A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Latest Episodes:

1190: Josh Cooperman: Building What's Next While Protecting What Works | Live From KBIS 2026 May 08, 2026

Show notes

Today With Josh Cooperman:

Josh Cooperman and I have been crossing paths at trade events for years — waving at each other across the hall, meaning to sit down, never quite making it happen. We finally did, live at KBIS in the KB podcast studio, and this conversation was worth every year of waiting.

Josh is the host and publisher of Convo by Design, a platform dedicated to exploring what he calls sublime design and the creatives who make extraordinary spaces a reality. His background is anything but conventional — degrees in journalism and social sciences from Washington State University, followed by a career that ran through CBS Radio's motorsports division in Dallas, music promotion at KDGE-FM, and a stint as General Manager and Program Director of Playboy Radio. Yes, really. He started Convo by Design in 2013 because he wanted to do what he always wanted to do when he grew up, tell stories about the things he loves. Sound familiar?

What makes this conversation different is that Josh and I are both long-timers in this space. We started our shows within a year of each other, when most people didn't know what a podcast was. We've watched this medium grow, get crowded, get noisy, and get commoditized. And we have a lot of opinions about what that means for anyone thinking about entering it now.

We also get honest about what we're each building next and why the next chapter looks nothing like the last one.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why most designers who want a podcast should pause and answer one question before they do anything else
What your "why" has to be — and why lead gen from an industry-only audience is not a strategy
The real reason 90% of podcasts die before episode 10, and what separates the ones that don't
Why "award-winning" and "luxury" have lost their power as positioning language — and what to say instead
The editorial calendar mistake LuAnn made for seven years (and what she finally did about it)
Why the trade publications seeded thought leadership to podcasters — and what that opened up for all of us
The MBA format: what it is, why it's coming, and what it means for how you use this show going forward
Josh's new venture, Shelter Republic — a closed-end, invitation-only community for designers who want peer connection, thought leadership development, and real conversation outside of the once-a-year trade event circuit
Why the best idea Josh has had in years came from his son — a computer engineer with zero background in design who spotted a gap the industry couldn't see from the inside

If you've been listening to this show for a while, this one will feel like a conversation between two people who have been doing this work long enough to tell you the truth about it. And if you're newer here, welcome. This is a good one to start with.

Connect with Josh: Convo by Design: convobydesign.com Shelter Republic inquiries: convobydesign@outlook.com

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠luannuniversity.com⁠

⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠here⁠.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Thank You to Today's Sponsor:

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1189: Helen Bygraves: How to Grow a Design Firm to 50 People Across Two Countries May 05, 2026

Show notes

Today With Helen Bygraves:

It’s easy to look at massive design firms and wonder how they could have possibly done it. When you’re growing your business, it can seem like top-tier firms must have a secret roadmap or a crystal ball that tells them what decisions to make when.

But more likely, the success of a firm like that comes down to something much simpler: the discipline to show up and the guts to say “yes” to the right opportunities, even when they’re daunting. That’s exactly how my guest today, Helen Bygraves, has built Hill House Interiors over the last 28 years.

Today, she breaks down the reality of scaling an international empire, surviving the tough times, and coming out on the other side.

More About Helen Bygraves:

Helen Bygraves’ unique perspective on interiors draws on her singular background as a professionally trained dancer. From an appreciation for proportions, volume and movement to her sense for narrative and theatre, Helen’s experience on the stage has given her an inherent understanding of how to present interiors to their best effect.

Her aesthetic choices are further enriched by a passion for travel, which she indulged during a period in her 20s working in the airline industry. Her insatiable curiosity for other cultures led to a period of several years exploring the world. Even today, Helen relishes working on overseas projects, where the local architecture, fashions, aesthetic traditions and culture are a constant source of inspiration.

Born and raised in London, Helen fell into her calling as a designer almost accidentally, by renovating her own properties, which caught the attention of friends and led to her first clients. With her trademark enthusiasm, passion and exceptional organisational skills, she began her career in interior design while working in the travel sector and raising her daughter, Daniella. Never daunted by any challenge, Helen fervently believes in pushing boundaries, maintaining that progress comes when you venture beyond your comfort zone. This mantra applies as much to her creative process and life choices as to the design decisions she encourages her clients to explore.

