Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Stephanie Nelson and Jessica Nelson from Etch Design Group, a full-service design studio. Stephanie and Jessica share their journey from colleagues to co-founders and how their unique skills and deep trust have allowed them to build a successful business. They also talk about harnessing the power of AI to streamline their design process and push the boundaries of their creativity.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Stephanie & Jessica met and started Etch Design Group
• How they divide responsibilities in their business
• The importance of communication and mutual support in their partnership
• Building their team gradually, starting with interns and eventually hiring full-time employees as their business grew
• Managing a remote team, trusting their team, and giving them autonomy
• Their fears and misconceptions about AI and embracing and exploring its potential
• AI’s impact on creativity, ethics, and control
• How they use AI to improve their efficiency, creativity, and profitability
• Why they prefer hourly billing and the pros and cons of using a flat rate
• Using AI for design inspiration, visualization, and rendering
• The potential of AI to transform the design industry 
• Different AI tools designers can use to enhance their business operations
• Details of their live webinars to help people with various AI tools and techniques

Mentioned:

KBIS: https://kbis.com/

Follow Etch Design Group: https://www.instagram.com/etchdesigngroup/

Check out Etch Design Group online: https://etchinteriordesign.com/

Hear more from Jessica & Stephanie on their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/100-lunches/id1727481441

It’s time to discover AI for Interiors online: https://aiforinteriors.com/

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiforinteriors/

Check out their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-for-interiors/id1734103554

AI Tools Mentioned:

Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/home

Prome AI: https://www.promeai.pro/

Listen back to Crystal Bright in Episode 125 for how she uses AI in her business

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

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Rebecca’s...

What are your project management strategies? How do you set expectations with clients and manage your deadlines? Shaun and Rebecca discuss their project management strategies and methods for setting expectations with clients and managing deadlines in the world of interior design. They also dive deep into the challenges of managing project timelines, client expectations, predicting and planning capacity to avoid overbooking, and much more.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Shaun and Rebecca handle multiple projects and manage client expectations
• Determining if you have the capacity to take on a new project and avoid overbooking
• Organizing and visualizing project workload and pipeline
• Handling challenges like clients being unresponsive or changing their minds during a project
• Setting realistic project timelines and communicating them effectively to clients and adding buffer time for client feedback and approvals
• Some project management tools – Gantt charts, Basecamp, Monday, etc
• Dealing with clients who constantly change requirements or are slow to respond and how that impacts workflow
• Taking time off as a business owner, and challenges and considerations around taking a long break
• Story of a problem Rebecca had with a third-party Dubsado template
• The importance of having backup systems and emergency contacts in place for your business

Mentioned:

PMO Work Management Software | monday.com: https://monday.com/work-management/pmo 

Gantt: https://www.gantt.com/ 

Basecamp: https://basecamp.com/ 

ClickUp: https://clickup.com/ 

Dubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/ 

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Will Brown of Will Brown Interiors believes that interior design should be more than just aesthetics — it should also support clients’ well-being and energy flow within a space. In this episode, Will shares how he uses ancient Feng Shui principles to help clients optimize the flow of energy in their homes.

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun speak with Will Brown to discuss:

• Will’s career transition from corporate graphic design to interior design
• Will’s experience working at Hallmark and how it influenced his career
• How Will got introduced and certified in Feng Shui principles 
• How Will’s clients receive the idea of Feng Shui 
• Will’s process for integrating Feng Shui into his interior design process and consultations
• Some examples of Feng Shui practices that Will suggests for clients 
• Recommendation of Mindful Homes by Anjie Cho as a guide for enhancing the main areas of a home
• How Will tailors his Feng Shui solutions based on a client’s individual needs, interests, and comfort level
• Will’s way of helping clients understand and optimize the flow of energy in their homes through Feng Shui
• Clearing misconceptions about Feng Shui 
• Bringing in an ad hoc team based on project needs and how it helps him stay focused on his role as the creative director
• About the Midwest Design & Furniture Fair — Date, venue, competitions that are going to happen there, and more!

Mentioned:

The Mindful Design Feng Shui School New York: Mindful Design Feng Shui School

Will’s website: Will Brown Interiors

Will’s Instagram: @willbrowninteriors on Instagram 

Using a Bagua Map for your home: How to Use a Bagua Map: Simple Steps for Powerful Change | LoveToKnow

Mindful Homes by Anjie Cho: https://amzn.to/3vMEeIN 

Midwest Design & Furniture Fair: Midwest Design and Furniture Fair

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Moe's Home Collection

Moe's just released

This week the Hot Young Designers welcome Eneia White to the show. Eneia got her start working for large national luxury firms before establishing her own company, Eneia White Interiors, in New York City 3 years ago. Eneia shares how she knew it was time to hire her first employee, and you'll love her life size design work for clients and the tiny dollhouse rooms that landed her on TV.

