EP 64: Zero Click AI Searches- The Reason Your Website Traffic is Down

In this episode, Jenna Gaidusek dives deep into the growing crisis of zero-click search—a shift in how people find answers online that’s impacting small businesses, designers, and anyone relying on website traffic for visibility and leads. Jenna explains what zero-click search is, why it’s become a problem over the past two years, and how AI-generated summaries on platforms like Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini are changing the rules for SEO and business growth.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why it’s more important than ever to understand your website analytics—and how to get started even if you’re not “techy.”

The reality behind declining organic traffic: 60% of searches now end without a click, and 25% of small business site visits have dried up.

How designers can pivot with long-form, authority-building content, FAQs, and real world case studies that set you apart from generic AI content.

The crucial role of backlinks, referrals, press releases, and partnerships for visibility in AI-driven search engines.

The new ways clients search (and find designers) using conversational AI and how you can stay competitive when AI platforms summarize your content for searchers.

Practical tips to reclaim your audience: optimizing your site for both people and machines, getting creative with collaborations, and harnessing ethical digital strategies to protect your brand.

Jenna also shares personal insights from her own Squarespace analytics, breaks down the data from industry sources like Forbes and SuperPrompt, and offers encouragement for designers to get empowered—track their numbers, embrace change, and build authentic authority to thrive in the evolving landscape.

✨ Ready to explore further?

The DAIly – Short, searchable AI training videos and workflows for $29.99/month.

AI Workshops – Hands-on, live sessions that help you apply AI in your business right away.

Resources:

Membership & Workshops:

Private Trainings & Speaking:

Community & Podcast:

Events Calendar:

Account & Social:

Tune in for actionable strategies on defending your traffic, amplifying your expertise, and making your voice heard in this new age of search!

Episode 63: High Point Market, Human Connection & The Future of AI in Design

Ever feel like you need a nap after a trade show? Same. In this episode, Jenna’s back from High Point Market with stories, insights, and a very real take on how the design world is changing—and how AI is showing up in it.

From an intimate, hands-on AI Day at Feizy Rugs to a packed Lunch & Learn with IDS and Howard Elliott, Jenna shares how these in-person events are shaping the next era of design education. It wasn’t just about apps and prompts—it was about community, connection, and remembering why showing up still matters.

She also reflects on what it’s like to build something totally new (AI education in design) without a blueprint, how she balances tech with human interaction, and what’s next for 2026.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why this fall’s High Point Market felt so different—and what that says about the industry

The behind-the-scenes of AI Day and what really happens when designers get hands-on with tech

How digital note-taking and AI tools can actually organize your creative chaos

The power of trade shows for real relationships (not just pretty product photos)

A sneak peek into Jenna’s plans for the next evolution of AI for Interior Designers

✨ Ready to explore further?

The DAIly – Short, searchable AI training videos and workflows for $29.99/month.

Tune in now and rediscover why the best ideas still happen face-to-face.

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Episode 62 of the AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast, hosted by Jenna Gaidusek, dives deep into the realities facing design students entering today’s job market, especially with the rapid rise of AI.

Jenna reflects on returning to teach at her alma mater and gives frank advice for students: the market is tough, reminiscent of graduating just after the 2008 recession, but now combined with accelerated industry change from AI. She emphasizes that traditional skills like rendering and drafting remain important, but AI proficiency is no longer optional; design firms increasingly look for new hires who are comfortable using AI tools like ChatGPT to boost productivity and handle tasks beyond design alone.

Jenna addresses student concerns about the environmental impact of AI and urges future designers to stay informed, ethical, and proactive. She notes the market shift: luxury clients may fare well, but the middle tier is squeezed, with firms expecting new hires to multitask and leverage technology strategically. Survival in this evolving industry hinges on demonstrating both core design skills and a readiness to use AI for efficiency and value.

Jenna also shares a candid outlook about the uncertainties ahead, the shrinking job pool for new designers, and the necessity to “bring something extra,” specifically AI fluency, to the table. She closes by encouraging students to seek continual AI training, stay adaptable, and focus on making a unique human impact that tech can’t replace.

Key Takeaways:

AI proficiency is crucial for design students entering the job market.

Core design skills still matter, but technology skills set applicants apart.

The industry is rapidly changing, and adaptability is essential.

Students should be aware of AI’s ethical and environmental dimensions.