Helen met Jenny in the early 1990s when they were both starting out in their creative careers. Their instant friendship was a meeting of two creative minds, cemented through shared aesthetic values, convictions and a sense of humour, and it quickly evolved into a business collaboration that now spans 25 years. Hill House Interiors has grown organically through word of mouth over the years, and continues to evolve. With her nurturing personality, Helen takes particular pleasure in furthering the careers of her staff and watching them flourish.

With a beautiful new office in Dubai to better service clients in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the launch of an exclusive range of furniture, rugs, cushions and trimmings, Helen is relishing every moment in the continuing evolution of Hill House Interiors.

Ah Ha Moments with Helen Bygraves:

"Always surround yourself with the very best you can afford because they are going to take you to the next level." -Helen

"The day you think you know it all is the day you shouldn't be doing this job." -Helen

"It’s only a failure if you can’t correct it, right? It’s only a failure if you can’t figure out how not to do it again." -LuAnn

Connect with Helen Bygraves:

www.hillhouseinteriors.com

www.hillhouselifestyle.com

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #1100 Best Of Show: Erika Ward: Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward

AWDB #519 What Would Lu Do?: In Light of the Coronavirus

AWDB 790 Rick Campos: Design Biz Survival Guide- The Answer to All Your Business Questions

AWDB 774 Rick Campos: Design Biz Survival Guide Celebrates 4 Years!

AWDB 1059 Rachel Usher: Creating Community and Strength in the Interior Design Industry

1188: In Good Company: CEO Conversations with Kate O’Hara: Scaling Your Design Firm Part 1: The Three Paths Forward May 01, 2026

Show notes

Today With Kate O’Hara:

As you grow your business, you inevitably hit a point where you just can’t force more projects into your pipeline. So…what happens next? Do you bring on another designer? Are there other options? Do you have to let go of creative control if you do bring on another designer? How do you make sure it’s a successful process?

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, Kate O’Hara shares the answers to all of these questions. She breaks down the three options you have in terms of growing or scaling your business, and how to make sure that each one sets you up for success.

(Then in Part 2, she highlights how to take the space you create as you scale to diversify your income and create more revenue opportunities.)

LuAnn Nigara and Kate O'Hara's Ah-Ha Moments

“Now you’re letting go of what happens to those clients when they’re in the hands of your other designers. So you have to have a strong team and people that you really trust to the moon and back.” -Kate

“It’s all of the little, tiny little touch points that are coming out on your website, that are coming out in social, that are coming out in the magazine opportunities, the publication opportunities that you have, where you are literally saying we, us, not just the words we us, but all the different ways that it actually is we, us.” -LuAnn

“I think we sometimes we forget in our efforts to create really strong company culture and to be this type of firm people want to work for, it doesn't mean we have to be the type of firm that everyone and anyone can work for.” -Kate

More About Kate O’Hara

Kate O’Hara grew up in the world of design. After a decade with the company, she stepped into the role of CEO + Creative Director, expanding the family design firm into new regions of the U.S. When she isn’t traveling between our Minnesota and Texas offices, you can find Kate speaking at conferences, working with our design team, and connecting with new clients and furniture lines.

Connect with Kate O’Hara

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠http://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

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!

1187: WWLD: If Talent Isn’t the Problem, Why Aren’t You Getting Hired? Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

Today With LuAnn Nigara:

You’re talented.

You’ve built something thoughtful, elevated, even exceptional.

So why isn’t it landing?

That’s the real question behind today’s What Would Lu Do.

In this episode, I answer a question from a creative entrepreneur who offers highly customized, luxury-level products designed in collaboration with interior designers.

Her question?

Do designers even want this level of custom work… or do they prefer established brands with systems and structure?

But that’s not really the question.

The real question is:

If what you offer is so good… why isn’t it getting traction?

