A designer wrote in with a tough situation: a junior team member is using her portfolio to land side work. If you’ve ever had that pit-in-your-stomach moment when you find out someone on your team has crossed the line, this one’s for you. In this article, I talk about how to protect your business and what to do if it’s already happened.

Want my advice? Join The DTS Files to unlock it inside this members-only post.

Here we are completing our series on the Design Elements. The elements of design are like the ingredients that a designer adds in just the right amounts to arrive at a delicious finished product. 

 Although the list of the design elements varies by author or theorist, I consider these to be the definitive design elements:

• LINE

• SHAPE

• PATTERN

• TEXTURE

• COLOR

• LIGHT                                                                                                      

We have covered several of these in previous editions of The Design Brief™:

• Using LINE Effectively in Interiors

• SHAPE and FORM

• Color Theory 1

• Color Theory 2

• Using Color to Alter Spatial Perceptions

• Effective Interior Design Lighting Strategies

In today’s edition of The Design Brief™, we’ll delve into using PATTERN & TEXTURE to manipulate a final design aesthetic. 

25 years in business. Confident in their client relations, design skills, and financials. Paying the team? That’s another story.

This designer asked us:

How do I know what to pay a new hire, especially if I’m weighing experience vs. education?

If hiring feels like a mystery or you’ve ever second-guessed what you’re offering, this post will walk you through, step-by-step, exactly how to set the right salary and avoid overpaying, underpaying, or boxing yourself in.

Want my advice? Join The DTS Files to unlock it inside this members-only post.

13 projects. One burned-out designer. And a question we hear all the time: “I need to clone myself. Who should I hire first?”

If you’re feeling stretched thin and wondering how to grow your team without making a costly misstep, this one's for you. The answer might not be what you think.

Want my advice? Join The DTS Files to unlock it inside this members-only post.

I was recently invited to join a group of interior designers who meet once a month to discuss their businesses. We did an “ask-me-anything” style call and it was tons of fun. One designer asked me this:

How do I know when it’s time to scale my business?

I loved this question because it’s important to think about this from the very first day you start your business. But the truth most people won’t tell you? 

Scaling too soon (or scaling the wrong thing) can actually hurt your business more than help it.

Let’s talk about what scaling your interior design business really means and how to know if you’re ready.

Our in-house tenured design professor and certified interior designer, Gloria, always says that the Design Elements (that every interior design student learns about early on) are like the ingredients that go into a recipe. Add more sugar, and you'll have a sweeter dish; add more spices, and you’ll have a more savory one. 

Likewise, interior designers are adept at adding line, shape, pattern, texture, and color (the design elements) in thoughtful amounts to arrive at a desired design outcome and aesthetic result.                                                                                                           

We’ve covered some of the other design elements in previous editions of The Design Brief™:

• Using LINE Effectively in Interiors

• Color Theory 1

• Color Theory 2

• Using Color to Alter Spatial Perceptions

• Effective Interior Design Lighting Strategies

In today’s edition of The Design Brief™, we’ll delve into how you can use SHAPE and FORM to manipulate a space and achieve a specific outcome.

If you've ever felt like you're the only one keeping all the balls in the air—checking, following up, and still finding dropped details—you’re not alone.

One interior designer recently asked how to create a smoother team workflow that doesn’t require constant oversight.

Inside the post, I’m sharing five things to do to give your team clarity, keep projects moving, and give you peace of mind.

💡 It’s control-freak approved and micromanagement-free.

Want the full strategy? Join The DTS Files to unlock it inside this members-only post.

We received this question from an interior designer:

Dear Dakota, I'm going to be hiring my first full time employee. What do I need to know and do? 

Hiring your first full time employee is a big step (ps: it’s NOT the same as bringing on a 1099 subcontractor). It usually means your business is expanding, your workload is steady, and you’re ready to bring in support so YOU can focus on the parts of the business only you can do.  

As exciting as it is, it can also feel scary and overwhelming. You want your new team member to feel welcomed and supported, but you also want to make sure you hire the right person (because hiring mistakes are expensive and time consuming!).

Note: this is not legal advice and I am not an employment attorney. Please check with an attorney in your state for any state-specific requirements.

Here’s what I recommend to help you start your new employee off on the right foot: