Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined Jessica Bantom, interior designer, color consultant, and DEIB practitioner. This is Part Two of our conversation on how to become a culturally competent designer, and we are going even deeper.
In this conversation, Jessica walks us through the six habits of a culturally competent designer—the same habits outlined in her new book, Design for Identity: How to
Design Authentically for a Diverse World. Listen now to learn more about each of these habits and how you can incorporate them into your routine and be a part of this phenomenal shift in the industry.
[1:58] LuAnn and Jessica discuss the first habit of culturally competent designers: Take accountability, especially during the design process and through inclusive leadership.
[10:25] Jessica explains the second habit: Ask questions. She says this step is about creating a space for conversation, which should be established at the beginning of a project.
[17:58] LuAnn asks Jessica about the third habit: Seek knowledge.
[25:26] Jessica shares that the majority of her book, Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World, is about the critical fourth habit: Talk to customers.
[34:44] LuAnn and Jessica expand on the fifth habit: Believe people, and why this habit should not be overlooked.
[41:00] Jessica explains the sixth and final habit: Share experience, saying that culturally competent designers need to set the tone, create the space, and model the behavior of sharing experience.
“All of us need to adopt these habits. So that there is no one outlier in the team or in the organization that is the one speaking up. It becomes a normal part of conversation. And when a point is raised, it can be something that can be can be discussed more broadly.” – Jessica Bantom
“The entire culture of the company has to be a place where you allow people to express their points of view.” – LuAnn Nigara
“When it comes to identity, and representing cultures and identity, and it's in an authentic way, that does require getting other viewpoints and perspectives..” – Jessica Bantom
“There is this expectation that we can't start talking about difference until we bring people of different backgrounds into the organization. That is not true. Because, like we said, there is information available and accessible to of us. And it is also not the responsibility of those people to come into a firm and educate their peers.” – Jessica Bantom
“We have to be willing to engage with customers, because we are the experts on design, but they are the experts on themselves.” – Jessica Bantom
“These are principles, these are ideas, these are things that we should be doing to be better humans. However, if that's not enough to get your mojo going, understand this is your business. Your business is going to dramatically change over the next five-to-ten-to-fifteen years.” – LuAnn Nigara
Jessica Bantom is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) practitioner and workplace strategist whose goals are to help organizations develop customized strategies for transformational change and to enable individuals to take immediate action to become more inclusive. Author of Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World (coming in April 2023), she is a skilled management consultant with over 20 years of experience, a compelling speaker, and a certified facilitator and coach with a passion for helping people and organizations activate the values of DEIB to become more culturally competent and thrive in our increasingly global economy.
Jessica is a proud alum of the University of Virginia where she earned her undergraduate degree and Marymount University where she earned her Masters. She is certified as an Associate Diversity Coach through the CoachDiversity Institute’s Executive Certification in Diversity Coaching program in collaboration with the Howard University School of Business and holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. In addition, she is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP), Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) with a specialization in Design Thinking and Innovation from Darden Executive Education at the University of Virginia.http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
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Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
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Today With Jenna Gaidusek:
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Jenna Gaidusek, Director of Community and Education at Mydoma Studio. Jenna is a talented designer, founder of the Interior Design Playbook (formerly eDesign Tribe) Facebook community and creator of eDesign U, an online school dedicated to providing designers with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the eDesign industry.
Jenna doesn’t want you to go it alone as a designer, which is why she joined forces with Mydoma Studio and created the Virtual Assistant Certification program.
Listen now to this sponsored episode for all the details about this amazing new resource available only through Mydoma.
[3:07] Jenna explains what a virtual assistant is and how they help businesses.
[4:47] LuAnn and Jenna discuss the need for virtual assistants, especially for designers, and why Jenna and Sarah Daniele from Mydoma partnered to create a certification program specifically within the Mydoma Studio platform.
[11:00] LuAnn identifies the ideal candidates for this course.
[14:41] Jenna explains what candidates need to do to get started in the certification program.
[15:50] LuAnn asks Jenna about common tasks VA’s will complete and different ways they can collaborate with designers after this training in both the project management and rendering.
[19:29] Jenna and LuAnn discuss the benefits of having a VA certified in Mydoma Studio, including access to Mydoma, training updates, and access to the community for a year.
[28:11] Jenna explains how the week-long course is structured and how to apply.
“Virtual assistants are basically like your right hand, man. They can help you streamline your process, take the things off your plate that you just don't enjoy doing, but they thrive on…[doing] the things that you don't love to do, and it makes a great partnership.” – Jenna Gaidusek
“There are people that might not be designers that are so perfect for this role as a VA that it just fits and it just clicks and we need you as designers to be our other half.” – Jenna Gaidusek
“‘This is a tremendous benefit, that if I recognize the value that Mydoma Studio can be to my business—to my back end, to my operations and my system, but I mentally don't have the capacity, whether it's actual intellectual capacity or physical capacity timewise…[Now there is] somebody that I can pay to put my projects in to get everything done.” – LuAnn Nigara
“I believe if you have an organized brain, we can teach this to you.” – Jenna Gaidusek
Jenna is a talented visual communicator and interior designer with a passion for creating beautiful and functional spaces. She made the decision to leave her corporate interior design career in 2015 to launch her own online interior design business, which quickly gained traction and became a successful venture while she was living in New York City.
She began sharing her work on social media, and other designers frequently reached out to her with questions. During this time, Jenna noticed a lack of information and resources available for eDesign, which was not yet a popular concept. To meet this demand, Jenna founded the eDesign Tribe Facebook community, which quickly grew into a thriving platform for designers to connect and learn from one another (now called the Interior Design Playbook).
With a continued need for education in the field of virtual design communication and business development, Jenna created eDesign U in 2018, an online school dedicated to providing designers with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the eDesign industry.
Jenna also recognized the need for a more user-friendly and affordable 3D rendering program and embeddable shopping list for designers. In response, she developed a cutting-edge platform that provided just that. This platform was quickly embraced by designers and became a game-changer in the industry.
In 2022, Jenna's efforts and dedication to eDesign were rewarded when her eDesign Tribe community and all associated entities were acquired by Mydoma Studio. This acquisition provided designers with an unprecedented level of resources and support, allowing them to render their designs and manage their projects with ease.
Jenna's innovative and forward-thinking approach to eDesign has had a significant impact on the industry, and her contributions have been widely recognized. She continues to be a thought leader in the field, and her passion for helping designers succeed is an inspiration to all who work with her as the Director of Community and Education with Mydoma and continues to work as a practicing virtual interior designer.
Connect with Jenna Gaidusek
Virtual Assistant Certification
Get 20% off Mydoma for 3 months!
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Mydoma Studio
#91: Sarah Daniele – Co-Founder & CEO of Mydoma Studio
#555: Sarah Daniele: 19H The Blueprint, Create Resiliency in Your Business
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today we’re traveling outside the country. My guest Christina Richardson from Christina Richardson Interiors. Christina is a Scandinavian native who grew up on the charming coast of Northern Sweden. After moving to the U.S. with her husband and two daughters, Christina earned her interior design degree from the New York Institute of Art and Design. With 20 years of interior design under her belt from Sweden, Christina has learned a lot in the business of starting over in another country. She is here to share the “musts” of what she learned you should do if considering taking projects in another country.
[5:00] Christina shares her experience coming to the U.S. and becoming an interior designer.
[9:10] How Christina got clients being from a different country and not knowing anyone.
[15:27] What to think about if you are in the U.S. and want to start a project in a different country.
[20:20] Christina explains the Vienna Agreement.
[34:42] Tips on vetting a contractor when you are doing an out of country project.
[44:05] Christina explains how things work when there are cultural differences.
“People like you give newer designers hope where you go through the stages of fear, but you plow through,” - LuAnn Nigara
“It’s important for everyone to know about the Vienna Agreement
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
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Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#638: What Would Lu Do?: Processes and Contracts: They Aren’t Made to Be Broken
#789: Flashback Friday: Michelle Wiebe: Breaking into New Construction as an Interior Designer
Today With Traci Connell:
Today’s show is sponsored by Traci Connell’s free masterclass The Reveal which begins on September 11, 2023. Traci joins us once again to share all of the ways you can work with her in The Gloss, including her free masterclass The Reveal where she “reveals” all of the secrets and shortcuts she has learned in the interior design industry. This is a five-day, one-hour-per-day event.