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why talent and quality are not the deciding factors in getting hired
How market fit determines whether your offer lands or gets ignored
The difference between being visible, distinct, and discreet (from my conversations with Kate O’Hara)
Why high-end clients expect custom… but demand it be effortless
How designers actually discover (and specify) vendors and partners
The role of relationships vs. visibility in growing a high-level business
What both vendors and designers must do to reach the next tier

The Big Takeaways

1. Not every great offer is for every client If you’re trying to appeal to everyone, you’ll connect with no one.

2. The higher the level, the narrower the audience Luxury, custom, and bespoke always mean a smaller, more specific market.

3. Discovery might get you noticed. Relationships get you hired At higher levels, opportunities come through trust, not chance.

4. Custom is expected. Effortless is required Your value isn’t just what you create. It’s how smoothly you deliver it.

5. Whether you’re a designer or a vendor, the path is the same Find the right rooms. Get in them. Stay in them long enough for trust to build.

Referenced Episodes

To go deeper on client tiers and positioning, listen to:

Mentioned in This Episode

In this episode, I reference a creative entrepreneur who submitted today’s question.

While I typically keep the focus on the lesson rather than the source, in this case, seeing the type of work we’re discussing may be helpful.

You can find her information in the show notes below:

Trisha Patel

Website

Instagram

Have a Question for WWLD?

Head to: 👉 luannigara.com/WWLD

Submit your question and it might be featured in an upcoming episode.

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Like Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

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!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

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

1186: BEST OF SHOW: Candy Scott & Rachel Cannon: Interior Design is a Service Business Not a Commodity Business Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to today’s show! We are really happy today to have Candy Scott and Rachel Cannon join us on the show! In today’s episode, these two smart ladies will be talking to LuAnn about the changing landscape in the business side of interior design. Candy and Rachel are both highly organized, with finite systems in place for running their businesses and they truly understand that you really need to know and sell your own value, as a designer, rather than the value of the products that you specify. Listen in, to find out what they have to share with you on the show today.

Candy is the principal of Mood Design and Build, which is located in Chicago. She has won multiple awards during her seventeen-year career in designer and she’s worked with large developers and corporate clients, outfitting high-rise condominium lobbies, club rooms, and model showrooms.

Rachel is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has clients from Palm Springs to Palm Beach, with over fifteen years of experience in residential and commercial interior design. She opened her own firm, Rachel Cannon Interiors nine years ago and her work has been featured in Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, HGTV, My Domain.Com, and Southern Home. Tune in now!

Both Rachel and Candy are going to be at LuAnn Nigara Live, It’s About The Conversation.

Show highlights:

Business disruptions are not a new thing.
The future of the interior designer with the disruptive emergence of products being available online to the consumer.
Being a designer is not just about selling merchandise- it’s so much more about the relationship.
As designers, you need to be the innovators!
Why you have to start charging for your services.
If you make your money on a flat fee, you don’t have to focus on selling furniture.
Creating tracking documents for orders.
Surviving the changes in the industry.
The layer of service that Candy has added to her business, to really set it apart.
The value of having the designer run the project.
Rachel’s ideas for designers to make money, going into the future.
The middle end of the market is going to go away.
Rachel’s approach to design consult packages.
The importance of branding.
As an entrepreneur, you just have to be open to change.
Some things to consider when creating your brand.

Rachel Cannon is an interior designer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with clients ranging the nation from Palm Springs to Palm Beach. She has over 15 years of experience in residential and commercial interior design, nine of which are at her namesake interior design firm, Rachel Cannon Limited. Armed with a degree in interior design and a background in art history, Rachel joins together classic principles with a decidedly contemporary tone. She provides her clients with sophisticated interiors that exude an effortless combination of subtle color, rich architectural detail, and a beguiling mix of livable, tailored and luxe details. With a clientele of professionals and families with demanding schedules, Rachel is most praised for her ability to simplify the interior design process while paying meticulous attention to planning and detail. The finished product: a livable yet polished space the entire family can enjoy. Rachel’s work has been featured in Traditional Home, The Wall Street Journal, HGTV.com, MyDomain.com and Southern Home. Her captivating wit and knowledge of art, design, and architecture have made her a favorite on television, radio, and podcasts. While always on the go, the Rachel Cannon Limited team is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In 2014, Candy Scott founded MOOD Design and Build where she continues to work with residential clients, business owners, and development partners on their homes, offices, and commercial interiors. As a designer, Candy is most inspired and intrigued by the transformation process. Both for the people who inhabit the spaces and the physical spaces themselves. She believes bringing consciousness to our spaces greatly impacts the way we think, feel, and behave.