Building a portfolio and starting to network before graduation is vital.

The human side of design, personal connection and problem-solving, remains irreplaceable.

 Resources:

Programs

Events

Resources

Podcast

About

Membership & Workshops:

Membership - The DAIly

Workshops

Everyday AI Masterclass

AI Day at High Point Market (register)

Private Trainings & Speaking:

Private AI Trainings & Advisory

Speaking

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Podcast Episode Summaries

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Episode 61: Subscription Overload- How New AI Lets Designers Consolidate

Feeling buried under a mountain of apps? You’re not alone. In this episode, Jenna pulls back the curtain on the flood of “AI for design” apps that popped up during the gold rush… and why so many of them are now vanishing. Spoiler: most were built by developers chasing profit, not by people who actually understand design.

Jenna shares her own journey (yep, hundreds of thousands invested in app development!) and explains why the future looks different now: designers themselves can start creating custom tools-  without needing a full dev team or a giant budget. Think: one streamlined app that matches your workflow instead of 10 overpriced subscriptions.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why cookie-cutter design apps are fading fast

How today’s AI makes it possible for designers to build their own tools

The dangers of locking into annual subscriptions too soon

Why consolidation is the next big shift for creative businesses

✨ Ready to explore further?

Programs

Events

Resources

Podcast

About

Membership & Workshops:

Membership - The DAIly

Workshops

Everyday AI Masterclass

AI Day at High Point Market (register)

Private Trainings & Speaking:

Private AI Trainings & Advisory

Speaking

Collaborations

Press

Community & Podcast:

Podcast Episode Summaries

Community Conversations

Events Calendar:

Events Calendar

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Member Login

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In this episode, Jenna Gaidusek provides a comprehensive update on the current state of AI in the design industry. She shares a practical, updated roadmap on how interior designers can effectively use AI—from generating imagery and automating workflows to building custom apps and leveraging agentic AI to manage day-to-day tasks.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

-AI Imagery & Mockups -Instantly generate room mockups, product swaps, and material changes with Gemini’s “NanoBanana” and ChatGPT.

-Tools for creating client-ready visuals in minutes. Practical Workshops & Events -Hands-on AI Day at High Point Market: live demonstrations, workflows, and real applications you can start using.

-Details on upcoming workshops and events designed for interior designers. App Building & Process Automation

-How custom apps (in beta) can streamline client communication, notes, color selections, and project tasks in one place. Design Visualizations & Floorplans -Merging AI imagery with professional floor plans using platforms like Mydoma Visualizer

-Integrating product sourcing via Daniel House Club Agentic AI & The Comet Browser

-How tools like Perplexity’s Comet browser can handle research, admin tasks, email, and scheduling for you. Security & Best Practices

-Tips on balancing convenience vs. privacy when integrating AI into your design business. Live Learning, Support, and Community

-Virtual AI Masterclasses and The DAIly program for guided workflows, prompt packs, and ongoing support.

Events & Conferences

-Insights from the IDS National Conference and High Point Market.

-Everything mentioned is available at AI for Interior Designers™, including event registration, masterclass signups, app launches, and the latest industry news.

For specialized tools like Daniel House Club and Mydoma Visualizer, check out Jenna’s guest appearances and linked guides.

Resources and links:

AI for Interior Designers

"Everyday AI Masterclass" On Demand-https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/ai-masterclass 

AI Day at Fall HPMKT-https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/ai-day-fall-25

 https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/ 

Upcoming AI Events 

The DAIly- On Demand AI Education $29.99/mo. https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/thedaily 

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with the latest tips and tools for designers! Explore AI for Interior Designers™: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/

Episode 59: Confessions of AI Designer Nerds: Behind the Screens & Scenes

Podcast Episode Summary:

AI Designer Nerds Unite!

Why so many designers are still nervous or skeptical about AI (we get it–but here’s why you shouldn’t be)

How mundane admin tasks can finally be delegated (bye, calendar invites and endless email threads)

The subscription chaos and why we keep, ditch, or trial new apps constantly

Authentically communicating your use of AI with clients (spoiler: most are impressed, not freaked out)

The tools we love and those we’ve…cancelled

If you’ve ever nerded out over a new workflow, wished you had more time for actual design, or wondered who else is up at 2am building their own apps, this one’s for you.

Guest Info & Links

Jessica Nelson & Stephanie Lindsey: Etch Design Group & AI for Interiors

100 Lunches Podcast: 100 Lunches & AI for Interiors

Featured Programs & Resources

AI for Interior Designers aiforinteriordesigners.com

The Daily- Your up-to-date- AI training program: www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/thedaily

In episode 58 of the AI for Interior Designers *Podcast, Jenna Gaidusek sits down with renowned photographer Brian Berkowitz to explore the intersection of AI, photography, and interior design. Brian, a second-generation photographer with 30 years of experience, shares stories from his career working with luxury brands like Gucci, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and top designers, as well as insights on how AI is streamlining business practices behind the scenes. Jenna and Brian also discuss their collaborative work teaching AI to photographers and the vital role of authenticity in social media, blogs, and digital presence. This episode is essential listening for anyone in the creative industries seeking practical, real-world applications of AI to boost efficiency and creativity while staying true to their brand voice.

Relevant Links & Resources

Follow Brian Berkowitz

IDS Long Island & Podcast

IDS Podcast on Apple

In this episode of AI for Interior Designers, Jenna sits down with Bree Cassidy from Howard Elliott to talk about how one manufacturer is changing the game for designers with smarter, more efficient tools.

Howard Elliott has been a designer favorite since their early mirror collections in 2001, and today they offer over 5,000 SKUs ranging from mirrors and accent furniture to custom textiles, wall art, and outdoor pieces—all with a strong focus on customization. Bree shares how the brand’s new website update takes the guesswork out of sourcing, with features like:

Reverse image search so designers can upload a photo and instantly find similar Howard Elliott pieces

Clean silo photography and lifestyle images that make it easy to visualize products in projects

Wishlists and catalog builders to organize by client or project

Real-time stock visibility and designer-friendly pricing with no minimums

Jenna and Bree also dig into why user experience matters for trade partners, how Howard Elliott keeps customization at the forefront, and why photography and AI-powered workflows are making life easier for busy designers. Plus, Bree shares insider details about their Friday Friends designer spotlights, the annual Show Us Your Howard Elliott design contest, and of course—their legendary showroom happy hours at market.

This episode is equal parts tech-forward insights and down-to-earth designer talk, highlighting what true brand partnerships look like in 2025.

👉 Explore more:

The DAIly – on-demand AI training for designers ($29.99/month)

AI Tools List – her curated collection of go-to AI infused tools

Howard Elliott Website Walkthrough on YouTube – full video tour with Bree and Colleen. 

🎧 Tune in to hear how Howard Elliott is blending AI, customization, and a designer-first mindset—and why it matters for your next project or Watch this Podcast over on Youtube . 

Welcome to the AI for Interior Designers podcast- Episode 56! In this episode, I’m joined by brothers Peter and Alexander Spalding, co-founders of Daniel House Club, a platform built to take the headaches out of procurement so designers can focus on what they actually love: designing.

We first met in May 2024 at a design immersion retreat in Scottsdale, and since then we’ve crossed paths at multiple industry events. I’ve not only partnered with them for events like the first AI Design Tech Summit but also used their platform extensively in my own projects.

How they transformed their own struggles running a design firm into a membership-based back-of-house powerhouse for designers.

The ways AI and technology are streamlining catalog management, speeding up product requests, and making vendor data useful (even when it comes in as a messy PDF).

Alexander’s personal AI workflow, from ChatGPT and Gemini to a note-taking app called Granola, and how he uses these tools for everything from HTML tweaks to marketing plans.

Why brand voice training is essential for AI copywriting and how to get rid of the overused “luxury” and “elegant” clichés.

The behind-the-scenes process of making product photography consistent, clean, and usable across both marketing and client-facing boards.

Their vision for the future of sourcing, including real-time stock checks and image-based product search for trade-only vendors.

The backstory: How Daniel House Club started as an internal tool to fix the least favorite parts of running a design firm and why those same pain points are shared by designers everywhere.

Procurement without the burnout: How their concierge team helps designers avoid hiring extra staff for tracking orders and chasing vendors.

AI in action:

Vendor data extraction from PDFs, websites, and spreadsheets.

AI-driven image formatting, centering products, adding white backgrounds, and creating consistent aspect ratios.

Faster product requests, down from 45 minutes to 5, while keeping a human in the loop for quality control.

