If you’ve ever wondered why design school didn’t quite prepare you for the real world of interior design, you’re not imagining it. I hear this all the time—from designers who invested years (and money) into a degree, and from those who skipped school altogether and worry they’re already behind.

The truth is, many of the skills required to run a successful interior design business are not taught in the classroom.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually matters once you leave school and step into real client work. These are the foundational skills that determine whether your business thrives or struggles. And no, they’re not about picking the perfect sofa or designing custom furniture—although those matter too.

My promise is simple: I want to help you identify the other skills you need to develop—skills that design school often overlooks—so you can create a strong foundation, run a profitable interior design business, and enjoy a sustainable, fulfilling career doing what you love.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ Why business skills are non-negotiable for residential interior designers

✔️ How understanding pricing, margins, and markup protects your profitability

✔️ What it really means to create a luxury client experience

✔️ How technology, AI, and systems can support (not replace) your creativity

✔️ Why branding and storytelling matter more than graphic design alone

✔️ How leadership and decision-making shape client trust and confidence

✔️ The personal skills that help designers manage time, overwhelm, and growth

Read the Blog >>> 6 Skills Interior Designers Need That Design School Doesn’t Teach

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join My Design Mentor and start developing the skills that truly set you apart. 👉https://rwarddesign.com/my-design-mentor⁠

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction

2:54 – Skill #1: Business Skills for Interior Designers

5:10 – Skill #2: Client Experience and Service

6:45 – Skill #3: Technology, AI Literacy, and Systems

9:24 – Skill #4: Marketing, Branding, and Visibility

11:38 – Skill #5: Leadership and Decision Making

13:20 – Skill #6: Personal Skills for Success

“A good website really should be qualifying your inquiries and increasing them as well.”

Does your website actually do that? Or does it simply exist as a gallery of pretty images while you continue to explain yourself over and over again in emails, DMs, and discovery calls?

If you’ve ever hesitated before sending someone your website link, or felt a little cringe when a potential client says they want to “check out your site,” this episode is for you.

Today, I’m sitting down with Elle Kwan to unpack what separates a beautiful website from a high-converting interior design website — one that supports your business, filters your inquiries, and reflects the true level of your work.

She shares about what should actually be on your website, the most common mistakes designers make with their online presence, and how to know when it’s time for a website redesign.

If you want your website to feel like a confident extension of your brand — and a tool you’re proud to share — you’ll want to listen closely.

Featured Guest:

Elle Kwan is a website designer and copywriter who works with interior designers whose work deserves the spotlight but whose websites aren’t fully reflecting their expertise. With a background in journalism and luxury publishing, Elle brings together strategy, storytelling, and design to create elevated online presences that attract dream clients, larger budgets, and meaningful opportunities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✳️ Why most interior design websites fail to convert visitors into inquiries

✳️ The essential criteria of a high-converting website for interior designers

✳️ How storytelling, case studies, and testimonials build trust and authority

✳️ The difference between Instagram marketing and website strategy

✳️ Common website mistakes that create confusion and low-quality leads

✳️ When it’s time for a website redesign and how to recognize the signs

✳️ What questions to ask before hiring a website designer

Read the Blog >>> Core Elements Every High-Converting Interior Design Website Needs

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

2:30 Elle Kwan’s Background

8:01 What Should Be In an Interior Design Website

10:51 How Can Your Website Help You Stand Out as a Designer

16:12 Common Website Mistakes Designers Make

18:39 Signs It’s Time for a Website Redesign

20:33 What to Ask Before Hiring a Website Designer

24:28 Elle’s 3S Framework for Website Consultations

Many interior designers spend years honing hard skills like CAD drafting, space planning, and material selection—yet still feel stuck when it comes to client relationships, confidence, or stepping into leadership. I see this all the time, and it can be incredibly frustrating when you know you’re talented, but something still feels like it’s holding you back.

The truth is, talent alone rarely sets designers apart anymore.

What creates real career longevity and opportunity in interior design is how you show up as a professional—how you communicate, how you handle challenges, and how you lead both clients and projects. That’s where soft skills come in.

In this episode, I dive into the soft skills that make the biggest difference in real-world design work, including emotional intelligence, communication techniques, boundary setting, leadership skills, and professionalism. These are often the invisible skills that separate designers who are just getting by from those who are trusted, respected, and thriving in their careers.

If you’ve ever felt technically capable but still struggled with difficult clients, miscommunication, burnout, or feeling overlooked in the workplace, this conversation is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ Why soft skills matter just as much as technical design skills in interior design careers

✔️ How emotional intelligence impacts client trust, presentations, and decision-making

✔️ Communication techniques that improve client relationships and prevent costly mistakes

✔️ How boundary setting protects your time, profitability, and mental well-being

✔️ The role of leadership skills in managing projects, trades, and client expectations

✔️ Why professionalism, enthusiasm, and teamwork set designers apart in the workplace

✔️ How holding space for client transformation leads to deeper trust and better outcomes

Read the Blog >>> Design Skills Series: Soft Skills for Interior Designers

NEXT STEPS:

🎯 Join the My Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction and New Series

3:47 – What Soft Skills Are and Why They Matter in Interior Design

8:18 – Emotional Intelligence as a Designer’s Superpower

10:30 – Improving Self-Awareness, Empathy, and Self-Regulation

11:32 – Communication Techniques That Build Trust

15:24 – Boundary Setting, Professional Poise, and Saying No Gracefully

19:03 – Leadership Skills in Interior Design Projects

20:27 – Holding Space for Client Transformation

25:50 – Why Soft Skill Development Makes You More Marketable