Candy graduated from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC with a Bachelor’s of Science in Interior Design. Through the years, she has won multiple awards and has worked with large developers and corporate clients outfitting the high rise condominium lobbies, clubrooms, and model showrooms. She has worked with small to medium-sized businesses as well, transforming their lobbies and offices to places employees love to work.

Previous shows mentioned on this episode:

Candy #227

Rachel #306

Wendy Woluschuk #316

Links:

Rachel Cannon:

Rachel Cannon Limited

Instagram: RCL Interiors

Facebook: RCL Interiors

Candy Scott:

Mood Design Build

Instagram: Mood Design Build

Facebook: Candy Scott

Book mentioned in the show: Start With Why- How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Portfolio.

1185: Kia Weatherspoon: The Cost of Performing Leadership Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

Today With Kia Weatherspoon:

Today with Kia Weatherspoon, we explore what it truly means to lead, not performatively, but fully and honestly. As the founder of Determined by Design, Kia has built a mission-driven firm rooted in the belief that interior design is not a luxury for a few, but a standard that should serve all people. In this conversation, she shares how that belief has shaped her work in affordable housing, her approach to advocacy and the way she articulates value in spaces often overlooked by the industry.

But this episode goes deeper than business and design. Kia opens up about the cost of performing leadership, the importance of honoring your own humanity and how the way you see yourself directly impacts how you serve others. This is a powerful conversation about leadership, purpose and the responsibility we carry as designers to create spaces, and businesses, that truly support the people they are meant to serve.

LuAnn Nigara and Kia Weatherspoon's Ah-Ha Moments

“The humanity you give to yourself is reciprocated in how you serve others.” - Kia

“I am my own hero.” - Kia

“Interior design is not a luxury for a few—it is a standard for all.” - Kia

More About Kia Weatherspoon:

The most decorated black interior designer of a generation.

Kia Weatherspoon, ASID, CID, IIDA, NCIDQ, D.F.A (h.c) is unafraid to take risks. Her superpower is that she jumps – defying every design stereotype as she’s moved through the industry. The most damaging - interior design is a luxury reserved for a few.

Being the child of an addict was not something that happened to her - but for her. For a long time, she strived for this yearning to be seen and in that she realized showing up as her most authentic self was her greatest strength. Understanding showing up as who you are is what makes great leaders – she doesn’t see titles and sees others as who they are. In that she goes above and beyond not to just see them – but searches for ways to elevate, celebrate, uplift and make sure their voices are heard.

Often asked what the key to her success at Determined by Design® is,

simply put the success is that she has always checked her ego and searched for humanity. She is unafraid to challenge anyone who doesn’t see the humanity and softness every person deserves. Her vehicle to doing that happens to be through interior design - founding Determined by Design®. Her voice, presence and leadership have created ripples, prompting housing developers, agencies, and industry partners in economically challenged communities to not just take notice of her work—but to do better. Her innovative approach to design for everyone is why Determined by Design® is the only interior design firm in the nation that provides Design Equity® services.

She is an advocate, educator, speaker, business owner, leader and most of

all – she is just Kia. That is enough and why she’s been recognized as the ICFF

Design of the Year, has an Honorary Doctorate from New York School of

Interior Design, the ASID National Design for Humanity recipient, the HIP

Designer for Good by Interior Design Magazine, the CREW Washington, DC Raise Your Voice Awardee, a part of the Washington Business Journal’s 40

under 40 Class and the International Interior Design Association Luna

Textile/Anna Hernandez Visionary Award recipient. She is many things but

all of them are the things that make her determined by design.

