Stop Marketing to Everyone: Building a Design Business That Gets Noticed

What does good marketing actually look like for a small interior design practice?

To kick off Season Two of Designing Australia, Dave sits down with interior designer and marketing professional Marilena Baynes, founder of Marilena Baynes Interior Design Studio, to talk about finding your audience, positioning your practice and getting much clearer about who you're actually trying to reach.

We get practical about what works for a small studio with limited time and resources, where designers should be putting their marketing energy, what we might be wasting our time on, and how to turn the design process itself into content that demonstrates real value.

A conversation about marketing, branding and building a design practice that doesn't need to appeal to everyone, just the right people.

Featuring Marilena Baynes, Marilena Baynes Interior Design Studio.

https://www.marilenabaynesinteriors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/marilenabaynesinteriors/

Pour a wine and unwind with Dave in this festive solo episode as he walks through the 12 biggest lessons he’s learned as an interior designer, from networking, communication, and boundaries to confidence, creativity, and charging what you’re worth.

This reflective end-of-year special dives into the realities of building a design career: the wins, the mistakes, the messy client moments, and the quiet breakthroughs that shape who we become as designers.

Whether you’re a design student, a fresh grad, or simply need a mental reset coming toward the end of the year, these 12 lessons offer reassurance, clarity, and a warm reminder that every designer starts somewhere and you're never alone on the path to creating wonderful spaces.

You can find more of Dave's work over at https://disko.design

In this episode of Designing Australia, Dave chats with Brisbane designer and good wine drinking buddy, Kirsty Duncan, founder of Bearcanvas Interiors, an award-winning studio known for creating timeless, intuitive spaces that reflect how people truly live.

Together, they unpack the reality of imposter syndrome in the design industry; the quiet doubt that can creep in, whether you’re just starting out or decades into your career. They explore how to reconnect with your confidence, how to communicate your true value to clients, and why so many homeowners only realise the importance of using a designer after their renovation.

It’s an open, honest conversation about self-worth, professionalism, and the courage it takes to back yourself as a creative.

🎧 Hosted by Dave Harvey, Disko Designs
📍 Guest: Kirsty Duncan, Bearcanvas Interiors

https://www.houzz.com.au/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/bearcanvas-interiors-pfvwau-pf~1133418554

https://www.instagram.com/bearcanvas_interiors/?hl=en

In this episode of Designing Australia, Dave sits down with Brisbane builder Dan Murray, Director of Finer Touch Projects, to explore what true collaboration between designers and builders really looks like.

With a simple philosophy — to build cool things, well — Dan shares how early communication, transparency, and mutual respect can transform a project from functional to exceptional.

Together, Dave and Dan unpack the nuances of the designer–builder relationship: navigating revisions, managing on-the-fly changes, balancing creativity with constructability, and maintaining a client’s confidence from start to finish.

Whether you’re a designer, builder, or just love good process, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes great homes are built through teamwork — not tension.

Find more of Finer Touch's work here - https://www.finertouchprojects.com.au/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/finer_touch_projects/

Art is personal, powerful, and sometimes, a little intimidating.

In this episode of Designing Australia, Dave sits down with Virginia Bishop, founder of Virginia Bishop Interiors, to talk about the art of selecting and curating artwork for clients’ homes.

With more than three decades of experience working across Australia and internationally, Virginia shares how she helps clients move beyond “does it match the sofa?” to “does it move me?” — guiding them toward pieces that bring depth, authenticity, and emotion into their spaces.

https://www.virginiabishopinteriors.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/virginia_bishop_interiors/

Bathrooms aren’t just functional spaces; they can also be a reflection of our values. In this episode, Dave speaks with Kacie Evans, founder of Harlen Design, an Australian brand designing solid timber vanities with a strong focus on social and environmental responsibility.

Kacie shares the story behind Harlen, what inspired her to create the brand, and the unique considerations of working with timber in a bathroom setting. We discuss Harlen’s approach to Australian-led design paired with social manufacturing in South Africa, exploring the challenges and opportunities of creating a product that balances global collaboration with ethical practices.

The conversation also dives into logistics, the realities of producing socially conscious bathroom furniture, and what the future holds for Harlen as it grows.

If you’ve ever wondered how design can combine craftsmanship, beauty, and responsibility, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

Explore the range of products from Harlan - https://harlendesign.com.au/

In this episode of Designing Australia, host Dave Harvey sits down with Brisbane-based interior designer Pettina Eckart-Watts, the creative force behind Cocoon Interiors. Known for her layered, considered approach to interiors, Pettina has built a reputation for creating spaces that are both soulful and refined.

We dive into her design ethos, including her philosophy of starting with the rug as the anchor point for a room’s palette, mood, and flow. Pettina shares how this concept came to life in her latest collaboration with luxury rug makers Tappeti, resulting in the stunning Celestial Lagoon (also called Memories of Tahiti). From the first spark of inspiration to the tactile process of weaving, Pettina takes us inside the journey of creating a bespoke, handmade rug that doubles as art for the floor.

We also look ahead to what’s next for Cocoon Interiors, the kind of clients Pettina loves to work with, and how to connect with her for future projects.

https://www.cocooninteriors.au/

https://tappeti.com.au/products/aqualis-turquoise

Welcome to Designing Australia, the podcast that dives behind the glossy images and into the real work of interior design. Host Dave Harvey introduces the series and shares what’s ahead: honest conversations with Australia’s leading designers about kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, fabrics, outdoor living, and more.