A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

Today with Tyler Vieira:

How much of your workday is spent doing things that have nothing to do with designing? Checking order statuses, entering product specifications, reconciling invoices, following up with vendors. It's all necessary work, but it's also time you aren't spending on your clients, your creativity, or growing your business.

In this episode of A Well-Designed Business®, LuAnn Nigara welcomes Tyler Vieira, CEO of Studio Designer, for a conversation about what happens when AI is developed specifically for the interior design industry.

Since joining Studio Designer in 2022, Tyler has overseen the company's growth from approximately 30 employees to more than 120, serving around 10,000 design firms. With a background in software, Tyler brings a valuable perspective to the challenges of building technology that doesn't just demonstrate what AI could do, but works reliably enough to become part of your everyday business operations.

LuAnn and Tyler discuss why general-purpose AI tools aren't always equipped to handle the complexities of an interior design firm, where industry-specific AI can make a meaningful difference, and how technology could reduce the time you spend on purchasing, tracking products, reconciling invoices, and managing project information.

Tyler also shares a striking example: Studio Designer users created approximately 4.5 million product items in one year. If AI could save just one minute per item, that would represent 75,000 hours of potential time savings across the industry.

But this conversation isn't about replacing your judgment or creativity. It's about understanding where technology can support your business so you can spend more time doing the work that actually requires your expertise.

If you've been wondering how AI fits into your design business, this episode will help you think beyond the headlines and consider the practical opportunities.

Special offer from Studio Designer: Visit studiodesigner.com/awdb to receive 20% off your first two months on a monthly subscription to either Studio Designer or Mydoma.

More about Tyler Vieira:

Tyler Vieira is the CEO of Studio Designer. He has been with the company since 2022 and overseen its growth from 30 employees to over 120 employees. Tyler comes from the software industry and is new to design (his designer and family make interiors decisions at home). When not at work, he and his wife are kept plenty busy by his 6-mo-old and 2.5-year-old sons.

Connect with Tyler Vieira:

Website

Instagram 

Facebook

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Today with Nicole Heymer and Kate O'Hara:

Today with Nicole Heymer and Kate O’Hara, the new owners of the Design Influencers Conference, we’re talking about one of the biggest decisions in a design business, one that most designers never actually make on purpose: local or national. Nicole has spent more than 15 years helping interior designers, architects, and custom home builders build their brands and get found. Kate built the marketing engine behind O’Hara Interiors across multiple markets before launching her own business consulting practice. Between them, they’ve seen this from every side.

We get into how to tell which kind of firm you really are, and why working outside your area doesn’t make you national. Kate and Nicole walk through the formula behind each strategy and what it changes about your website, your social media, your press, and your photo shoots. We also cover which awards are worth chasing and why they now affect whether AI recommends you to the clients looking for you. If you’ve been wondering whether going bigger is actually better, this conversation will help you decide, and you’ll know exactly what to focus on at the Design Influencers Conference, March 1–3, 2027, in Atlanta. Got to designinfluencersconference.com

Aha Moments with Nicole Heymer and Kate O'Hara

“National strategy, going after…a home feature in a national magazine, that takes a lot of bandwidth, a lot of effort, a certain kind of work…You really have to do it on purpose. These things cannot happen accidentally. The decision has to be made.” - Nicole

“This isn’t a coincidence. This is a strategy. This is intentional.” - LuAnn

“There’s so much opportunity. It is overwhelming. And that’s why it is so important to get really clear about who you are and what your goals are and get ruthless about focusing on those because the opportunities become costly distractions very quickly when they pile up.” - Kate

More about Nicole Heymer and Kate O'Hara

Nicole Heymer: Owner and Creative Director, Glory & Brand Nicole Heymer is the founder of Glory & Brand, a boutique creative agency specializing in branding, websites, marketing automation, and strategy. Since 2011, Nicole has worked with a wide variety of clients at every stage in their development, from nationally known interior design firms to local custom home builders. Nicole’s clear, practical take on branding has been featured by a range of design industry resources—from the Wingnut Social podcast to the Design Influencers Conference to the . You’ll find her methods in print, on industry webinars, and as the framework for branding workshops.

Kate O’Hara: Kate O’Hara is the founder of Lake House Group, an advisory practice that helps founder-led and second-generation businesses navigate growth, operational blind spots, and transitions. She previously served as the second-generation CEO and Creative Director of O’Hara Interiors before intentionally closing the prominent design firm to focus on advisory work and co-owning the Design Influencers Conference. [1, 2, 3]

Connect with Nicole Heymer and Kate O'Hara

Nicole Heymer

O’Hara Interiors Website

Lake House Group Website

Design Influencers Conference Website

Design Influencers Instagram

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

Today With LuAnn Nigara:

Is your interior design business slower than you’d like right now? This episode covers 4 proven ways to find clients and a 30-day plan so you can start this month.

