You’re amazing at design. Running a business? That’s where we come in.

The Designed to Scale® Method helps interior designers replace inconsistent pricing, scattered processes, and unclear boundaries with a repeatable business framework built specifically for design firms.

Join the waitlist to be the first to learn about self-study enrollment and private consulting availability.

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Don’t just take
my word for it:

Working with Katie and DDC has been transformational. It's incredible to look back and see the growth our firm has had. We literally had no formal procedures before and were constantly ‘reinventing the wheel’ time and time again (which is exhausting and so inefficient!).

The structure and consistency DTS has provided for [us] and our clients have transformed the business. The material is professional, validating, and has given us confidence to take on the right projects and grow the business in the direction we have always wanted. It's been a huge blessing to have this level of support.

The peace-of-mind and confidence your support has provided is incredible—literally life-changing. Thank you!

Tara, DTS Method STUDENT

“This program didn't dictate what type of design I should do. It supported me in making the best decisions for my life and my business. The SOPs alone have been so helpful, as a reference reminding me what I need every step of the way.”

DTS Method STUDENT

“Katie, Gloria and the DTS team were incredible. They offered so much insight, care, and personal feedback about my company and brand.‍ ‍

Investing in DTS brought value and insight into my business that I would not have had otherwise. I recommend DTS to any designer who is looking for ways to improve their business and get relevant and actionable critiques to do so!”

DTS Method STUDENT

A review or testimonial post by Katie McFarlan describing her positive experience with DTS. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

“I can’t tell you how pivotal this experience has been for me. I’ve been drinking from the firehose for years and never knew HOW to form systems for success, but NOW I DO!

You have changed my life and my business. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Aimee, dts method STUDENT

“I wasn't expecting to get support on the random things coming up in my business. I'd never had that kind of support before and it was amazing.”

DTS METHOD STUDENT

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Do any of these sound like you?

  • You’re excellent at design, but behind the scenes, you’re still making too many decisions from scratch.

  • You’re tired of reinventing your process for every project and feeling more like a personal assistant than the expert you are.

  • You know your pricing needs to change, but you’re not fully confident in what to charge or how to explain it.

  • You want to grow, but not by adding more clients, more complexity, or more hours to your week.

  • You’re ready for clearer boundaries, stronger processes, and a better handle on your numbers.

The Designed to Scale® Method gives you the framework, tools, and confidence to run a more profitable, streamlined business.

Here’s what you’ll implement inside The DTS Method:

A focused service structure
Define the services you offer, what’s included, and what the boundaries are, so every project follows a repeatable, efficient process, no matter what the scope is.

Profitable pricing
Know how to price your services and products based on scope, capacity, and profitability, instead of second-guessing your numbers or relying on vague advice to “charge your worth.”

A repeatable client experience
Create a clear process from inquiry through offboarding, so projects run more smoothly and fewer details slip through the cracks.

A stronger sales process
Lead discovery calls, consultations, and proposal meetings with more confidence, respond to objections, and protect your time without sounding scripted, pushy, or desperate.

Practical tools that support implementation
Use proven templates, SOPs, calculators, and workflows to put the method into practice and continue improving your business over time.

The DTS Method is based on the same framework our private consulting clients and students have implemented to raise their rates, streamline their processes, book better projects, and run more profitable interior design businesses.

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Tools to help you streamline your business

  • Design fee and project budget calculators

  • Profitability and capacity planning tools

  • Over-the-shoulder discovery calls and client meeting demos

  • Scope of work and proposal templates

  • Project vetting tools

  • Offboarding and testimonial templates

  • Software comparison guides

These tools are designed to help you apply The DTS Method inside your business, reduce unnecessary rework, and create more consistent processes for you, your team, and your clients.

Two Ways to Implement The DTS Method in Your Business

SELF STUDY

Best for designers who want to implement independently

  • Lifetime access to our comprehensive, step-by-step curriculum

  • SOPs, calculators, templates, and implementation tools

  • Over-the-shoulder discovery calls and key client meetings

  • No consulting or personalized reviews

Enjoy flexibility as you implement our proven framework at your own pace.