In The Reveal, you will learn the strategies Traci teaches designers to hit one million in revenue. This FREE course is for any interior designer who wants to reach the next level. Who wouldn’t that be, right?
Traci and I also discuss all of the valuable ways you can work with her in The Gloss. She uses her own four-pillar framework; More Purpose, More Precision, More Profit, and More Prestige to help designers achieve more wealth financially, mentally, and personally.
This #smartlady continues to offer up her shortcuts and expertise in everything she has learned on her way to building her multimillion-dollar design firm. Listen in to learn how to join The Gloss and get on The Reveal waitlist.
Pick It Apart
[12:48] Traci explains her two main keys to leveling up and creating wealth in your business.
[16:00] How do you prevent clients from sourcing online after you have sourced things for them?
[25:46] Traci talks about the new contingency fee that she has implemented.
[34:54] How joining The Confidential can build your business.
[39:38] Traci shares her programs and how you can work with her.
LuAnn Nigara and Traci Connell's Ah-Ha Moments
“Wealth doesn’t necessarily mean money. It’s not about being rich, but having a rich life.” - Traci Connell
“We always say on the show, if you tell me ahead of time what the agreements are before we sign, I am a grown up and can decide whether I want to proceed. There are no hard feelings because everyone knows the deal from the beginning.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Traci Connell
Since founding her eponymous firm, award-winning designer Traci Connell is an expert in delivering tailored interiors that are as luxurious as they are livable. With her keen eye for design, space planning and art, Connell brings understated glamour and elegance to a vast range of high-end residential interiors, commercial projects, vacation homes and custom site-specific requests. Her inspiration is attained from her explorations of the world of design, travel, art, nature and culture.
With a renewed appreciation for transforming homes into an ease of escape, Connell breaks through predictability with art curation, cutting edge technologies and custom artisan talents, weaving in special, unexpected elements into every design project. As one of the most trusted design firms in Dallas, she delivers an expertly perfected, streamlined system of service that simplifies and organizes the design process. Her impeccable eye for space planning and design, combined with the team’s in-depth knowledge of project management, proves invaluable for clients ranging from busy young families to empty nesters and those seeking vacation homes.
Connell’s philanthropic work within the Dallas design community includes the Dwell with Dignity “Thrift Studio” fundraiser, a design project aimed to raise money to combat homelessness in the city of Dallas and surrounding areas. She is currently serving on the ASID Texas Community Board.
Traci Connell Interiors has proudly been named a Kips Bay Decorator Show House Designer of 2021, D Home Best Designer in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and has been included on the Luxe Interiors + Design Gold List in 2018, 2020 and 2021. The firm’s work has been recognized in national and regional media publications including Luxe Interiors + Design, Wall Street Journal, Traditional Home, Modern Luxury Interiors, D Home and AD Pro among many more.
Connect with Traci Connell
Attend the free masterclass - The Reveal!
Other Shows Mentioned:
#525: Traci Connell: Take Your Business from Setback to Success
#554: Power Talk Friday: Traci Connell: Buy Wholesale for Profit
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today’s show is sponsored by Traci Connell and her free course, The Reveal.
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined Jessica Bantom, interior designer, DEIB practitioner, and author of Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World. This is the first part of a conversation about how to become a culturally competent designer.
In this episode, part one of a two-part series, Jessica explains cultural competence is the ability to understand, interact with, and appreciate people of different backgrounds or belief systems that are different from your own. But she explains that it essentially comes down to making space for conversations.
[5:54] LuAnn and Jessica talk about the goals of Jessica’s new book, Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World
[11:59] Jessica explains why she uses the term “identity” instead of culture, in order to speak more broadly about differences across multiple dimensions—including race and ethnicity but also age, religion, sexual orientation, and body size.
[18:32] Jessica and LuAnn discuss unconscious bias.
[21:46] Jessica and LuAnn examine the way different people are able (or unable) to share their experiences and why that is.
[35:45] LuAnn clarifies with Jessica that the message in her book is that, as designers, we need to make space for these conversations.
[39:35] Jessica explains that designers should not be making assumptions or interpreting someone else’s identity.
“Cultural competence is the ability to understand, interact with, and appreciate people of different backgrounds or belief systems that are different from your own. And what that essentially boils down to is just really making space to understand and appreciate that there are different experiences that people have based on different aspects of their identity. And it's all about being open-minded to what those are, and accepting that there are other realities.” – Jessica Bantom
“We may be in the same room looking at the same thing, but we are going to experience and we are going to process it differently.” – Jessica Bantom
“Instead of telling somebody that's baseless, we have to be willing to ask and understand how it happens that way, and why those feelings are there.” – LuAnn Nigara
“ ‘It is the duty of the interior designer to have awareness and sensitivity in going about their design for all of the communities that they designed for.’” – LuAnn Nigara quoting from the book Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World by Jessica Bantom
“As designers it's not on us to interpret somebody's culture or identity. It is on us to open the door for the conversation—to receive the information, to process it, to do what we do as designers with that new information. But it's not on us to come up with our interpretation of somebody's identity.” – Jessica Bantom
Jessica Bantom is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) practitioner and workplace strategist whose goals are to help organizations develop customized strategies for transformational change and to enable individuals to take immediate action to become more inclusive. Author of Design for Identity: How to Design Authentically for a Diverse World (coming in April 2023), she is a skilled management consultant with over 20 years of experience, a compelling speaker, and a certified facilitator and coach with a passion for helping people and organizations activate the values of DEIB to become more culturally competent and thrive in our increasingly global economy.
Jessica is a proud alum of the University of Virginia where she earned her undergraduate degree and Marymount University where she earned her Masters. She is certified as an Associate Diversity Coach through the CoachDiversity Institute’s Executive Certification in Diversity Coaching program in collaboration with the Howard University School of Business and holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. In addition, she is a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP), Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP) with a specialization in Design Thinking and Innovation from Darden Executive Education at the University of Virginia.Jessica is also active in the interior design industry as an interior design and color consultant and as an engaged advocate committed to promoting DEIB in the industry and in practice. She describes herself as a multidisciplinary designer of human-centered solutions and uses her specialization in design thinking to develop and apply innovative approaches that transcend industries. A proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, she’s a long-time resident of the Washington DC area, although she will always call Philadelphia home.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Today With Manuela Keller & Philip McKay:
Today’s episode is sponsored by Messe Stuttgart, a German company that specializes in organizing trade shows, particularly for the home decor industry. They have been in the trade show business for more than 80 years, annually organizing around 60 shows and 100 conferences worldwide.
Manuela Keller and Philip McKay are joining us to tell us all about two upcoming events: Sun Shading Expo 2023 and R+T 2024, which will both bring together the sun shading and textiles industries. Here, you will be able to maximize your time and meet the right people to discuss business opportunities for the entire sun shading product range.
About Manuela:
Manuela Keller is an experienced manager of international trade shows and events around the globe, with a proven track record in the event services industry since 2006. She has knowledge in strategic planning, business development, marketing strategy, event management and management.
Starting as an intern in the international department of Messe Stuttgart in 2006, she soon took on more responsibility and became project manager for official German Pavilions - joint company participations - at trade shows in all parts of the world - including SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin, SolarPower in Anaheim, IMTS in Chicago, ArabHealth in Dubai - to name just a few.
In 2009, Manuela became the project manager of R+T Asia, the leading international trade show for the sun control and door industry in the ASEAN region. Other trade fairs such as R+T Middle East, R+T Russia, R+T Turkey and R+T South America were added over the years.
Today, she is Manager of Exhibitions and Events and responsible for the international trade shows of the R+T Alliance - R+T Asia (Shanghai, China), R+T Turkey (Istanbul, Turkey), Sun Shading Expo North America (changing locations/USA) and APAExpo by R+T (Barcelona, Spain).
Manuela Keller is also part of the project team for R+T - the World's Leading Trade Fair for Roller Shutters, Doors and Sun Shading Systems. Among other things, she is responsible for the overarching exchange with the international association partners and supporters, the strategic and thematic support of the international conference program and the processing of international exhibitor and visitor inquiries, as well as the management of the international sales force. With more than 17 years of experience in organizing international trade shows, she brings remarkable added value and her global network to the organization of this outstanding, internationally renowned trade show.
The international trade fair heart beats in the middle of the dynamic Stuttgart region. Over 60 trade fairs and more than 100 congresses and events are held every year at our venue. We also operate all over the world and maintain a network of foreign representatives in 51 countries.