Connect with Kia Weatherspoon:

Website

Determined by Design

Instagram

Determined by Design Instagram

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠

⁠https://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠

Get The Goodies!

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!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s ⁠Website⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠Blog⁠

⁠Power Talk Friday⁠

Like Us: ⁠Facebook⁠ | Tweet Us: ⁠Twitter⁠ | Follow Us: ⁠Instagram⁠ | Listen Here: ⁠Podcast⁠

1184: Geraldine Morrison (NKBA): Stop Guessing—Use Industry Insight to Grow Your Business Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Today With Geraldine Morrison:

What happens when you stop guessing in your business… and start making decisions based on real industry insight?

In this episode, LuAnn is joined by Geraldine Morrison, Chief Partnerships Officer for Domestic and Global Brands at NKBA | KBIS. With leadership experience at brands like Samsung and LIXIL, Geraldine brings a unique perspective on how manufacturers, designers, and industry organizations intersect—and why that matters to your business.

Recorded live at KBIS 2026, this conversation goes beyond what NKBA is and gets into how it actually supports you as a business owner.

Because here’s the truth: many designers are making decisions in isolation. They’re relying on instinct, past experience, or what they’re seeing on social media. But that only gets you so far.

Geraldine shares how access to real data, market research, and industry connection can change the way you operate. From understanding shifts in consumer behavior to recognizing where opportunities are emerging, this is about making smarter, more strategic decisions.

You’ll also hear how NKBA is expanding its reach, from global initiatives like Global Connect to its growing presence at High Point Market, creating more opportunities for designers to connect, learn, and grow.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re making decisions without the full picture, this episode will challenge you to think differently about where you get your information and who you’re connected to.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

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!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

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

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

AJ Madison Pro is the industry’s trusted appliance source for

professionals who need fast, reliable access to top brands.

Backed by nationwide shipping and a powerful logistics network,

delivery is precise and dependable.

With over 150 premium brands – including Sub-Zero, Wolf and

Cove, Miele, Viking, Thermador, Gaggenau, and more –

AJ Madison Pro is your single source for appliance specification.

Qualified builders and architects can save up to 15% on luxury

brands through exclusive trade programs, with registration

handled for you.

AJ Madison Pro. Smarter appliance sourcing starts

at ajmadison.com/pro.

1183: BEST OF SHOW: Fred Berns: Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

The guest on today’s Power Talk Friday is Fred Berns, the only Interior Design Industry Business Coach, and Speaker. Fred was a Speaker at the Design Blogger’s Conference, held in L.A. In March, where he spoke about how to create your bio, so this show is tagged onto the Design Blogger’s Series. This is the fourth time that Fred has appeared on this show and LuAnn is really happy to have him back again because he always brings so much value. (He previously appeared on shows #22, #48 and#96.) Today, Fred will help you to figure out your ‘only‘, so listen in now and find out why it’s so important.

Fred creates personal bio’s and other promotional materials for design professionals, worldwide. He has had more than twenty-five years of experience, training design professionals and creating their online profiles, website, and social media copy, blogs, and marketing forums. He also offers a wide range of business coaching services, including his High-End Performance Coaching Program, his bio briefing and his website once over. Listen in to today’s show to find out from Fred how you can really stand out in the marketplace.

Today, Fred talks to LuAnn about:

Why it’s so important for you to figure out your ‘only’.
How he helps designers to arrive at their ‘only’.
Some categories to consider when trying to figure out your ‘only’ phrase.
How to be sure that you are really the ‘only’ one when making that claim.
How to subtly modify your ‘only phrase’, if necessary.
Using the word ‘specializes’ to better describe your ‘only’ and to differentiate yourself.
That your ‘only’ doesn’t have to be a big thing.
How having an ‘only’ helps you to charge a higher fee.
How he helps people to draft letters to inform customers that they are raising their fees.
How educating people about your value helps to overcome their resistance to your charging top dollar.
Why he encourages you, as a designer, to highlight rather than hide your past.
That it’s often the small things that make you unique.
Some examples of how you can incorporate your ‘only phrase’ into your bio, to make yourself memorable.
Ways for newly graduated designers to set themselves apart.
His victory vocabulary.
Using the law of attraction to draw the kinds of clients you’d like to work with towards you.
That the most financially successful designers are not necessarily the best designers.
‘Only’ is not the only word, but it’s the best one!