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

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Stuff they mentioned:

Check out the new and improved HYDC Website

And we just launched HYDC Coaching Sessions!

Framing Britney Spears Documentary on Hulu

Jessica at House In Habit has a great set of Britney IG Highlights

Check out Shaun's RuPaul Radio Station on Pandora

Follow Eneia on Instagram and visit the Eneia White Interiors website

Eneia's career started with firms like Björn Björnsson and Ovadia Design Group

Working for Delta Airlines wasn't like The Flight Attendant on HBO

Fellow designer Nicole White encouraged Eneia to hire an employee

You'll love Eneia's House Beautiful Doll House Video

Eneia talked about Zoe Feldman's recent interview

And living on the sets from All American on Netflix

Eneia attended the My Doma webinar series

Currently coveting the Waterworks Architectonics 3x6 Handmade Tile in Bronze Glossy

This week the Hot Young Designers are channeling Sheryl Crow and sharing their favorite mistakes. They've both been in business for 3 years and saying they've learned a few things is an understatement. They want to help you avoid the bookkeeping, project management, and potential client pitfalls they experienced. Here's a big one - always get a retainer!

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

Instagram + Website

Stuff they mentioned:

Rebecca's Candle Care Kit

Shaun's agave watch saga is coming to an end

Shaun likes the Poldark series on Amazon Prime

Devol Kitchens

Episode 3 Does Your Brand Suck?

Episode 4 Photoshoot Tips & Tricks

Run Studio Run book

This week the Hot Young Designers are taking you to market because if you've never been, you're missing out. They're sharing their market planning advice, survival techniques, and the most important part - what to wear. They even share their top questions for trade vendors. You might just catch them at Vegas and HighPoint this year!

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

Instagram + Website

Stuff they mentioned:

Shaun's watching Rupaul's Drag Race Season 13 and Season 2 UK

Rebecca's power outage isn't as bad as Orlando Soria's adventure

Rebecca's new desk

We loved meeting Ginny MacDonald at Las Vegas Market

We're planning to be at High Point Market in Fall 2021

This week the Hot Young Designers welcome Braden Drake - your new GBF and a licensed attorney and tax professional. If you're thinking this is going to be boring, trust that it's anything but! Braden educates creative business owners with his courses, mastermind groups, and his podcast - Unfuck Your Biz. On this episode he's talking about taxes, business entities, cash flow, and his Birkenstock collection.

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

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Stuff they mention

Braden's Book: UnFuck Your Biz

Listen to Braden's Podcast

Follow Braden on Instagram

Braden likes using the Qapital savings account Use Code: ub4333yd

Braden's new Birkenstock Rotterdam or Kyoto

Join his Facebook group

This week the Hot Young Designers share their best productivity hacks. They're focused on staying efficient and productive as their workload gets busier. They offer up everything from accountability tactics, to task management, and using forced obligations.

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

Instagram + Website

Stuff they mentioned:

Pomodoro Technique

Rebecca's Inbox Process from The Sweet Setup

Things App

Asana

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

The Hatch Alarm

The Hot Young Designers are back with their first episode of 2021! They're stating their goals to let the universe know what they want from this year. And Rebecca and Shaun aren't taking no for an answer! It's time to talk about where their businesses (and the Podcast) are headed for 2021.

Email us at [email protected] to share your Designer dilemmas and future episode ideas! Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

Instagram + Website

Stuff they mentioned:

Rebecca loves the Good Notes app on her iPad for consultations.

Shaun's under-rug heating pad is an awesome radiant heat alternative

Planoly for Instagram planning

Rebecca switched to Studio Designer as an all-in-one tool that includes bookkeeping

Check out Episode 9 with Anastasia Casey of the Indentité Collection to get the actionable steps for Social Media growth and engagement

The Identité Collective's Instagram Editorial Calendar

In their last episode of 2020 the Hot Young Designers take a moment to reflect. Rebecca and Shaun look at their challenges and triumphs. They finally get a chance to interview each other to answer the Burning Questions. They hope you find inspiration to consider your own Fizzles and Sizzles of the year.

Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]

Follow Rebecca

Instagram + Website

Follow Shaun

Instagram + Website

Stuff they mentioned:

Shaun's project feature in Rue Mag

Getting clients to book directly with you with tools like Acuity

Using Asana for project management

New textiles from Jennifer Shorto that you might have been seeing

Dream living in the set of Home Again with Reese Witherspoon

Keeping in touch with Marco Polo app

Rebecca's getting organized with Studio Designer software