She has been married for more than 20 years and is a proud mother of a 10 year old son. As a balance to her working life, she likes to go for long walks in the nearby forest or attend live concerts - preferably punk or alternative rock.
About Philip:
Philip McKay has a proven track record as a successful senior executive with leading event companies. Before becoming President of Messe Stuttgart IncPhilip founded nGage Events LLC. in 2012. nGage became the premier hosted buyer events company in North America where it produced over 15 events a year across many industries.
Phil McKay also served in many executive positions for some of the largest trade show producers in the globe such as:
Executive VP for Questex Media and was responsible for their hosted model events and technology group. He has also served as Senior Vice President of the World Market Center in Las Vegas in charge of growing their event portfolio in the furniture, gift and home accessories industries. Mr. McKay held the position of Group Vice President and General Manager at Gartner's Vision Events, where he managed the teams of 10 different brands which were leaders in the hosted events in each of their verticals. He also served as Senior Vice President of International Business Development & Operations for Key3Media Group, overseeing the company's portfolio of COMDEX and N+I with 20 plus markets in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Prior to Key3Media, McKay was Group Managing Director for Penton Media.
In 2004, Philip McKay was recognized and awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from Tradeshow Week magazine for his outstanding and distinguished contributions to the global events industry.
Philip McKay is a past member of the board of directors of SISO. He was an active member in the Massachusetts Convention Center Advisory Board, also was past chairman of IAEE Senior Executive Advisory Board and The Future Strategy of Trade Fairs. He also was a past member of the Research Committee of CEIR and editorial advisory board member of Trade Show Executive Magazine.
He is a proud father of two men, and three grandchildren. When Phil is not working in his gardens and spoiling his grandchildren, you will find him on the golf course.
Connect with Manuela Keller & Philip McKay
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Messe Stuttgart
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What would you think if I said that you could be a successful interior designer working as an employee? For some, you may think, nah. For others, you may be thinking tell me more!
My guest today, Katie Wick, interior designer at Jkath Design Build + Reinvent is here to debunk the unspoken stigma that if you are an interior designer and you don't own your own business, then you won’t be successful. Listen in to learn all of the perks and benefits to working for an interior design company.[2:30] We kick the conversation off with the benefits of working as an interior design employee.
[8:45] Katie’s specific role and day to day duties at Jkath Design Build + Reinvent.
[17:04] Katie explains how she configures her social media while doing design for Jkath.
[25:47] Additional ways that Katie and Jesse support Katie as an employee.
[44:05] Katie explains her opinion of the stigma attached to designers who don’t want to necessarily start their own firm.
“Working within a firm with established systems and vendors contributes to a designer’s delivery and experience with high level design.” - LuAnn Nigara
“There has to be a willingness from both the employee and employer to have the hard conversations and proper communication.” - LuAnn Nigara
“They’ve been so generous to me and have created a great culture at Jkath. I would never do anything to cause any suffering in the business. And although it is their business, it is my reputation as well.” - Katie Wick
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#407: Century Furniture and Carrier & Company Launch New Line at High Point Market April 2019
#627: Julia Miller: The Evolution of an Interior Design Business
Today With Fernando Duque:
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by friend and colleague Fernando Duque, the CEO of Duke Renders. I am also joined by designers Nicole Salceda, from Eye for Pretty, and Elle Odori, founder of Decorelle, who are living proof that using 3D rendering from Duke Renders can uplevel your projects.
Having had Fernando on two times before, we are well aware of his clear process and tremendous success. But we have never heard first hand from one of his clients. It is always nice to hear recommendations from a colleague, and boy do these two recommend Duke Renders. Nicole and Elle share their positive experiences with Duke Renders despite their initial intimidation to give rendering a shot.
Pick It Apart
[3:15] Nicole starts us off with how Duke Renders has personally helped her in her projects.
[7:12] Fernando explains what a designer needs to provide in order for Duke Renders to have detailed renderings.
[17:30] Fernando explains how they can easily use your project management systems, like Mydoma to help formulate your rendering.
[24:54] What to expect with the price of rendering.
[32:55] Nicole shares how she uses rendering for her spec homes.
[43:12] How rendering can not only help your clients visualize a space, but also new ideas from the designer.
[48:15] Fernando’s final thoughts about using Duke Render’s 3D rendering for your projects.
LuAnn Nigara and Fernando Duque's Ah-Ha Moments
“For our first experience going into rendering I was nervous, but Duke Renders made it easy and really laid it out for us by sending us a template to follow.” - Elle Odori
“When you have the rendering, it gets the client so excited for what’s to come and holds them over.” -Nicole Salceda
“When do you know if it is OK to invest in your business? It is always OK, but it is never going to feel easy.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Fernando Duque
Born in Venezuela, MBA Babson College. Serial Entrepreneur, founded more than 5 companies.
I co founded Duke Renders with my brother Enrique in March 2020 in the middle of COVID 19, since then it has been a skyrocket growth with more than 100 team members today and no outside investment.
We are a 3D Render studio based in beautiful Tulum, Mexico.
We specialize in Interior Design and Architectural photorealistic imaging.
We serve busy Interior Designers with 100% Accurate Photo-Realistic 3D Renderings of their Creative Designs.
We make You and Your Clients feel Proud, Confident and Empowered at Every Single Step of the Design Process.
I live in Tulum with my wife Mina, our newborn daughter Penelope and our doggy Lulu.
Fun Facts:
1. I love going to the beach at 5am and do it every day!
2. Traveled the world backpacking for 2.5 years
3. Loves cooking Moroccan Food for his Moroccan Wife
Connect with Fernando Duque
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Duke Renders.
Other Shows Mentioned:
#852: Nicole Salceda: You Don’t Need to Have All the Superpowers
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that social media can be a great marketing tool—if you can build up a big following. But if you’re struggling to gain a big number of followers, is it even worth the time?
My guest today, Megan Pisano, would say the answer is absolutely yes. With under 4,000 Instagram followers, Megan has still managed to put social media to strong use for her business through engagement and relationship building. Learn why engagement matters more than metrics!
[2:27] Megan breaks down how she started using social media for her business.
[15:42] LuAnn and Megan discuss the importance of investing in professional photography.
[16:20] Megan shares the nitty-gritty of her Instagram approach, from content to hashtags.
[33:24] Megan discusses how relationship-building and engagement matter so much on Instagram.
[45:04] Megan and LuAnn talk about the value of referrals, networking, and live events.
“So even though the first time they reach out to you, it's technically a cold lead, it actually is functioning like a warm lead, because the relationship has already begun.” -LuAnn
“You have to post pictures of yourself. People want to know what you look like.” -Megan
Megan Pisano Design is an interior design company based in Chatham, NJ. Whether you’re in need of a full-house design or a single-room color recommendation (or anything in between), Megan can help you transform your home.
Megan works closely with her clients to understand what they’re looking for and creates spaces that are both beautiful as well as functional! She has a love for clean, minimalist designs that are brought to life with art and decor that reflect each client’s personality.
Megan’s interest in interior design began at a young age when she found herself rearranging her bedroom furniture every week (a habit that still remains!). She went on to receive an interior design degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and quickly put it to good use after graduation by working as an interior designer for the top Italian Furniture Company, B&B Italia.
After 10 years at B&B Italia, Megan decided to go out on her own in 2017 and fulfill her lifelong dream of starting her own company.
Megan loves helping her clients create spaces they feel happy in and feels lucky to have a job that she never sees as “work”. She’s also a certified yoga instructor – a passion that helps her bring a calm, relaxed approach to all of her designs and clients.
Megan lives in Chatham, NJ with her husband and their 2 young boys.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#278: Erika Ward – Master Business Skills 1st, Interior Design Skills 2nd.
#861: Power Talk Friday: Darla Powell: Instagram for Interior Designers.
Today With Adam Stevison:
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Adam Stevison, Luxury Showroom Manager of the newest Home Depot Design Center in Vauxhall, New Jersey. While the Home Depot has been around for almost 50 years, this new concept is a store-within-a-store, offering an interactive, luxury experience aimed to serve a customer it was unable to before. The Vauxhall location is the third Design Center that the Home Depot has opened, with other locations in San Diego, California, and Rockville, Maryland.
In this episode, sponsored by the Home Depot Design Center, Adam tells all about this extraordinary opportunity for designers and their clients. Featuring luxury brands appliances by Monogram, Thermador, Signature Kitchen Suite, and Dacor, the Home Depot Design Center features working vignettes, a team of experts, and end-to-end white glove service handled entirely in-house.
