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Designing SuccessAuthor: Rhiannon Lee
Designing Success from School to Studio by Rhiannon Lee is dedicated to filling in the gaps in your design course to encourage you to build a sustainable business that supports your dream lifestyle.Are you searching for strategy, systems and support? Looking for a community to bounce industry issues around in? In this podcast, we will cover the interior design business infrastructure you need to supplement your design school curriculum with practical insights and actionable advice. We also cover all things marketing, product innovation, client acquisition, and more. Go beyond the theory, filter through the stuff that doesnt serve you and get on with creating.You will find real talk with industry professionals, practical tactics from business realists that leave you reenergised and focused on exactly how to improve the current landscape of your own business. For more behind the scenes of the interior design industry, check out oleander and finch in Instagram https://instagram.com/oleander_and_finchor head to www.oleanderandfinch.com Language: en-au Genres: Arts, Business, Design, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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What does it take to stay relevant in interior design for more than two decades? With Robyn Hawke
Wednesday, 14 October, 2026
Text me and tell me what you think of this ep. 21 Years in Design, Still Evolving: AI, Business and Human-Centred Design with Robyn HawkeAccording to Robyn Hawke, it involves staying curious, being honest with your clients and being willing to roll up your sleeves when the industry changes.Robyn is the designer behind Sydney’s Inspired Spaces, and she joins me for a wonderfully candid conversation about building a design business that evolves with you.We talk about everything from hand drafting and ArchiCAD to AI-assisted proposals, pricing conversations and why a beautiful room means very little if it doesn’t work for the people using it.Robyn and I have been working together on bringing AI into her business, and she shares the tools she actually uses: turning post-consultation voice notes into proposal drafts, creating a pricing calculator around her own methodology and getting help with those awkward business emails. Yes, even the “we need to talk about my commission” conversation.We also get into the human side of running a studio. The isolation. The resistance to promoting yourself. The courage it takes to walk into a networking event alone. And why Instagram views aren’t particularly exciting if they never lead to meaningful work.There’s plenty of laughter, some very honest business chat and a reminder that experience and adaptability are a powerful combination.In this episode, we discuss:How client expectations have changed over Robyn’s 21 years in interior design.Explaining your professional value when clients can generate an AI image in seconds.Structuring service packages to bridge the gap between an initial consultation and a larger project.Having honest budget conversations before clients fall in love with something they can’t build.What human-centred design looks like across homes, workplaces and therapy environments.Designing for independence, accessibility, sensory comfort and everyday life.The AI workflows Robyn would genuinely miss if she had to give them back.Why owning and understanding your studio’s tools matters.Building relationships with other designers without treating everyone as competition.Nurturing potential clients between their first introduction and the decision to work with you.Measuring success through the difference your work makes to people’s lives.A thought to take with youRobyn’s belief that “interior design is a necessity, not a luxury” runs through this entire conversation.Whether she’s considering how someone can use their bathroom independently or helping a client feel at home again, her work starts with understanding the person who will live in the space.Join my FREE seven-day AI challengeStarting Monday 19 October 2026, I’m sharing seven of my biggest AI tips for interior designers, delivered straight to your inbox.Expect practical ideas, prompts and guidance you can try in your own design business, plus a free AI tool previously sold for US$99.“Challenge” sounds like I’m about to assign you burpees. Thankfully, you can simply read the emails, try what’s useful and take it at your own pace.Register for the free seven-day AI challengeKnow a designer friend who would love this? Send them the registration link so they can join too.Connect with Robyn Hawke — Inspired SpacesExplore Robyn’s residential and commercial projects, or contact her about working together:Website: inspiredspaces.com.auEmail: robyn@inspiredspaces.com.auLinkedIn: Robyn HawkeFind out about Designer Chicks AustraliaLooking for the kind of design community we talk about in this episode? Designer Chicks Australia brings creative business owners together to share knowledge, learn and support each other.Explore Designer Chicks AustraliaEnquire about membership and upcoming meetingsYou can also contact Robyn directly to ask about the group.Connect with RhiannonInstagram: @the_rhiannonleeWebsite: rhiannon-lee.comHeard me mention the rainbow ghost story? DM me “ghost story” on Instagram and I’ll share it with you.Help more designers find Designing SuccessIf this conversation gave you something to think about, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with a designer friend. It helps me keep bringing you these conversations.Progress over perfection. Always.Thanks for listening to this episode of "Designing Success: From Study to Studio"! Connect with me on social media for more business tips, and a real look behind the scenes of my own practicing design business. Grab more insights and updates:Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_rhiannonleeFor more FREE resources, templates, guides and information, visit the Designer Resource Hub on my website ; https://www.rhiannon-lee.com/Get your interior design studio running on AI in 6 weeks.admin, client follow-ups, content, and operations handled.Six live build sessions.You leave with a working system, not more mess.Studio BUILD ( now open) Remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Your feedback helps me continue providing valuable content to aspiring interior designers. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with actionable insights and inspiring conversations. Thank you for your support!