PRIVATE CONSULTING

Best for designers who want private direction and feedback

The three month private consulting engagement includes everything in Self-Study, plus:

  • A personalized business audit

  • A custom implementation roadmap

  • Private milestone feedback and work reviews

  • Ongoing expert support from Katie and the DDC team

  • Private positioning session with Katie and Gloria

  • Select additional resources when relevant

  • How Carrie doubled her fee and booked a $250K+ project! ⬇️

    I want to thank you so much for The Designed to Scale Method! Honestly, I got SO much out of it.

    The help and insight I got on pricing alone changed a lot for me. I was absolutely undercharging (by a lot) and right into it I learned that I needed to DOUBLE my price, and that didn’t even get me up to what the average rates were that you guys talked about. But, I doubled right away on a project I was proposing and got it, and I’ve been slowly increasing since then.

    Most importantly, I really learned how to create my process and timelines and the flow of the project.

    I’m actually able to forecast my schedule now and provide a really nice experience for my clients! We just went to contract on a larger kitchen remodel project (over $250K), and I really believe using your templates and the design process you helped create elevated our business in our clients' eyes and they could see the value in working with us on the construction phase.

    I can’t believe I was even nervous to spend the money on the DTS Method—it’s the best thing I’ve done for my business so far, so THANK YOU!!

  • How Alex Booked TWO of Her Largest Contracts After DTS Method ⬇️

    When I was deciding to do the program, it was the testimonials that pushed me to sign up. I was blown away how many of them said how their business transformed after the program.

    I definitely had some doubts, but am happy to say that the same happened for me!

    After finishing the program, I secured two of my largest contracts to date and felt so confident throughout the proposal process, knowing my worth and what types of clients I want to work with.

    I can't thank you and your team enough for offering this amazing experience and I've been telling all of my designer friends about it.

  • Read Cristina's Feedback & Results ⬇️

    Thank you so much for everything!!

    I have looked into other programs for over 2 years, but something always made me hold back. With The DTS Method, it felt more genuine, and not so pushy.

    You provided the framework without imposing a ‘one size fits all’ approach—which I truly appreciated.

    It allowed me to design my business in a way that felt authentic to me, and not like every other designer.

    Hands down, this was the best investment in my business to date. Thank you, thank you, thank you

  • Read How Malinda Improved Every Aspect of Her Company! ⬇️

    “I can't recommend the DTS Method highly enough!

    It has been nothing short of phenomenal. It offers true, actionable steps that have elevated my business in every way imaginable.

    From enhancing the client experience to maintaining clarity and focus internally, every aspect of my company has seen improvement thanks to this program and Katie’s invaluable templates and resources. 

    What sets this experience apart is Katie herself. She is not just an instructor; she feels like a friend. Her relatability and genuine care for each participant create a supportive environment where everyone thrives. The amount of energy and attention she dedicates to each individual is truly remarkable!

    Investing in myself, my business, and my clients by completing The DTS Method was one of the best decisions I've made.

    If you're on the fence about joining, just do it! You won’t regret it. The transformation you’ll experience is worth every moment!”

  • Read Lynn's Feedback & Results ⬇️

    Katie and The Dakota Design Company provided me with clear direction to set my new design business up for success.

    I didn’t have to waste time floundering to determine my process, as the DDC provided detailed steps, tips, and tricks to set my business up efficiently from day one. And most importantly, it’s clear that Katie truly cares about her clients and wants to see them and their businesses succeed. Her personal touch did not go unnoticed! Forever grateful for DDC!

  • Read Cassie's Feedback & Results ⬇️

    Working with Katie has given me the confidence to run my business the way I know it ought to be ran.

    Having more clearly defined processes has allowed me to articulate why my process is the way that it is and why the costs are what they are. It has given me space in my head to realize where I can focus to get the results that I desire.

    Highly recommend Dakota Design for any designer looking to up-level your business!"