Pick It Apart
[1:50] Adam explains what the Home Depot Design Centers (HDDC) offer as a full experience center with built-in vignettes all in demo mode featuring.
[9:31] Adam and LuAnn discuss how designers can learn about the appliances from the team at the HDDC in order to educate their clients and also bring their clients in to experience the center themselves.
[16:28] LuAnn asks Adam to walk through the process of the experience from a designer’s standpoint.
[24:02] Adam talks about the white glove service at the HDDC, explaining all of the concierge services that accompany the experience and emphasizing that no part of the process or product is handled by a third party.
[32:42] Adam and LuAnn discuss client needs and wants and how the appliances at the HDDC can accommodate a range of budgets and desires.
[43:24] Adam encourages designers near the New Jersey location to use the HDDC as a shared workspace with their clients.
LuAnn Nigara and Adam Stevison's Ah-Ha Moments
“Experience goes a long way.” – Adam Stevison
“We can teach a designer that's designing as much as the consumer and the end user.” – Adam Stevison
“I know I can't sell what I don't know and I don't understand… So I love that we have this ability to come and really absorb it and grasp it and get the reason for the price tag, what is the value that goes in.” – LuAnn Nigara
“Nothing gets handed over at Home Depot Design Center to anything third party at any stage of the game.” – Adam Stevison
“Ultimately, this is actually the role in the value of the designer—to be the person that's doing the coordinating among everybody.” – LuAnn Nigara
More About Adam Stevison
Since starting with The Home Depot in 2001, Adam Stevison has worked in various roles both customer facing and regional support positions. Titles aside, he is an adept salesperson and operations manager, who now oversees the Home Depot Design Center in Vauxhall, NJ.
As a part of a new venture in an established company, that’s over 44 years old, his team in HDDC serve a customer that was unable to before.
Introducing the Home Depot Design Center
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, we look forward to being able to match the name recognition of The Home Depot with luxury branded appliances at the Home Depot Design Center to make the kitchen of our client’s dreams come true.
Customers benefit from interacting with the appliances in our luxury showroom to help them decide on products that fit their lifestyle. And through partnerships with designers and the trade, we extend a white glove delivery service, products that are high quality, highly sought after, and suited well for those looking for an elevated experience.
Open House at the Home Depot Design Center
The best way to learn about the latest features on kitchen appliances is to visit our showroom in Home Depot Design Center in Vauxhall, NJ.
Designers and trade professionals are welcome to our Open House on September 14, 2023. And meet the best-selling author and podcaster: LuAnn Nigara.
Visit the event page for details and RSVP to attend.
Connect with Adam Stevison
RVSP to attend the Open House at the Home Depot Design Center!
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by the Home Depot Design Center.
Other Shows Mentioned:
#31 Steven Cooper – The Value of a Trusted Vendor
#536 Monogram Appliances: Robert Koller and Alexandra Skobel
#794 Renee Biery: Do Clients Know You Can Handle Project Management?
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know the value of relationships in business—but what about the HOW? How are people going about building solid business relationships that make a difference?
My guest today, Rama Dandamudi, is someone who believes in relationships. Rama is here today to talk about predictability—specifically why predictability matters more than pricing. But as you’ll hear in this conversation, the way you create predictability is by focusing on relationships.
“Establish a reputation of being reliable and being consistent and being predictable. Not only will vendors want to come and work with you, but eventually clients will bring more work to you.” -Rama
“You've taken basically, the qualities of your typical mom-and-pop shop of why that business is important in a community. And you've taken those exact same principles and put it on the global scale that your business lives on.” -LuAnn
I am a Chicago-based entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience creating and managing businesses within the residential design industry. Currently, I am the president and founder of 210 Design House, a lifestyle showroom offering a curated collection of internationally acclaimed, high-end interiors products (including Snaidero, MisuraEmme, Plain & Fancy, Glas Italia, Arflex, Wall&decó, and Milldue noorth and Vitage).
For more than 25 years, my team and I have brought functional luxury and unique design to life in both single-family and multi-unit residential projects across Chicago and the country. In addition, I have spent the past two decades developing partnerships with international luxury brands and bringing them to the U.S. market, while remaining active with charitable organizations focused on child welfare and education. Prior to entering the design world, I was a board certified surgeon at Cook County Hospital for nearly 20 years.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#222 Power Talk Friday: Lee Cockerell- Customer Service the Disney Way
#753 Sandra Funk: How to Grow a Thriving Luxury Interior Design Business
Today on A Well-Designed Business, I welcome my friend Anna Nelson. I met Anna in September 2022 at the HPS. Out of the 60 or so people that were there, Anna was the first person I immediately connected with. In the episode you will hear her say that this is her strength, connecting with people on a deeper level, and I can personally vouch for that.
Anna is here to talk about how she helps entrepreneurs find and use their own strengths to get focused and aligned in their businesses.
[8:10] Anna explains the importance of appreciating the value of your ideas in relation to benefitting your business.
[12:15] How your client can have an impact on utilizing and recognizing your strengths.
[13:50] Anna shares for people not ready to invest, how they can recognize their strengths on their own.
[22:20] Anna shares an example of when it clicks for a client recognizing their strength and utilizing that to better their business.
[29:20] Anna can also benefit experienced designers and window treatment professionals who have been in the business for years.
“As a designer you can design a room, but how you approach designing that room will be different than someone else through your strength. It comes down to understanding what sets you apart in your industry.” - Anna Nelson
“If you don’t appreciate the value of your ideas and why they set you apart from someone else then you don’t know how to use them in a way that can benefit your business.” - Anna Nelson
Anna Nelson, MBA, ACC is a coach and speaker on a mission to help 10,000 entrepreneurs get focused and aligned in their businesses. She spent 18 years working in the corporate worlds of the financial, retail and marketing industries before embarking on her own entrepreneurial dream of helping people reach their goals by first understanding their strengths.
She’s coached hundreds of individuals from solopreneurs starting their businesses to 7-figure entrepreneurs with a team helping them get crystal clear on what each individual brings to their business and their clients. She loves nothing more than talking with a stranger and getting them excited to pursue the unknown and make their dreams a reality.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
# 174- Power Talk Friday- Fred Berns- Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours
# 811- Power Talk Friday: Heather Hansen: You Are Your Own Advocate
Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Sara Hamza, a Danish-Egyptian designer and the founder of Nina June, a custom furniture and styling brand. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Sara operates her business from a place of compassion, genuinely seeking to know and understand her clients so she can serve them better.
Sara is sharing how being diagnosed with RA as a teenager impacted her life and career, how she currently defines success, and what listening to the podcast for the past few years has taught her.
[6:33] Sara talks about how she operates her design business in Egypt and how the podcast has helped answer many questions she has along the way.
[12:17] LuAnn and Sara discuss why connecting to your clients with compassion is important, and how Sara’s medical history has informed this lesson in her business.
[19:34] Sara explains how being diagnosed with RA forced her to make difficult choices, prioritize her activities, and delegate from a young age, which all serve her in her business now.
[24:49] Sara tells LuAnn that she learned to define her own success by listening to the podcast.
[32:31] Sara describes her furniture lines and what she offers at Nina June.
[36:22] LuAnn and Sara discuss how her Danish and Egyptian roots contribute to her character and influence her designs.
[49:36] LuAnn and Sara talk about the importance of wellness, in life and in order to sustain a successful business.
“Compassion means that you're actually willing to do something about it, versus empathy—where you just feel with a person.” – Sara Hamza
“People really pick up when someone is genuine, and when someone is reliable and trustworthy. And when your client sits in front of you and feels that—you're booked on the spot.” – Sara Hamza
“We're not looking for something so far away—we're looking for something that's truly part of us…What is my real “why” here?” – LuAnn Nigara
“I think much of the maturity that I've obtained the last three years is because I had to look inward.” – Sara Hamza
“If we want to change ten things, we have to start with actually changing one thing.” – LuAnn Nigara
Sara Hamza landed her first job, painting seashells for a gift shop, when she was just 12 years old—it was the spark that kindled her desire for a creative career. At the time, she had no idea which area her artistic flair would lead her but throughout her rigid education, she craved an outlet that would release her imagination.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1985 to an Egyptian father and Danish mother, she lived a family-oriented daily life that would seem unsophisticated compared to life in other capital cities. After completing German school, she studied architecture at the Fine Arts University in Cairo while applying for a Design and Innovation course in Denmark.
Perhaps she is an overachiever, because not only did Sara complete her design course, but also began her first design-related job whilst studying. Coordinating between a Danish designer and an Egyptian manufacturer, she got her first opportunity to visit a tradeshow in Stockholm, an experience that filled her with awe and strengthened her ambition even further.
Following her graduation, Sara returned to Cairo where she was fortunate enough to get a job with award-winning designer Karim Mekhtigian at Alchemy. She worked there for three years, garnering experience, and pursuing other design enterprises, such as the design and manufacture of her well-known flip-flop brand Shibshibi.
Sara decided it was time to stand alone so she left Alchemy spending some time designing her own home and taking on projects for acquaintances and a growing number of clients. Increasingly, she took the time to sit with clients and understand their backgrounds, struggles and dreams before designing for them. It became a truly satisfying part of her work and she found that knowledge of a client’s story gave her an instinct for what they would find both comfortable and comforting in her designs. Alongside the projects for her new clients, she took on designing a furniture collection for a well-known brand, C-Reality. At Egypt’s largest trade show, her collection was received well by the crowd and fellow designers—an immense thrill for Sara.
Since then, Sara has taken part in several design workshops, including the D+I workshop, which was one of the first design workshops in Egypt, where she exhibited her ‘drop table-lamp’ at one of Egypt’s most historic neighborhoods, Moez street.
In 2013, she started her second brand, House of Vintage. It evolved from an idea inspired by her love of mid-century Scandinavian furniture which she enjoyed rooting out at markets in Denmark, Sweden and Germany. She began to ship her finds to Egypt, refurbishing and selling them. This business kept her busy while her next idea for what she really wished to do germinated and she got the courage to begin her own brand of furniture design and home styling.
Nina June’s first collection was well-received when it launched in November 2019. It combined a perfect blend: Scandinavian look and feel, vintage touches, and the warmth of Egypt. The Nina June style was a celebration of simplicity and cosiness, with just a breath of luxury that pampered its clients, so when Coronavirus hit Egypt straight after the launch in January 2020 it seemed that everyone would be home forever. However, contrary to all expectations, Sara was able to take part in a pro bono program, where designers performed free online home makeovers for people who would not normally think, or indeed be able to afford, to have their homes redesigned. It was this step which promoted her home-styling career.
The Nina June brand is all about collaboration and since February 2020, when Sara launched her wood workshop and office with her new partner, the brand has collaborated with wallpaper designers, metal sculptors, pattern artists and mosaic artists, to name but a few. She can offer furniture production services to designers, directly to customers, or a full home-package consultation. The individual creative vision of so many artists and their ability to discuss and benefit from each other’s knowledge and ideas stimulates the brand keeping it fresh and inspired. Today the workshop houses eight carpenters with a team of six in the office and it is still growing.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#174: Power Talk Friday- Fred Berns- Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours
#466: Power Talk Friday: Nicole Heymer: You’ve Defined Your Brand…Now What?
#596: Jamel Williams: A Call to Create Opportunity and Change at the University Level
#720: FlashBack Friday: Cheryl Janis : Defining and Owning Your Niche
#811: Power Talk Friday: Heather Hansen: You Are Your Own Advocate
#840: Jean Stoffer: Work in Harmony Through Every Season of Life
#896: Cléophée Poli: A Unique Interior Design Niche Serving English-Speaking Clients in Paris
#897: Power Talk Friday: Adrien Cotton: Design Your Midlife Wellness for Confidence
Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On this Power Talk Friday, I am joined by Janine Aurichio, Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM which creates the mindset and mental fitness needed to run their business with clarity, purpose, and ease.
We are discussing something we all have in common, no matter where we come from; inner voices, or what she calls your inner Sage and Saboteur. It’s a battle. And Janine is here to guide us on how to do the inner work to intercept our negative Saboteur voice.
[6:40] Does our environment add to the intensity of our negative thoughts, or Saboteur?”
[9:09] Why do we focus on the negative thoughts and stories we tell ourselves?
[14:00] How the impact of the inner Saboteur impacts everything.
[20:48] Janine talks about the Positive Intelligence Framework and the exercises we can do to shift out of the negative mindset, or Saboteur.
[36:25] Janine tells us about the free Saboteur assessment she offers.
“If you want to reach your highest levels of performance with lasting peace of mind, you have to deal with the inside stuff.” - Janine Aurichio
“The stories in our head are made up, so why do we put so much emphasis on it?” - LuAnn Nigara
“The Saboteur is indulging itself in emotion and reacting. The Sage empathizes, thinks, and taps into the positive.” LuAnn Nigara
Janine Aurichio, MBA, WPCC, MIM, is a Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. A former designer and recovering perfectionist, Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM of creating the mindset and mental fitness to run their business with clarity, purpose and ease. Using her signature Life Styling approach, her clients go from stress and overwhelm to calm, clear and creative. Her 35-year journey from type-A executive to type-Me coach informs her work with stressed entrepreneurs, and helps them achieve peak performance with maximum peace-of-mind and heart. With Beauty as her #1 core value, Janine’s purpose is to be part of the healing of the world by supporting the Beauty-makers. She is an avid hiker and scuba diver, and a native New Yorker living in northern California with her rescue dog and cat.
Schedule a free 30-Minute Saboteur Consultation
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#881: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business.
Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On this Power Talk Friday, I am joined by Janine Aurichio, Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM which creates the mindset and mental fitness needed to run their business with clarity, purpose, and ease.
We are discussing something we all have in common, no matter where we come from; inner voices, or what she calls your inner Sage and Saboteur. It’s a battle. And Janine is here to guide us on how to do the inner work to intercept our negative Saboteur voice.
[6:40] Does our environment add to the intensity of our negative thoughts, or Saboteur?”
[9:09] Why do we focus on the negative thoughts and stories we tell ourselves?
[14:00] How the impact of the inner Saboteur impacts everything.
[20:48] Janine talks about the Positive Intelligence Framework and the exercises we can do to shift out of the negative mindset, or Saboteur.
[36:25] Janine tells us about the free Saboteur assessment she offers.
“If you want to reach your highest levels of performance with lasting peace of mind, you have to deal with the inside stuff.” - Janine Aurichio
“The stories in our head are made up, so why do we put so much emphasis on it?” - LuAnn Nigara
“The Saboteur is indulging itself in emotion and reacting. The Sage empathizes, thinks, and taps into the positive.” LuAnn Nigara
Janine Aurichio, MBA, WPCC, MIM, is a Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. A former designer and recovering perfectionist, Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM of creating the mindset and mental fitness to run their business with clarity, purpose and ease. Using her signature Life Styling approach, her clients go from stress and overwhelm to calm, clear and creative. Her 35-year journey from type-A executive to type-Me coach informs her work with stressed entrepreneurs, and helps them achieve peak performance with maximum peace-of-mind and heart. With Beauty as her #1 core value, Janine’s purpose is to be part of the healing of the world by supporting the Beauty-makers. She is an avid hiker and scuba diver, and a native New Yorker living in northern California with her rescue dog and cat.
Schedule a free 30-Minute Saboteur Consultation
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#881: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business.
Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined once again by Jillian Lare, a trained engineer, experienced college lecturer, and award-winning interior designer. A few years ago, Jillian partnered with her friend and fellow designer to start Morris Lare Interiors in Des Moines, Iowa, and it has been a growing success. Jillian credits a lot of her success and smooth business operations to the technology she implements. She is sharing what is working well in her business, along with suggestions on where to get started integrating technology into your businesses as well. She’s also got a great prompt if you want ChatGPT to create a great Spotify playlist just for you.
[4:12] Jillian explains how she uses various project management software platforms in her firm.
[19:04] Jillian shares how her team does a daily check in each morning on Slack to stay up to date on their priorities without having to meet in person.
[27:20] LuAnn and Jillian discuss tracking time and expenses within the project management systems and by using the app Harvest.
[30:07] Jillian talks about how she is using Milanote.
[44:03] LuAnn shares her thoughts on naming conventions and how these need to be thought through at the beginning so they are easily searchable.
[48:33] Jillian explains why she uses DesignSpec to keep a record of all of their specs in one database.
[54:16] LuAnn and Jillian discuss using AI for idea generation, making a great Spotify playlist, and prompting Midjourney.