On Tuesday’s What Would Lu Do, we talked about choosing the marketing that fits who you are. Today is the how. I walk you through 4 strategies. Each one comes with a designer who has done it and has the results to show for it. Listen like a CEO who’s shopping, and choose the 1 or 2 that fit you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The years are going to go by whether you do this or you don’t. Choose your 1 or 2 and start this month.

Pair it with Tuesday’s episode: What Would Lu Do: Good Marketing Advice Can Still Be Wrong for You

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:

⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Episode 226: Power Talk Friday: Fred Berns – 5 Keys to a Fabulous Fall

Episode 143: Vita Vygovska: Market to Interior Designers by Building Relationships

Episode 453: Carolyn Flannery: Impact Your Pipeline With This One Strategy

Episode 683: Jessica Matteson: The Client Experience Is #1 in Design

Today With LuAnn Nigara:

Video works. Instagram works. Plenty of designers are building 6- and 7-figure businesses on it. So why do so many interior designers keep promising themselves they’ll start, and never do?

In this What Would Lu Do episode of A Well-Designed Business, LuAnn Nigara shares a recent conversation with a designer who had been saying “I should do video” for 8 years, and the 2-word answer that surprised her: “Why bother?”

LuAnn explains why the most expensive place in your marketing is the middle, where you spend the time, the energy, and the guilt and collect none of the results. She shares her own decision to skip video for 10 years, knowing exactly what she was leaving on the table, and the charity ball she passed on at 30 even though her clients’ names filled the program.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Pair this episode with Friday’s MBA episode, 4 Ways to Find Interior Design Clients Now and for the Future, for proven ways to find new clients that fit the way you work.

Listen now, and choose your marketing on purpose.

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Today with Audrey Faust:

You can be very good at making money and still avoid looking at what happens to it once it comes into your business.

That’s the tension at the center of LuAnn’s conversation with returning guest Audrey Faust, MBA, The Manifesting CFO. Audrey works with multi-six and seven-figure women business owners who may be generating significant revenue while still struggling to understand their profitability, pay themselves appropriately, or feel confident making financial decisions.

And sometimes, the problem isn’t simply knowing which report to pull.

Audrey explains how our beliefs and experiences around money can influence the way we price, spend, save, grow, and even how willing we are to look at our own financial information. She shares the story of one interior designer who had been in business for 20 years and was approaching seven figures in revenue, yet was barely making a profit and barely paying herself. Her belief? She should know this by now.

But how would she know if no one ever taught her?

LuAnn and Audrey explore the connection between money mindset and financial management, why more sales may not solve a profitability problem, and what changes when you stop avoiding your numbers and start using them to make informed business decisions.

They also discuss Audrey’s Manifest, Manage and Multiply Money approach, why an underlying money story can feel like having one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake, and why understanding your numbers is not about judgment. It is about having the information you need to lead your company.

Because running a profitable business is a skill set. And like every other skill you’ve developed as a designer or window treatment professional, it can be learned.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

More about Audrey Faust

Audrey Faust, MBA is The Manifesting CFO, a CFO strategist who works with financially phobic women business owners at the multi six and seven figure level. Her clients consistently grow their profit between 20-100%, but the transformation they talk about most is finally feeling safe enough to look at their numbers and having the confidence and clarity to lead like the CEO of their business. She is a 2x Amazon bestselling author and host of the Manifest, Manage and Multiply Money podcast.

Connect with Audrey Faust

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Podcast: Apple Spotify

THE CEO MONEY REWIRE

YOU ARE SAFE WITH YOUR NUMBERS

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Today with Reed Humphrey of Dezign Assist

Is your team maxed out, or are you stuck doing $10-an-hour tasks when you should be focused on leading your business?

In today’s sponsored episode, I’m talking with Reed Humphrey, CEO of Alder & Tweed Interior Design and founder of Dezign Assist, a remote staffing company built specifically for interior designers.

Reed created Dezign Assist after solving a bottleneck in his own firm. When his team couldn’t keep up with project demands, he built a scalable system using experienced remote designers. The result? More capacity, less burnout, and happier clients.

If you’re a larger firm looking to support your in-house team or a solo designer ready to stop doing it all yourself, this episode will challenge how you think about delegation and show you how to buy back your time without sacrificing quality.

Connect with Reed Humphrey

Website

Instagram

Book A Discovery Call!

⁠What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠

⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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 Resources Mentioned:

This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!

AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project

AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #194 Reed Humphrey Alder and Tweed

Today with Melanie Zaelich:

You invested in your website. You took SEO seriously. You may even have professionals managing your SEO and Google PPC, and people regularly tell you, “I found you online.”