Alexander’s AI toolkit:

ChatGPT for copywriting, HTML snippets, and marketing refinement.

Granola for discreet, real-time meeting transcripts and searchable notes.

Deep research features in Gemini, ChatGPT, and Perplexity to dig through files, cloud storage, and vendor sites for specific data.

Keeping your voice: Strategies for training AI to write in your tone (minus emojis and endless exclamation marks) so it feels authentic to your brand.

Future sourcing dreams: Real-time inventory integration and a Google Lens-style search that works for trade vendors instead of sending you to mass-market retail.

If you’ve ever:

Struggled to keep vendor data clean and up-to-date.

Wished product images looked consistent on boards and in client presentations.

Spent hours chasing down pricing or stock levels.

Wanted to explore AI but didn’t know where to start in your design business.

You’ll get a ton of practical, ready-to-implement ideas from this conversation.

Daniel House Club Website

Daniel House Club on Instagram

Daniel House Club on LinkedIn

Daniel House Club on Facebook

Granola Note-Taking App

AI for Interior Designers™

00:33 – Meeting Peter & Alexander and the early Daniel House Club story

In this episode of the AI for Interior Designers podcast, host Jenna Gaidusek sits down with Sarah Bird, CEO of Canvas I.O. They dive into how Canvas I.O. is revolutionizing the design workflow by offering a tool for accurate field measurements without a tape measure.

Sarah shares her intriguing background and journey that led her to helm Canvas I.O., a company rooted in over a decade of LiDAR technology development and holding more than 20 patents. What started as a hardware-focused venture in 2008 with the goal of creating mobile LiDAR sensors (and even a successful Kickstarter campaign) has evolved into a powerful software solution. The shift became clear around 2022, recognizing that the core problem to solve was the laborious effort of manual measurements and modeling.

Learn how the Canvas I.O. app leverages your iPhone Pro or iPad Pro's LiDAR to quickly scan a physical space, instantly generating a 3D model and a draft CAD model. The real game-changer lies in their ability to transform this draft into a detailed, design-ready, tag-layered CAD model that is native to popular design software like Chief Architect, SketchUp, Revit, and 2020 Design.

Sarah emphasizes the crucial aspect of accuracy, explaining that for a single room (around 100 sq ft), measurements are typically within a half or quarter inch. For full floor plans, it might be within an inch, providing ample precision for most design needs, though she advises traditional field measurements for critical elements like windows, cabinets, and countertops.

The conversation also touches on the hybrid nature of Canvas I.O.'s technology, combining AI for initial extraction of walls and planes with human review and detailing to ensure unparalleled accuracy and inclusion of critical elements like outlets, light switches, and baseboards. This unique approach prioritizes reliability, ensuring that while the instant draft offers quick conceptualization, the final, detailed models are entirely trustworthy for structural design.

Discover the user-friendly process of using Canvas I.O.:

Download the free app from the Apple App Store.

Practice scanning at home (scanning is free for up to two projects a month).

Follow simple yet crucial tips like opening drapes and ensuring no moving objects during scanning to maximize accuracy.

Upload your scan (preferably on Wi-Fi) and select your desired native file format.

Receive your detailed, ready-to-use CAD file, typically with a cost estimate based on square footage (billing occurs only upon delivery).

Sarah and Jenna also delve into the broader implications of AI in interior design, highlighting how Canvas I.O. acts as the essential "real-world connection" for generative AI tools. They discuss the unique human elements of taste, understanding material textures, and client communication that AI simply cannot replicate, positioning designers to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

Tune in to learn how embracing technology like Canvas I.O. not only streamlines your workflow but also helps you present as a tech-forward firm, potentially winning more clients and freeing up valuable time for creativity or personal pursuits.

About Sarah Bird & Canvas IO

Sarah Bird serves as CEO of Canvas, an early-stage tech startup revolutionizing the construction, remodeling, and design industries through cutting-edge 3D capture and model technology. A seasoned and visionary CEO, board member, and investor,  her expertise spans digital media, SaaS, and venture capital. She successfully secured multiple rounds of venture capital, managed over $100 million in annual revenue, and served a vast global customer base. Her previous venture-backed company, Moz, had a successful exit to a public company in 2021. Sarah is a sought-after keynote speaker and has been honored with several awards, including 3x CEO of the Year Finalist (Geekwire) and  EY Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. 

LinkedIn.com/in/SarahBird