“I'm about just get something that works. And email is not the answer.” – LuAnn Nigara
“f it's not easy to do, it doesn't matter how good it is. It's not going to get done.” – LuAnn Nigara
“I just want everything to be accessible wherever I am. The minute it's like not accessible is when I'm kind of like start to lose interest in it, because we're just out and about so much.” – Jillian Lare
“Every time you enter the same information in multiple places, that's an opportunity to get it wrong.” – Jillian Lare
Jillian Lare is a native of northeastern Pennsylvania. She achieved a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and spent her early career with Intel Corporation. During her time as an engineer, she honed the invaluable skills of critical thinking, project management, leadership, and effective communication, which she applies every day as an interior designer and entrepreneur.
Jillian made the switch from engineering to design in 2007 when she apprenticed with a local designer. Upon relocating to Des Moines, she enrolled in the MA of Interior Design program at Iowa State and graduated in 2013. She joined the faculty shortly after and served as an instructor for five years, specializing in residential design and visual and graphic communication. While teaching, she continued to design for clients. After the birth of her son in 2017, she launched Jillian Lare Interior Design, her eponymous firm focused on residential new construction and remodeling.
Jillian enjoys working on a variety of residential projects including new construction, kitchen remodels, decorating, and furnishings throughout the Des Moines area and with clients coast to coast. She resides in West Des Moines with her husband Keegan, a registered landscape architect, their son Ashton, and two dogs Booker and Arlo.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#162: Power Talk Friday – Natalie Norcross – The Dynamic Leader of A Design Partnership
#506: Power Talk Friday: Natalie Norcross: A Design Partnership
#544: Power Talk Friday: Natalie Norcross: 5 Things To Do To Get PR
#864: Hilaire Pickett Martin: Lesson From an Interior Design Operations Manager
#870: Jillian Lare: Processes to Know Your Numbers
#879: Power Talk Friday: Sarah Daniele: Mydoma Studio and the Business of Change as the Interior Design Industry Enters a Digital Transformation
#895: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: The Millionaire Mindset for Interior Designers
Asana
InDesign
Basecamp
Dropbox
Slack
Voxer
Harvest
Studio Designer
MyDoma Studio
Milanote
Canva
Google Suite
Chief Architect
Calendly
Type Form
Design Spec
ChatGPT
Midjourney
Books:
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Adrien Cotton, menopause expert, transformational concierge wellness coach, and founder of Alexandria Wellness. Adrien’s luxury services and holistic approach bring beauty and confidence to her clients. Like many interior designers, Adrien operates a very personal pursuit that can impact every facet of an individual or family’s life and well-being.
Driven by systems, efficiency, and meaningful connections, Adrien is here to share effective business insights that will move the needle in any industry. We talk about qualifying clients, building a solid team, the importance of systems and consistency, and the value of human connection.
[5:45] Adrien explains her intake process and how she has refined it to make sure her clients are committed.
[12:03] LuAnn and Adrien discuss the back end of her business and how her team supports all of her business efforts.
[17:29] Adrien explains how she pivoted into concierge wellness and established her brand. LuAnn relates that to how many designers come into the industry as a second career.
[21:02] Adrien talks about the importance of knowing your numbers in accounting and data, as well as the importance of systems.
[26:51] Adrien explains her system for an editorial calendar throughout the year.
[30:34] LuAnn tells Adrien how she uses ChatGPT for rough drafts and idea generation, but explains that the human element is still necessary.
[39:29] Adrien and LuAnn discuss the value of human connection and how concierge wellness and luxury interior design are both rooted in that connection because you can’t just Google them or use AI for them and get a personalized answer.
[45:37] Adrien mentions her master menopause course and walks through how her concierge small groups work.
“I'm not a trend and I'm not a fad. I'm not a cleanse, I'm not a diet. I'm a lifestyle.” - Adrien Cotton
“If any designer thinks [AI] is replacing the interior design industry, then they're not really fully in touch with what their actual intellectual property is.” – LuAnn Nigara
“The human brain thrives on connection with another human being. And so a designer or a wellness expert—we're connecting with someone who's going to trust us to make their life a little bit more beautiful.” – Adrien Cotton
“I'm serving them in a way that they can't Google. And I will work just as hard as they do.” – Adrien Cotton
“You want to get up every day and live in your ‘why’ and do what you do. Because…when you can do that and make money at it, you can do that and support your family or yourself…then that is the day that you're not working.” – LuAnn Nigara
Adrien Cotton believes that the greatest gift you can give to yourself is the gift of wellness. She is an accomplished speaker, entrepreneur, corporate wellness educator, menopause expert and transformational wellness coach with proven success in designing and implementing innovative workforce wellness programs. Her effectiveness as a facilitative leader, motivational speaker, writer and coach is rooted in a strong set of guiding principles for growth and mirrors her own personal wellness journey.
Since founding her wellness enterprise, Adrien has leveraged her fitness and wellness background to move women from a place of “giving up” to one of proactive self-care. Her work goes beyond nutrition and exercise and focuses on an individual’s lifestyle and key high-impact areas including stress resilience, sleep, calendar management, mindfulness, and menopause. She excels in shifting mindsets and helping her clients leverage small habits that yield lasting results.
Whereas the market is saturated with wellness professionals, Adrien brings a breadth of corporate experience, a proprietary methodology, and a unique client-centric perspective. After serving in high-leverage professional roles, Adrien pivoted her career focus to helping clients capture their strength in all areas of life.
She is also the creator of the MASTER Menopause NOW! Wellness Program. This course is the culmination of 20 years of research and many years of working with perimenopausal and menopausal women. She has discovered what works, with real women, every day.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
Other Shows Mentioned:
#86: Andrea Schumacher – Strategies for Client Management
#852: Nicole Salceda: You Don’t Need to Have All the Superpowers
#854: Lindye Galloway: Connect Your Why to Your Interior Design Business, the Success Will Follow
#861: Power Talk Friday: Darla Powell: Instagram for Interior Designers
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business today. I am very excited to welcome to the show a long-time listener, Cleo Poli.
Cleo is from Paris, but traveled abroad, living several different places around the globe. She worked in interior design in London, but moved back home to Paris when she found out she was expecting a baby. It was there that she discovered her niche—her Fred Berns only—serving English-speaking clients in France.
Today, she’s here to share what she has learned embarking on an interior design career in Paris, establishing and developing her niche, and serving an unfulfilled need for English-speaking clients.
[4:00] Cleo shares her journey and how she ended up back home in Paris serving English-speaking clients.
[9:04] LuAnn and Cleo discuss how Cleo’s niche took shape and the importance of niching.
[14:54] Cleo explains how interior design is fundamentally different in Paris.
[31:16] Cleo shares how and why she uses a pricing structure that’s unusual to the area.
[41:21] Cleo reflects on her insights from the show and building her firm.
“It's important to know yourself first, right? Know yourself first, figure out your why and then move. And it doesn't matter if it's the same or different than anybody else's—it just matters that it's true to you, that you know that you're doing what you really want the way you want to do it.” -LuAnn
Cléophée was born and raised in Paris and has spent the best part of the last decade living overseas (Malawi, Australia, England and now Paris again) with her Australian partner. This time abroad heightened her understanding of the need to have a home away from home as well as the chance to discover many different cultures and their affiliated designs.
Her father is an antiques and collectables merchant and her mother a multidisciplinary artist.
Growing up surrounded by art and vintage decor magazines, Cléo developed an eye for design from a very young age. Since she was a child, she scouted Parisian flea markets, museums and collector shows across Europe and the US. Design became a staple in her everyday life.
Her appreciation for good design and the arts has allowed her to tailor a very particular service offering, Kids’ Artwork, for her English-speaking expatriate clientèle based in Paris.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
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Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
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#169 Amber Lewis- Keynote Speaker at Design Blogger’s Conference
#174 Power Talk Friday: Fred Berns: Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours
#670 Power Talk Friday: Susan Inglis: Sustainable Furnishings Council, What You Need to Know.
#759 Power Talk Friday: Rachael Bozsik: Discover Your Goldmine and Unleash Your Marketing
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that thriving in business takes a specific mindset. But what is the millionaire mindset, really? How can we break out of fear mode and start doing what it takes today to take our business where we want to be?
In today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to chat about the Interior Design Standard and the millionaire mindset for designers.
[7:54] Sandra and LuAnn discuss why waiting for the “right time” hurts designers.
[21:26] Sandra and LuAnn talk about the importance of investing in your business.
[40:07] Sandra and LuAnn share the value of setting expectations with your clients.