That’s good. Keep doing it.

But the way potential clients search is changing, and strong SEO is no longer the whole conversation.

In this episode of A Well-Designed Business®, LuAnn Nigara sits down with interior designer, branding strategist, and SEO educator Melanie Zaelich to unpack SEO, AEO, GEO, and what AI-driven search means for interior designers and other established business owners.

Melanie explains why SEO remains the essential foundation, while Answer Engine Optimization and Generative Engine Optimization add new considerations for how your website communicates your expertise. It is no longer enough to think only about whether Google can find your website and understand what services you offer. As consumers increasingly use AI to ask questions, solve problems, and find businesses, your online content also needs to answer the questions they are asking and demonstrate what your company genuinely knows.

Melanie and LuAnn discuss how customer search behavior is changing, why asking ChatGPT about your own company is not the same as testing whether a potential client can discover you, and how years of experience, proprietary processes, frequently asked questions, and professional judgment can become valuable online content.

They also explore the connection between AI search and intellectual property, including why businesses should clearly identify and establish the processes, systems, and expertise they want to be known for.

The baseline for being found online is evolving.

If you were the business owner who understood early that having a website wasn't enough, and later understood that investing in SEO mattered, this episode asks an important question: Are you still paying attention to what comes next?

More About Melanie Zaelich:

Connect with Melanie Zaelich:

Happy Place Interiors Website

The Designer's Blueprint Website

Modern Search Studio Website

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LuAnn’s ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Power Talk Friday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠

⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Other Shows Mentioned:

Today with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:

Are you attending industry events by wandering the expo floor, visiting the same vendors you already know, collecting business cards, and hoping something valuable comes from the day? There’s a more intentional way to do it.

Today, I’m joined by commercial interior designer Faigy Chaskelson and architect Chana-Rivka Thierman to talk about how they use industry events to build relationships, discover resources, meet peers, and connect with professionals outside their immediate circles. And Faigy truly practices what she preaches. Years ago, she drove more than an hour each way to attend a Window Works Lunch and Learn because she wanted to meet me. That introduction grew into a relationship, and ultimately Faigy was the person who suggested I speak at the Design X Architecture Summit, DXAS. That relationship is also part of the reason the three of us are having this conversation today.

We talk about going into an event with a plan, being selective about whom you want to meet, approaching conversations with genuine curiosity, and following up afterward so a promising introduction has the opportunity to become a real relationship. We also talk about why your relationships with other designers, architects, vendors, builders, and industry professionals can become an important resource for your business.

And, of course, we talk about DXAS, happening December 1st at American Dream in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I attended last year, I’ll be speaking this year, and I genuinely enjoyed the environment they created for learning, sourcing, and actually spending time with people.

If you’re investing a day away from your business to attend a conference, market, or trade show, this conversation will help you make that day count.

The first 100 A Well-Designed Business listeners can attend DXAS for $24.99 with code LUANN26.

More about Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson

CHANA-RIVKA THIERMAN

Founder & CEO, THIERMAN Design & Consulting

Chana-Rivka Thierman is a French-registered architect and founder of THIERMAN Design & Consulting, an interior design studio based in the USA. She has international experience across France, Russia, and the United States, with a career spanning architecture, design, workplace strategy, BIM, and construction.

In France, she worked within Bouygues, one of the country’s largest construction groups, including on the construction of the Paris Courthouse designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Working within a large-scale construction environment shaped her understanding of how design connects to execution, coordination, decision-making, and the broader business of building.

Today, she brings that cross-disciplinary perspective to her own design practice and to her involvement in helping shape the programming for DXAS 2026, bringing together perspectives across design, architecture, development, construction, technology, and industry.

—-

Faigy Chaskelson is an entrepreneur, commercial interior designer, and co-founder of The Artify Group, where she leads business development and builds strategic relationships across the design and architecture community.

She is also the founder and CEO of Styles Design Interiors, a commercial interior design and procurement firm serving senior living, healthcare, multifamily, and public-sector projects.

With experience on both the design and business-development sides of the industry, Faigy has built her career around connecting people, resources, and opportunities. She believes some of the strongest business growth happens when professionals stop simply networking and start intentionally building relationships that create value for everyone at the table.

Connect with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:

DXAS 2026 - Register here!