1182: Sponsored Show: Studio Kasa, How to Source Art That Elevates Your Projects and Increases Your Profit Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

Today With Josh Kasper of Studio Kasa:

Art is one of the most overlooked, and under-monetized, elements in interior design.

In this sponsored episode, LuAnn sits down with Josh Kasper, founder of Studio Kasa, to talk about how designers can approach art differently, not just as a finishing touch, but as a strategic part of both the design and the business.

Josh shares how his firm helps designers source art efficiently, elevate their projects, and create an additional revenue stream without adding more work to their plate. From understanding how to guide clients through art decisions to avoiding the endless rabbit hole of online sourcing, this conversation reframes what’s possible when you have the right process and partner in place.

If you’ve ever struggled with how to confidently incorporate art into your projects, or how to make it profitable, this episode will open your eyes to a smarter way of doing it.

More About Josh Kasper:

Having spent almost a decade on Wall Street at iconic firms including Goldman Sachs, Josh Kasper launched himself into the art world as a collector. While engaging with traditional advisors and galleries he found the art to be too expensive and mostly based on what was considered “in” versus his unique tastes.

This brought him directly to artists’ studios, which led him to develop an Instagram feed (@_Studio Kasa_) where he could share both artists’ stories and their creation process. One day someone asked him to source artwork for their home... the rest is history.

Today Josh Kasper leverages his experience in financial services and as an art curator working almost exclusively with interior designers offering various solutions at all pricing thresholds, while providing a seamless client experience.

Today, his company Studio Kasa serves as a trusted resource for interior design professionals:

Curating artwork tailored to each client’s aesthetic and the unique character of every space
Managing the full end-to-end process from sourcing through shipment and installation
Negotiating pricing and offering competitive designer referral fees
Saving designers valuable time so they can focus on their clients and core design work

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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

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Through May 5th, when you book and attend a discovery call or webinar with Josh, you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a featured piece of art. (See it below!)

Pretty cool, yes.

But the real opportunity is this:

You will learn how to turn something you’re already doinginto a structured, profitable part of your business.

Go to studiokasa.art/luannand choose the session that fits your schedule and you will be entered to win!

1181: Sponsored Show with Duke Renders: Is AI Saving You Time… or Wasting It? Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Today With Duke Renders and Jenna Gaidusek:

AI is everywhere right now.

Some designers are excited about it. Others are frustrated by it. And many are quietly wondering…

Is this actually helping my business or just adding more noise?

In this episode, LuAnn sits down with Mina Duque of Duke Renders and AI expert Jenna Gaidusek to cut through the confusion and get to the truth.

What is AI actually good for in the design process?

Where does it fall short?

And most importantly… what happens when you present something to a client that isn’t fully thought through?

Because once you present it, it’s no longer an idea. It’s a promise.

You’ll hear why AI can be a powerful tool for early-stage exploration—but why it cannot replace the accuracy, accountability, and decision-making required for real-world execution.

Mina breaks down Duke Renders’ structured process, from clay renderings to final visuals, and how that process helps designers catch costly mistakes before they happen.

And Jenna explains exactly why AI-generated images can look beautiful at first glance… but fall apart when you zoom in.

This episode will change how you think about:

• AI as a brainstorming tool—not a final deliverable

• The difference between inspiration and execution

• Why accuracy protects your profit• How better visuals lead to better decisions not just prettier presentations

If you’ve been wondering whether you still need professional renderings in the age of AI, this conversation will give you your answer.

And it will likely raise your standards in the process.

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