[45:44] Sandra shares how important it is to have a process for estimates—and to stick to it.
[49:36] Sandra shares details about the upcoming session of the Interior Design Standard.
“When we're not process driven, and we don't have it documented, then we are making up the conversation.” -LuAnn
“There are so many designers who are doing this designer discount and charging 10% or 20%, or even 30% markup. I tracked it people—that is break-even. 35% markup is break-even.” -Sandra
Sandra Funk is a trusted advisor and the celebrated design leader who built the boutique firm, House of Funk and her proven process, the Interior Design Standard. Over 30 national press outlets - Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and House Beautiful, to name a few - have recognized Sandra for her award-winning designs and innate entrepreneurial spirit.
Despite her business degree, a background in business process consulting and a design education from Parsons, it took Sandra over a decade - and the help of several experts - to develop and fine-tune her business model for a thriving interior design firm.
Today, Sandra is deeply rooted in empowering and educating design entrepreneurs. With her turnkey approach, she welcomes designers into her inner circle, sharing her proven process for a balanced, joy-filled and wildly profitable design firm.
#845 Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: Stop Apologizing and Start Communicating
#801: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: How Mistakes and Obstacles Led to Growth & Transformation
#753: Sandra Funk: How to Grow a Thriving Luxury Interior Design Business
#585: Sandra Funk: Helping Designers Improve Their Business Systems
#520: Power Talk Friday: Sandra Funk: The Interior Design Standard is Here!
#145: Sandra Funk of House of Funk: Why and How She Re-Branded her 10-Year-old Firm
#02: The Importance of Systems for a Profitable Interior Design Business With Sandra Funk Levy
Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Jessica Duce, principal designer at both JDuce Design and Vacation Rental Designers is back on to talk about her Vacation Rental Design Summit she held in spring 2023 at High Point. We talk about the importance of noticing gaps in the industry and how she used them to her, and everyone’s benefit, in more ways than one. We also learn about the membership program she and her partners started, and everything else Jessica has been up to since she was last on!
[1:45] Jessica fills us in on why she was so passionate to create the Vacation rental Design Summit.
[5:00] Jessica explains that there are, in fact, differences between vacation rental design and regular design.
[13:09] Jessica shares what the new summit consisted of for both new and old vacation rental designers.
[24:20] Jessica talks about the membership program her and her partners launched at the summit.
[36: Jessica tells us about the evolution of Vacation Rental Designers since she was last on the podcast.
“People want to stay somewhere that doesn't look like their home.” - Jessica Duce
“Brands want to be apart of a rental, so guests or designers that they bring in can experience these brands there instead of in a showhouse.” - Jessica Duce
In business for almost 20 years, interior designer Jessica Duce brings her creativity and expertise to both residential and commercial projects. With Houston as homebase, she works with clients across the country which she says affords a unique perspective on regional design trends and needs. The principal designer at both JDuce Design and Vacation Rental Designers, she saw the latter as a much-needed niche service bringing value to short-term rental property homeowners who require a unique mix of budget and modern style. Together with business partner and real estate consultant Julia Harmon, they are creating new opportunities for designers and owners in that space.
As an accomplished speaker and presenter, Jessica has appeared on numerous panels and podcasts, and she has been featured in community lifestyle publications as well as trade magazines including Business of Home, Furniture Today, Designers Today and KBIS magazine. Most recently, she announced her role as key strategist in the inaugural Vacation Rental Design Summit to be held in conjunction with High Point Market in April 2023. Jessica is the incoming President for IDS Houston as well as National IDS membership. Additionally, Jessica is proud of her ongoing relationship with Modenus and its Design Hounds Influencer program.
Vacation Rental Designers
Vacation Rental Design Summit
Jessica Duce
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#305: Elizabeth Scruggs- The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business®
#368: Jessica Duce: VRBO Interior Design
#540: Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development
Today on A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday. I am sitting down with Michelle Clayton, the Brand Strategist, and Designer behind Let Her Fly, a studio for successful women who are ready to level up and look like the pro they are. Michelle wanted to come on and first of all, give us some great actionable branding tips, but also to debunk the misconception that using Fiverr or Pinterest for your logo is a good idea. Spoiler alert, it’s not. Michelle will explain why and what you should be doing for your brand.
[3:25] Michelle tells us the first place we should turn to when considering a rebrand.
[14:58] Michelle explains the difference between your brand logo made from someone on Fiverr compared to a professionally made logo.
[30:45] Michelle and LuAnn discuss brand consistency among all of your platforms.
[39:49] Additional actions you should skip when formulating your brand.
[46:20] Michelle explains that re-branding or tweaking your current brand doesn’t mean changing yourself.
“If you present your brand one way on Instagram, and a completely different, or old, way on your website and they just don’t line up, it’s a hard no for me.” - LuAnn Nigara
“People need that consistency in their brand across all platforms, whatever that is for your business.” - Michelle Clayton
“You need to make it easy for people when they are checking you out, and give them the path of least resistance.” - Michelle Clayton
“Everyone has a brand and the beauty is you can love and keep developing the one you have or if it isn’t working for you anymore, you can always change it.” - Michelle Clayton
Michelle Clayton is the Brand Strategist and Designer behind Let Her Fly, a studio for successful women who are ready to level up and look like the pro they are. She captures their personality and expertise in a clear, cohesive brand that feels just like them and attracts more ideal clients, so they can confidently go after their next big thing.
With a design degree and 30 years in the industry, Michelle’s experience ranges from in-house art departments to non-profits to two of Calgary’s largest advertising agencies. Through, Let Her Fly, she now brings that same level of expertise and eye for detail to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Michelle loves helping women create a brand that looks as professional as they are—one that fits like their favorite t-shirt and attracts more ideal clients. She knows first-hand the insecurity that comes from outgrowing your brand, and the positive impact the right one has on your confidence and your bottom line.
Through strategic design, insightful articles, guest interviews, and online and in-person workshops, she breaks down the mystery of great design, the difference it makes, and how everyone can build a brand that feels good and delights their audience.
In 1995, Michelle traded Southern sweet tea and lightning bugs for true love in the Great White North. She speaks fluent American and Canadian, accurately using “toboggan” in either context. Home is in Calgary with her husband, two teen daughters, a hairy rescue pup, and a bottomless London Fog.
Spotify playlist of guest episodes on podcasts
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#06: Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward
#125: Nicole Heymer: How to Brand Your Business, Yes Again. Do Not Miss This One!
#145: Sandra Funk of House of Funk: Why and How She Re-Branded her 10 Year old Firm
#466: Power Talk Friday: Nicole Heymer: You’ve Defined Your Brand…Now What?
#492: Laura Umansky: Leadership is the Secret Sauce of Success
#609: Lisa Haude: Rebranding to Express Who You Really Are
#882: Bria Hammel: Doing Fewer Interior Design Projects and Increasing Your Profitability
Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Sharon L. Sherman, founder of Thyme and Place Design. Sharon has been practicing award-winning kitchen and bath design for the past 40 years, is a Past President of the American Society of Interior Designers, New Jersey chapter, and was named 2022 Innovator of the Year by Kitchen Bath Design News magazine. She has worked with every personality out there and is here to discuss personality traits.
We delve into the four personality types she categorizes: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. We talk about their traits, how to recognize them, and how to work with each one best for successful outcomes every time.
[2:09] Sharon explains that everyone has a different idea of what a difficult client is, but by understanding our own personality traits we can better understand and work with all types of clients.
[9:30] Sharon introduces the four personality types she has defined: fire, air, earth and water.
[11:28] LuAnn and Sharon discuss the traits of the fire personality and how to handle them.
[19:26] Sharon describes the air personality as expressive, friendly, and appreciative, but also need to be appreciated.
[25:56] Sharon explains that those with the earth personality are stable and grounded and comfortable like your favorite pair of jeans.
[29:56] Sharon and LuAnn talk about the water personality, which tends to be analytical and organized.
[38:36] Sharon and LuAnn how to determine personality types and work with each one better.
