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Success by Design - Mastering the Business of Interior Design

Design Smarter, Not Harder: Unleash the Power of AI in Your Interior Design Firm!

Design Smarter, Not Harder: Unleash the Power of AI in Your Interior Design Firm!

As an interior designer, it’s easy to get swept up in the creative whirlwind of transforming spaces and bringing your clients’ visions to life. But behind every beautifully designed room is a machine ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

November 11, 20245 min read

The Future of Interior Design in 2025 [The Table]

The Future of Interior Design in 2025 [The Table]

Tune into the inaugural episode of The Success by Design Table Series where leaders in the interior design industry discuss business trends & predictions. ...more

Podcast ,Education Industry News Entrepreneurship &Design

November 08, 202446 min read

The Power of Process in the Interior Design Business: Unlocking Higher Profitability and More Sanity

The Power of Process in the Interior Design Business: Unlocking Higher Profitability and More Sanity

As an interior designer, it’s easy to get swept up in the creative whirlwind of transforming spaces and bringing your clients’ visions to life. But behind every beautifully designed room is a machine ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

November 06, 20243 min read

Avoiding Burnout and Staying Fresh: How to Thrive as an Interior Designer for the Long Haul

Avoiding Burnout and Staying Fresh: How to Thrive as an Interior Designer for the Long Haul

As an interior designer, your creativity is your greatest asset, but it can also be your most fragile resource. Whether you’ve been running your firm for one year or twenty, the relentless pressure of... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Management &Design

October 13, 20243 min read

Your Unique Journey is Your Strength: Katie's Story About Embracing the Non-Standard Path in Interior Design

Your Unique Journey is Your Strength: Katie's Story About Embracing the Non-Standard Path in Interior Design

Whether you are a new designer or leading a seven-figure firm, it can feel daunting, especially when your path doesn't seem to align with the traditional routes often celebrated in the industry. But l... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Design

October 13, 20243 min read

Creative Burnout & Inspiration with Jennifer Bertrand

Creative Burnout & Inspiration with Jennifer Bertrand

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Jennifer Bertrand joins Katie to share lessons she’s learned over 20+ years about creative burnout & inspiration. ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

October 11, 202437 min read

Breaking Through to Seven Figures: A Candid Conversation About Business Growth

Breaking Through to Seven Figures: A Candid Conversation About Business Growth

Whether you're running a six-figure interior design firm aiming for seven figures or just thinking about launching your own business, this conversation is for you. We’ll tackle key skills and habits e... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Finance

October 01, 20242 min read

How to Scale Your Interior Design Business to 7-Figures

How to Scale Your Interior Design Business to 7-Figures

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Katie dives into exactly how to grow your design firm from the very beginning to 6- and 7-figures! ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

September 27, 202428 min read

Is Your Business Running You? It’s Time to Flip the Script

Is Your Business Running You? It’s Time to Flip the Script

Do you ever feel like your business is running you, rather than the other way around? As interior designers, we often pour our hearts into our work, only to find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stretch... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Marketing &Management

September 24, 20244 min read

Embracing Art in Interior Design: Transforming Intimidation into Inspiration

Embracing Art in Interior Design: Transforming Intimidation into Inspiration

The world of art can often seem intimidating, even to seasoned interior designers. The sheer breadth of styles, mediums, and historical contexts can be overwhelming. Yet, when approached with an open ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Design

September 13, 20243 min read

How to Build & Design a Company Culture w/ Josh Dykstra

How to Build & Design a Company Culture w/ Josh Dykstra

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Josh Dykstra is back with Katie to share how to build and design a good company culture for your firm! ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

September 13, 202433 min read

How to Start Your Interior Design Business: 10 Essential Steps

How to Start Your Interior Design Business: 10 Essential Steps

Starting your own interior design business can be one of the most exciting, intimidating and rewarding ventures of your career. If you have a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for aesthet... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing &Management

August 28, 20248 min read

Back to Home

I'm your host, Katie Erickson

I’m a commercial exterior and interior designer with an MBA and nearly 20 years in the industry. When I’m not leading my coast-to-coast, multi-million dollar firm, I love sharing real talk on the business of design, blending insights from 20 years as a business professor. I keep it honest—balancing work and chasing my two girls around.

STRATEGY SESSIONS WITH KATIE DECKER ERICKSON PODCAST

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We’re excited to offer even more access to Katie Decker-Erickson! With Katie's new premium channel, you’ll enjoy ad-free episodes of Success by Design and exclusive Strategy Sessions that dive deeper into actionable insights for growing your interior design business. Subscribe now to get fresh, uninterrupted content every week—and enjoy two free months with an annual subscription!

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Design Smarter, Not Harder: Unleash the Power of AI in Your Interior Design Firm!

Design Smarter, Not Harder: Unleash the Power of AI in Your Interior Design Firm!

As an interior designer, it’s easy to get swept up in the creative whirlwind of transforming spaces and bringing your clients’ visions to life. But behind every beautifully designed room is a machine ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

November 11, 20245 min read

The Future of Interior Design in 2025 [The Table]

The Future of Interior Design in 2025 [The Table]

Tune into the inaugural episode of The Success by Design Table Series where leaders in the interior design industry discuss business trends & predictions. ...more

Podcast ,Education Industry News Entrepreneurship &Design

November 08, 202446 min read

The Power of Process in the Interior Design Business: Unlocking Higher Profitability and More Sanity

The Power of Process in the Interior Design Business: Unlocking Higher Profitability and More Sanity

As an interior designer, it’s easy to get swept up in the creative whirlwind of transforming spaces and bringing your clients’ visions to life. But behind every beautifully designed room is a machine ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

November 06, 20243 min read

Avoiding Burnout and Staying Fresh: How to Thrive as an Interior Designer for the Long Haul

Avoiding Burnout and Staying Fresh: How to Thrive as an Interior Designer for the Long Haul

As an interior designer, your creativity is your greatest asset, but it can also be your most fragile resource. Whether you’ve been running your firm for one year or twenty, the relentless pressure of... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Management &Design

October 13, 20243 min read

Your Unique Journey is Your Strength: Katie's Story About Embracing the Non-Standard Path in Interior Design

Your Unique Journey is Your Strength: Katie's Story About Embracing the Non-Standard Path in Interior Design

Whether you are a new designer or leading a seven-figure firm, it can feel daunting, especially when your path doesn't seem to align with the traditional routes often celebrated in the industry. But l... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Design

October 13, 20243 min read

Creative Burnout & Inspiration with Jennifer Bertrand

Creative Burnout & Inspiration with Jennifer Bertrand

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Jennifer Bertrand joins Katie to share lessons she’s learned over 20+ years about creative burnout & inspiration. ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

October 11, 202437 min read

Breaking Through to Seven Figures: A Candid Conversation About Business Growth

Breaking Through to Seven Figures: A Candid Conversation About Business Growth

Whether you're running a six-figure interior design firm aiming for seven figures or just thinking about launching your own business, this conversation is for you. We’ll tackle key skills and habits e... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Finance

October 01, 20242 min read

How to Scale Your Interior Design Business to 7-Figures

How to Scale Your Interior Design Business to 7-Figures

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Katie dives into exactly how to grow your design firm from the very beginning to 6- and 7-figures! ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

September 27, 202428 min read

Is Your Business Running You? It’s Time to Flip the Script

Is Your Business Running You? It’s Time to Flip the Script

Do you ever feel like your business is running you, rather than the other way around? As interior designers, we often pour our hearts into our work, only to find ourselves feeling overwhelmed, stretch... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Marketing &Management

September 24, 20244 min read

Embracing Art in Interior Design: Transforming Intimidation into Inspiration

Embracing Art in Interior Design: Transforming Intimidation into Inspiration

The world of art can often seem intimidating, even to seasoned interior designers. The sheer breadth of styles, mediums, and historical contexts can be overwhelming. Yet, when approached with an open ... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Design

September 13, 20243 min read

How to Build & Design a Company Culture w/ Josh Dykstra

How to Build & Design a Company Culture w/ Josh Dykstra

In this episode of the Success by Design podcast, Josh Dykstra is back with Katie to share how to build and design a good company culture for your firm! ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

September 13, 202433 min read

How to Start Your Interior Design Business: 10 Essential Steps

How to Start Your Interior Design Business: 10 Essential Steps

Starting your own interior design business can be one of the most exciting, intimidating and rewarding ventures of your career. If you have a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for aesthet... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Finance Marketing &Management

August 28, 20248 min read

Standing Out as an Expert: Essential Questions Every Client Should Ask Their Interior Designer

Standing Out as an Expert: Essential Questions Every Client Should Ask Their Interior Designer

When our clients think about hiring a professional, be it a plumber or an HVAC technician, they expect them to justify their rates with specialized training, experience, and proven results. These prof... ...more

Blog ,Education Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship Finance &Management

August 16, 20245 min read

How to Make Money as an Interior Designer with Laura Thornton

How to Make Money as an Interior Designer with Laura Thornton

In this episode, Laura joins Katie to talk about how female interior designers can have profitable firms and businesses! ...more

Podcast ,Entrepreneurship

August 16, 202455 min read

Never Stop Learning: How Continuing Education Keeps Interior Designers at the Top of Their Game

Never Stop Learning: How Continuing Education Keeps Interior Designers at the Top of Their Game

In the exciting world of interior design, one thing's for sure: the adventure of learning and growing never takes a break! Whether you are just starting your career or are a seasoned professional with... ...more

Blog ,Education Industry News Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

July 18, 20244 min read

Trusting Your Gut: The Power of Intuition in Choosing the Right Clients as an Interior Designer

Trusting Your Gut: The Power of Intuition in Choosing the Right Clients as an Interior Designer

As an interior designer, your creativity and expertise shape the environments in which people live and work. But beyond the tangible aspects of design, there lies an often-overlooked yet incredibly po... ...more

Blog ,Interior Commercial Design Entrepreneurship &Management

June 23, 20243 min read

Back to Home

Here's What listeners Are saying...

Listener Reviews

insightful conversations & super RELATABLE!

Excited for a podcast directed towards interior designers that covers the business and creative mindsets needed to run a successful firm. Throwing in life balance to every conversation makes this super relatable. Great conversations.

Colorful Conversations is like having a fun chat with your artsy friend who also knows how to create success! Katie's podcast is a must-listen for folks who love design and want to make money from their creative passions. She keeps you in the loop about the latest design trends while dropping priceless tips on turning your creativity into a successful business. Whether you're a design enthusiast or a budding entrepreneur, Katie's show is a goldmine of ideas and inspiration. So, tune in and get ready to blend style and success with her friendly and informative episodes – you won't want to miss it!

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