Chana’s Website

Faigy’s Website

Chana’s Instagram 

Faigy’s Intagram 

Chana’s LinkedIn

Faigy’s LinkedIn

Aha Moments with Chana-Rivka Thierman & Faigy Chaskelson:

"I can guarantee that seventy-five percent of the people feel the way you feel. Even if you're in the room with people that you know in the industry, most of the people are afraid... you just have to go over and say hi." -Faigy

"Imagine you're at the event and you're standing by yourself and someone walks up and says, Hi, I'm Luann. Are you a designer too? Do you think any person is gonna be like, How dare you walk up to me at a networking event and say hello to me?" -LuAnn

"You need to be smart also because you won't be able to meet everyone. So you really also need to be selective at the beginning and then things can happen." -Chana

"You should come with a plan. Who do you want to meet? How many of those type of people you want to meet? Because you know there's architects... vendors, if you need a specific source, most likely there's going to be a person in that room for you." -Faigy

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:

⁠⁠⁠⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Episode 1097: NEW SHOW: Margalit Lankry: Designers with Intention. A Community with a Collaborative, Abundance Mindset

Today With LuAnn Nigara:

AI can hallucinate. It can give you information that is flat-out wrong. But what happens when AI gives you a really good answer?

In this What Would Lu Do episode, LuAnn Nigara explores a more subtle risk of using AI in your interior design business: getting an accurate, intelligent, well-researched answer to a question that wasn't the right question to begin with.

Through examples from her own work with AI, including a lesson involving designer Megan Moulton, a real Chairman of the Board client evaluating a significant marketing investment, and an AI-generated answer about interior design profitability, LuAnn shows where experience and business judgment still matter.

You'll hear why more information isn't the same as more experience, how AI can move from observation to diagnosis without enough evidence, and why a mathematically attractive ROI doesn't necessarily make an investment a smart business decision.

LuAnn also explains what to do when you don't yet have the experience to recognize what you're missing, including when it makes sense to borrow the expertise of someone who does.

AI can research, organize, compare, analyze, and help you move faster. But somebody still has to sit in the CEO chair.

That somebody is you.

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:

⁠⁠⁠RSVP to the 10th Birthday Party for A Well-Designed Business Podcast in HPMKT⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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

Today with Kate O’Hara:

Today with Kate O'Hara, we're digging into something every designer feels but doesn't always name: the client experience gap. Kate spent years running a luxury design firm, which means she's had a front-row seat to what actually keeps high-end clients coming back, and what quietly sends them somewhere else next time. In this conversation, we’re talking about the space between the experience you think you're delivering and the one your client is actually having.

We’re discussing how expectations get set (or don't), what happens when you assume you know what a client means instead of asking, and why the most generous thing you do in month one can become the very thing that costs you a client down the road. Kate also shares a couple of real stories from her own firm, including one dream project that didn't end the way anyone hoped. If you've ever wondered why gorgeous design doesn't always translate into repeat business and referrals, this episode is going to give you a lot to think about.

LuAnn and Kate's Aha Moments:

"As great as your design is, as award-winning and nationally published as it might be, what actually runs your business is the experience that you deliver." — Kate O'Hara

"Anything that you do early for your client is, to the client, that's normal. That is now your services. And the second you tell them that wasn't part of our services, you're not granting them anything special, you're taking something away." — Kate O'Hara

"It's what we say, whether it's in personal relationships or business relationships — we teach people how to treat us. We teach them by the things we say and we do, and the things we allow and the things we don't allow, how they're gonna treat us." — LuAnn Nigara

More About Kate O’Hara:

Kate O'Hara is the founder of Lake House Group, an advisory practice that helps founder-led and second-generation businesses navigate growth, operational blind spots, and transitions. She previously served as the second-generation CEO and Creative Director of O'Hara Interiors before intentionally closing the prominent design firm to focus on advisory work and co-owning the Design Influencers Conference. [⁠1⁠,⁠ 2⁠,⁠ 3⁠]

Connect with Kate O’Hara:

⁠O'Hara Interiors Website⁠

⁠O'Hara Interiors Instagram⁠

⁠Lake House Group Website ⁠

⁠Design Influencers Conference Website⁠

⁠Design Influencers Instagram⁠

⁠Fay + Belle Website⁠

⁠Fay + Belle Instagram⁠

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

⁠⁠Boardroom for Creatives⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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:

⁠Episode 1030⁠⁠: Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara: Insights and Strategies on Successful Scaling

⁠⁠Episode 1042⁠⁠: Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara: End-of-Year Business Strategies for Designers: Pipeline, Productivity, and Press

⁠⁠Episode 1148: ⁠⁠Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara: A Framework for Understanding Luxury Interior Design Clients

⁠⁠Episode 1157⁠⁠: Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara: Marketing to the Three Tiers of Luxury Clients and How to Attract Each One⁠⁠

Episode 1188⁠⁠: Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara: Scaling Your Design Firm Part 1: The Three Paths Forward⁠⁠

Episode 1202: ⁠⁠Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara:Is Your Next Idea a Revenue Driver or a PR Play? Part 2