189: The Design Besties | Creative Minds Connecting with Purpose
Release Date: 07/28/2025
205: Tammy Covington | High Point Market Authority, Special Industry Spotlight Episode
Design Biz Survival Guide
This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to highlight brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners. Today we’re speaking with Tammy Covington, President and CEO of High Point Market Authority. In this episode, Tammy shares the history of High Point Market and she pulls back the curtain to reveal the magic behind the industry’s favorite furniture market. We also break down the...
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204: Kaitlyn Wolfe | Trust the Process
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Kaitlyn Wolfe, Founder and Principal Designer of her namesake design and construction studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. In this episode, Kaitlyn shares her multifaceted business model, her intention behind bringing construction services into the mix, and her approach to building a diverse team of leaders to support the brand. We also discuss her perspective on mindset and comparison, and how expanding one and limiting the other creates room for innovation, growth, and creativity. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS How Kaitlyn built a hybrid design-build firm and the importance of clearly...
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203: Edith Ponciano | An Unexpected Look into Hospitality
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Edith Ponciano, founder and principal of EP Atelier, a Nevada-based hospitality interior design studio specializing in sports venues. In this episode, Edith shares her ten-year journey of honing her skills, cultivating relationships, and building the confidence to launch her own interior design business. We unpack the complex niche of sports venue design and how the tenets of hospitality design have influenced the look, feel, and function of the world’s leading sports arenas. Edith also shares the value of personal brand building and how it helps establish relevance and...
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202: Raili Clasen & Brooke Wagner I Party of Two
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Raili Clasen of Raili CA Design and Brooke Wagner of Brooke Wagner Design, both full-service interior design studios based in Corona del Mar, California. In this episode, Raili and Brooke share how they became neighbors, friends, and trusted business confidants—and the support they offer each other as they both navigate the ever-changing business of design. We discuss how they overcome comparison, kick competition to the curb, and focus on paying their individual strengths forward. Raili and Brooke also share their personal perspectives on the nuances of the business of...
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201: Elliot Barratt | The Business of International Design
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Elliot Barratt, co-founder of Elliott James Interiors, an award-winning, globally recognized interior architecture and design studio with offices in Dubai, London, and Singapore. In this episode, Elliot shares his design journey, influences, and the leap of faith that inspired the international brand. We also discuss the complexities of international design—from culture and lifestyle to budgets and expectations. Elliot also shares tips and advice for designers considering expanding their design business across borders. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS The leap of faith that led to launching...
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200: Rick Campos | Anniversary Episode
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we’re celebrating 200 episodes of Design Biz Survival Guide Podcast! Listen in as self-proclaimed “recovering interior designer,” host, and founder Rick Campos recalls how it all began. Rick shares his most memorable interviews, lessons learned, and what’s next for the DBSG platform. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Rick’s origin story and inspiration for launching the podcast in 2018 Early challenges and the evolution of the show’s production and content Most memorable guest interviews and defining podcast moments The role of resilience and community in the entrepreneurial design journey...
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199: Ronniesha Rivera I Vetting Your Support Team
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Ronniesha Rivera, owner of Alder & Stone Interiors — a full-service Washington-based interior design studio specializing in mountain homes for active families. In this episode, we discuss how a CAD class in high school inspired her to pursue a formal college education in design and launch her own design studio. We also explore the importance of developing an intentional business model that honors design, relationships, and family. Ronniesha is also the founder of Vetted by Design, and we talk about how a pain point in her own business journey prompted the creation of a...
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198: Gina Holz | Building an IMPACTFUL Design Business
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Gina Holz, principal of Gina Holz Designs based in Los Angeles, California. In this episode, Gina shares how an interaction with a professional interior designer as a child impacted her life and perspective on design—and how these early experiences eventually led to the launch of her own interior design business. We also explore the importance of embracing your core intention as a designer and how building the right team and cultivating a supportive work environment can unlock creative freedom. Gina offers a wealth of practical advice, including her favorite systems for...
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197: Oana Molodoi – OM Drapes Design, Special Industry Spotlight Episode
Design Biz Survival Guide
This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to share brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners. Today we’re speaking with Oana Molodoi, owner of OM Drapes Design, a full-service window treatment resource based in Orange County, California. In this episode, Oana shares the backstory of the brand, what inspires her to partner with interior design professionals, and her heartfelt...
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196: Effective Marketing Techniques with Cameron Sellers
Design Biz Survival Guide
Today we welcome Cameron Sellers, Vice President of Marketing for Hooker Furnishings. In this episode we chat with a marketing pro about her long term relationship with the design and furnishings industry. Cameron pulls back the curtain to reveal how big business approaches marketing and she shares her individual and team approach to creating data driven marketing strategies. We also discuss the importance of brand voice, story telling, and identifying pain points and providing solutions to capture the attention of your target market. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Cameron’s journey from international...
info_outlineToday we welcome Whitney Atkinson, Rhobin DeLaCruz, Nikki Watson, and Lori Johnson – also known as The Design Besties. In this episode, we discuss the power of community over competition and the impact that collaboration has on their design businesses, personal lives, and the wider design community. The group shares how they met, their diverse creative backgrounds, and how their supportive circle has become an unexpected game-changer in both business and life. Plus, we explore their shared passion for giving back through a philanthropic project that is transforming teachers' lounges across the country.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
- The unexpected way The Design Besties met and how their connection blossomed into a supportive sisterhood.
- How diversity of background and discipline enhances their collaboration and sparks creativity.
- Why true collaboration often means aligning with creatives outside your direct discipline.
- The impact of their first pro bono teachers' lounge transformation – and how it’s evolved into a national nonprofit initiative.
- How giving back to the community enriches their own lives and businesses.
- Advice on forming your own creative support circle – including what to look for and what to avoid.
- Their personal definitions of success and survival in the business of design.
NOTABLE QUOTES
- “These are the people that I didn’t know I needed. It’s been the most amazing experience so far.”
- “I think a lot of us are doers, and we’re all just cut from the same cloth.”
- “Part of that admission is knowing that finding the other people that do, and building relationships, is how we grow.”
- “Surrounding myself with the right people, that’s what these three bring for me. It’s life-changing.”
SUPPORTING RESOURCES
- The Design Besties Website
- The Design Besties on Instagram
- WUGS Weighted Rugs by Whitney Atkinson
- Rhobin DeLaCruz Designs
- The Design Quad by Nikki Watson
- Lori Johnson Fine Art
SPONSOR LINKS
- Design Manager — Project management and accounting software for interior designers.
- Daniel House Club — Trade purchasing power and concierge services for designers.
- Hooker Furnishings — Furniture, lighting, and décor for residential and commercial spaces.
REGISTER FOR DESIGN BIZ RETREAT
Don’t miss the 6th Annual Design Biz Retreat, October 6–7 in Newport Beach, CA. Reserve your spot now!