  • Read This Designer's Feedback & Results ⬇️

    DTS Method was worth everything. It gave me so much information and support, and I feel more confident running my business and I have the tools to scale my business down the road. Katie and her team made everything feel possible (with some hard work) without judgment.

Meet Katie

who’s behind the designed to scale® method?

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I’m Katie, and I’ve been helping interior designers run businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and client-focused since 2017.

I’ve worked alongside hundreds of designers at every stage, from those on their way to their first $100,000 to those scaling past multiple million dollars per year. And I’ve seen the same roadblocks over and over again:

🚧 Unclear pricing that leaves money on the table.
🚧 Chaotic processes that let clients run the show.
🚧 Boundaries so blurred, you’re basically on-call.

Those patterns became the foundation of what I teach inside The Designed to Scale® Method.

When you join us, you’ll get the same strategies and systems that have helped interior designers reclaim their time, raise their rates with confidence, and build businesses they love.

And I co-teach it with a tenured interior design professor who understands both what designers learn in school and what it takes to apply that knowledge inside a profitable design studio.

Meet Gloria, Your Industry Insider

A middle-aged woman with shoulder-length brown hair, smiling, wearing a light blue denim shirt against a plain gray background. Gloria Stafford. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

Gloria is a long-time practicing certified interior designer, tenured interior design professor, and industry expert with a rare blend of real-world design experience and academic insight.

She’s spent years training hundreds of design students in both residential and commercial design at three different universities.

She also holds a Master’s Degree in Interior Design from SCAD and a Ph.D.

What does this mean for you? She knows her stuff.

Gloria has been the behind-the-scenes brainpower behind many of our educational resources. Inside The DTS Method, she helps designers improve how they present their work, communicate their design process, and connect the quality of their portfolio to a clearer market position.

  • Here's What One Student Said About The Support

    Thank you so much for your feedback! I'm so honoured by your kind words and feel very encouraged by your compliments.

    It was so helpful to have another designer [Gloria from your team] look at my presentation and make comments. I think it will make it so much easier for my future clients to understand how to get from design to implementation.

    Thank you again for your feedback! I really appreciate the time you took to watch, listen and comment. 

  • Here's What Lisa Said About The Curriculum

    Only 2 weeks in here but I am so impressed and happy with the DTS investment. I was cautious as I am really not the best with virtual learning but I am so in awe of how you make lessons work for every learning style. I truly look forward to class and feel like I am digesting information. Thank you!

  • Here's What One Student Said About the Templates & Resources Included in DTS

    “ALL of the documents, checklists, excel spreadsheets! It is a treasure trove of information.

    After doing DTS Method and getting all my processes set up in Asana, I use every single one and reference them all the time.

    To have the templates already created is an absolute game changer and time saver.”

  • See How This Designer Compared The DTS Method to Other Programs

    I have done lots of coaching and programs over the years, and by far, Dakota [and The DTS Method] has blown them all away.

    You get right to the good stuff with the support behind it. If you do the work, there is no way you won’t change your business growth and mindset.

  • See What Malinda Says Sets DTS Method Apart from Other Programs

    What sets The DTS Method experience apart is Katie herself. She is not just an instructor; she feels like a friend. Her relatability and genuine care for each designer create a supportive environment where everyone thrives.

  • Here's What One Designer Said About the Investment

    “I loved The DTS Method & it was the best money I've spent so far on my business.

    I now have set pricing and services; I now have processes set up that, once I hire someone, they will be able to work from, which makes me feel like I'm set up for growth.

    If you are looking for a roadmap on how to run your interior design business, this is it. Katie & her team lay out every process and best practice so you can give your clients the best possible experience working with you, leaving more time to design.”

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN ENROLLMENT OPENs

Join the Waitlist

Enrollment details for DTS Method Self-Study and Private Consulting are coming soon.

Join the waitlist to receive:

  • First access to enrollment details and pricing

  • Early notice when Self-Study becomes available

  • First access to available Private Consulting start dates

  • Access to waitlist-only bonuses and limited-time enrollment savings

JOIN THE WAITLIST 
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