“There's really no such thing as a difficult client. It just sounds like a match that's not well matched.” – LuAnn Nigara
“To resolve a problem—that's when we have to step out and detach and start to observe and see and to, quite frankly, employ those sales skills.” – LuAnn Nigara
“Clients make our world go round. Without them, we're no longer in business..” – Sharon L. Sherman
“If you understand how to speak to your clients, and how to ask them questions, and listen to what they're saying…you start to see who that person is going to be.” – Sharon L. Sherman
“If anybody right now has a recent interaction with any client that went negatively—just now think about the different personalities and try and identify what personality they are. Probably, you handled it from your personality. And if that ends up being true, then that is really a very foundational reason why the problem escalates—because you're handling something from your perspective as opposed to the way they need it handled, not because it was an unsolvable problem.” – LuAnn Nigara
“I didn't let fear overcome my love for what I'm doing.” - Sharon L. Sherman
Sharon is the founder of Thyme and Place Design, headquartered in Wyckoff, New Jersey. She’s been practicing kitchen and bath design for the past 40 years and is a Past President of the American Society of Interior Designers – New Jersey chapter.
Her award-winning designs and editorial comments have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Design Milk, Bergen NJ magazine, Kitchen & Bath Design News, Woman’s Day, Country Decorating, Design NJ, New Jersey Home Magazine, 201 Magazine, The Best of Bergen, as well as several books.
Her blog “Tips from the Trade” appears in digital form on DesignNJ.com and KBBonline.com. She has also appeared on HGTV’s My Big Amazing Renovation and episodes of House Smarts with Lou Manfredini. In 2022, she was a featured *Voices From The Industry* speaker at the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s international convention and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Kitchen Bath & Business magazine and has received the 2022 Innovator of the Year award from Kitchen Bath Design News magazine.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#762: Laura Martin Bovard: Do You Run Your Interior Design Business From Ego or Soul?
#808: Hailey Kolbe: How to Vet Inquiries, Spot Red Flags, and Attract Your Ideal Client
#842: Joshua Smith: Sell the Experiences, Not the Commodity
Other Resources Mentioned:
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday. Today I am joined by Judy Brower Fancher, of Brower, Miller & Cole Art Consulting. Judy is certified in interior design, and while she isn’t currently working as one, she knows that most interior designers are not trained, nor confident, in selecting art for their clients. Judy is here to help my audience understand that buying those color Xeroxes is never the answer, and some tangible tips for those unfamiliar with the art world.
[2:32] Judy explains what she means about the difference between xerox art and real art.
[9:17] Just explains how the budget for art should be separate from the design budget.
[20:58] Tangible benefits for an interior designer when they add art into their projects.
[25:46] Judy lets us know where we can go to source art.
[42:12] How the relationship works between the designer and an art consultant.
“Art should be emotional. It should feel as passionate as your first kiss.” - Judy Brower
“As trusted professionals who are supplying, educating, and sourcing art for our clients, we should have some education on it and know what we are doing.” - LuAnn Nigara
“The art really adds to the luxury feel of the project and is part of showing the good taste of the home.” - Just Brower
With two decades of experience traveling the globe to understand the art, architecture, fashion and design of various parts of the world, Judy Brower Fancher brings her own love of international cultures, mixed cultures and all things unique and remarkable to her design and storytelling skills.
Her company mission is to create the final layer on spaces that make people whole through reflecting both their current lives and their cultural heritage, while assisting clients and the interior design trade to bring fantastic original art into their lives and their interior designs.
Judy’s background includes:
Purchasing art in galleries in more than 25 countries around the globe 25-plus years working with architects, developers and interior design firms Bachelor of Arts in Communications from UCLA
Minor in Art History
Graduate of the Interior Design Institute
Attending conferences for:
Global original art
Global luxury interior design custom materials and installation global furniture and accessories
Global real estate and architecture trends
Judy believes that with a highly personalized final layer, a home or workplace can embrace more than one background and tell a compelling story to those who visit. In addition, incorporating cultural elements adds beauty that never goes out of style.
Why acquire art through an art consultant
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#755: Power Talk Friday: Liz Beaman Delman: Fine Art is an Asset, Not an Accessory
#881: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: Self-Care is Key to a Thriving, Well-Designed Business
#239: Katharine Earnhardt – How to Advise Your Clients on Art
#413: Leslie Price: Evolution of a Career in Interior Design
Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Long-time listeners of the show will know that I rarely get into the pretty, the actual designs, or even the creative process itself. For the most part, I’m focused on the business—not what happens in the creative mind, but the systems and processes and moving parts on the outside of that.
But every once in a while, I make an exception—and today’s episode is one of those. When you hear my guest, Lucy Penfield, speak, you’ll understand why. She’s going to share her creative insight into the design process—and why she relates it to an anthropological discovery.
[3:50] Lucy explains why designing is like an anthropological dig.
[13:43] Lucy shares how going back to school helped her redefine her design process
[part 2 12:55] Lucy details her six-step process and how creativity plays a role at every level
[19:23] LuAnn reflects on the authenticity in Lucy’s process
“We discover what is at the core, what's at the soul for our clients, and sometimes they have their ideas and their inspiration, but what's deeper than that? So I think so often we look at the top surface, the top layer, maybe the frosting, but what's really underneath it all? And so as an anthropologist, I think we uncover.” -Lucy
“I love that you said peeling away the onion, and it's almost like you could look in a room and keep discovering things in that room when you're designing at that more elevated level.” -LuAnn
“You can get up in the morning and be ho-hum, or you can show up. I think the fun is we have an opportunity to grow.” -Lucy
Lucy Penfield is a passionate, blue sky thinker whose approach to interior design is unparalleled. Her enchantment and zeal for design have followed her throughout her career as an interior designer, lifestyle product innovator, and art aficionado. Lucy loves the magic of transforming space and creating joy for her clients.
As an award-winning interior designer, Lucy is recognized nationally for her sophisticat- ed design style, passion for color, and client-centric methodologies. Her custom, six-step approach to bespoike interiors is anthropological and digs further to uncover true meaning for her clients. With degrees in art history, interior design, and design thinking, Lucy is a dynamic, progressive thought leader. She encourages her clients and team to push the bounds of their realms. From sketching textile and wallcovering collec- tions to designing custom homes, lakeside cottages, and city condos, Lucy garners inspiration from the diverstiy in her work and conquering new challenges.
Lucy has great love for her community and is actively involved with non-profit organiza- tions. Beyond her design ventures, she finds joy in cooking exotic dishes, throwing fabulous dinner parties, traveling with her family and exploring new adventures.
Lucy's design style is radiant, art-infused, and dazzling.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#587 Darrell Long: The Best Design Comes From Within, Not Pinterest
Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that Pinterest is a valuable tool for designers. But how you use it matters. It’s about so much more than just tossing up pretty pictures like on Instagram—in fact, in many ways, it seems like it’s more of a search engine than another social media platform.
We have so many marketing tools that we can add to our toolbox. Today, my guest, Cathy Heflin, is here to teach more about how Pinterest can help businesses grow, and how to put it to work for your business.
[2:46] Cathy and LuAnn discuss how Pinterest offers more opportunities for businesses than other social media platforms.
[10:16] Cathy shares how Pinterest helps drive traffic to your website.
[25:50] Cathy describes how to get started with Pinterest.
[31:29] Cathy explains why using a scheduler can help you invest less time and still make the most of Pinterest.
[40:09] Cathy shares how to find the best SEO keywords on Pinterest.
“We have to view Pinterest as a search engine like Google and YouTube, which automatically puts it into way more valuable real estate for our brains, our energy, our money, and our advertising or marketing dollars.” -LuAnn
“Done is better than perfect. Get that content up so that you can start to have something to pin to and have places to send your clients.” -Cathy
Cathy Heflin is a Pinterest Marketing Consultant and Strategist. She launched her Pinterest consulting business after personally experiencing how powerful Pinterest was as a driver of traffic to her own blog and online home decor shop. She offers organic and paid ad Pinterest Marketing strategies to help brands grow brand awareness, increase website traffic, increase sales, and grow their email list subscribers.
http://www.luannnigara.com/cob
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.
To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!
Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action
Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts
Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2
LuAnn’s Website
LuAnn’s Blog
Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast
#574 Power Talk Friday: Deb Mitchell: Attract the Right Clients With Stand-Out Copy
#750 Power Talk Friday: Erin Harding: Paid Pinterest Campaigns for Interior Designers
#587 Darrell Long: The Best Design Comes From Within, Not Pinterest
#487 Power Talk Friday: Vanessa Shepherd: Pinterest Strategies to Grow Your Interior Design Business
#331 Power Talk Friday: Kate Ahl: Pinterest for Your Interior Design Firm
#292 Power Talk Friday: Summer Tannhauser – How to Leverage Pinterest for Your Interior Design Firm
#223 Allison Fannin – Pinterest Tips for your Interior Design Firm