and interior design firms in New York, Atlanta, and San Diego, including the top hospitality design firm in the world, Hirsch Bedner & Associates. Some of the various types of projects she has worked on include; public schools, private colleges, assisted living facilities, office spaces, churches, four and five-star hotels, and private homes. Jessica has been teaching at the college level for over 20 years. She is also an internationally published author. Her textbook Perspective and Sketching for Designers has been published in English and Mandarin. She also has a YouTube channel of the same name, with over 50 free instructional videos for students. Jessica is also an oil painter who exhibits regularly in San Diego, and nationally. Her oil paintings focus on cityscapes and the built environment.Stay Connected:Sign Up for Our NewsletterASID San Diego WebsiteLinkedInFollow us on InstagramAsk your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodesShare this podcast with a fellow designer in your communityQuestions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    30 mins
  • 022: Designing for Healing with Julia Savas

    022: Designing for Healing with Julia Savas
    Feb 12 2026

    In this episode, Rachel chats with Julia Savas, a fourth-year interior architecture student at San Diego State University, about following a clear design calling, discovering a passion for healthcare and wellness spaces, and finding confidence as an emerging professional in the San Diego design community.

    In this episode, you’ll hear:

    1. How a fifth-grade dream became a focused path in interior architecture
    2. Why personal experiences in healthcare spaces shaped Julia’s design lens
    3. The gap between design school and business—and how internships help
    4. How students are actually using AI in their projects
    5. Julia’s advice for new design students: say yes, show up, and let your interests evolve

    About Julia

    Julia Savas is a senior graduating this semester from San Diego State University’s School of Art and Design. A four-year ASID member, they studied architecture abroad in Florence and gained hands-on experience as an intern with Humble Design and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. As they prepare for post-graduation, they’re embracing the transition from student to emerging professional; pursuing certifications, licensure, and meaningful connections within San Diego’s design community, with a long-term focus on healthcare architecture.

    Stay Connected:

    1. Sign Up for Our Newsletter
    2. ASID San Diego Website
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Follow us on Instagram
    5. Ask your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.
    6. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
    7. Share this podcast with a fellow designer in your community
    8. Questions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    34 mins
  • 021: From Concept to Check-In: Inside the Sophia Hotel with Anjum Razvi

    021: From Concept to Check-In: Inside the Sophia Hotel with Anjum Razvi
    Feb 5 2026
    In this episode of Interior Design San Diego, host Rachel Larraine Crawford sits down with the incredible Anjum Razvi, founder and principal of Razvi Design Studio, to explore her dynamic 40+ year design journey from architecture in India to boutique hospitality design in San Diego.Anjum shares how motherhood, resilience, and a passion for creative freedom shaped the evolution of her studio—and how a single ASID showcase bathroom led to her biggest project to date: the iconic Sofia Hotel. If you’ve ever wondered how small residential jobs can lead to big opportunities, or what it takes to transition into hospitality design, this episode is for you.🌟 Highlights:Anjum’s early spark: Following her architect cousin on site visits in IndiaFinding design footing: Navigating identity, licensing, and inspiration in a new countryFrom freelance to founder: How flexibility and intuition shaped her firm’s growthLanding the Sofia Hotel: A career-defining opportunity born from an ASID showcaseHospitality design today: Tech integration, sustainability, and business-minded creativityTeaching and mentorship: Why sharing knowledge gives just as much as it gets🛎️ Key Takeaways:Design exposure matters – Participating in ASID showcases directly led to Anjum’s hospitality work.Hospitality is business – Great design must align with guest experience and the owner's bottom line.Stay adaptable – Whether designing 200 unique hotel rooms or shifting to tech-integrated spaces, flexibility is key.Your background is a strength – Anjum’s architectural foundation and global perspective set her apart.Mentorship multiplies impact – Teaching at NewSchool and mentoring ASID members keeps her connected and inspired.About Anjum RazviPresident | Founder. Anjum Razvi has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, is a professional member of ASID and is certified by CCIDC and NCIDQ. Her design firm provides interior design services that include residential properties, hospitality properties, commercial businesses and office spaces.Razvi Design Studio specializes in guiding clients through the endless decisions required for new home construction or an extensive architectural remodel. The designers skillfully detail materials and furnishings to create a unique finished style that is both functional and beautiful. Design expertise includes whole homes, kitchens, baths, custom built-ins, material specifications and more. The design firm provides aesthetic and pragmatic design solutions for public areas and guest rooms of boutique hotel properties, both historical and new. No matter what type of project, they specialize in the intelligent integration of architecture and interior design to create an extraordinary environment.Additionally, Anjum has been an adjunct professor at The New School of Architecture and Design in their Interior Architecture program since 2019. She is the recipient of several awards for both service to ASID as well as for design excellence competitions and has been widely published in magazines and coffee table books over the years.WEBSITE: www.razvidesign.comEMAIL: arazvi@razvidesign.cominstagram.com/designerarStay Connected:Sign Up for Our NewsletterASID San Diego WebsiteLinkedInFollow us on InstagramAsk your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodesShare this podcast with a fellow designer in your communityQuestions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    48 mins
  • 020: Spring Spruce Up: 3 Years In, Here’s What I’ve Learned

    020: Spring Spruce Up: 3 Years In, Here’s What I’ve Learned
    Jan 29 2026

    In this solo episode, host Rachel Larraine Crawford pulls back the curtain on one of her favorite community-driven events: ASID San Diego’s Spring Spruce Up. Now in her third year of participating, Rachel shares how this one-hour consultation event has helped her generate real leads, deepen community ties, and give back in a meaningful way.

    Whether you're a seasoned designer or just stepping into the field, this episode is packed with practical advice for making the most of your Spruce Up experience—from tools to bring, how to prep, and the key to turning consultations into long-term clients.

    What You'll Learn:

    1. What the Spring Spruce Up is (and why it matters)
    2. Rachel’s tried-and-true prep and follow-up strategy
    3. What types of consultations to expect (spoiler: it’s not all paint picks!)
    4. How AI tools like Plaud can streamline your follow-ups
    5. The power of bringing students along for the ride

    Key Takeaways:

    1. 20% of Rachel’s consultations have turned into full projects
    2. Following up within 24 hours makes all the difference
    3. Tangible tools like paint kits and business cards go a long way—especially with older clients
    4. Recording your sessions (with permission!) can simplify your follow-up workflow
    5. It’s a fundraiser—but also a powerful lead generator

    ASID Spring Spruce Up Requirements:

    1. Must be an ASID member in good standing
    2. Minimum of 3 years of professional design experience
    3. Available March 1 – April 31, 2026
    4. Sign up deadline 1/31/26
    5. Sign up link.

    Stay Connected:

    1. Sign Up for Our Newsletter
    2. ASID San Diego Website
    3. LinkedIn
    4. Follow us on Instagram
    5. Ask your question, share a topic of interest or be our guest here.
    6. Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
    7. Share this podcast with a fellow designer in your community
    8. Questions, sponsorship or feed back: sandiegoasid@gmail.com
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    24 mins