Design Biz Survival Guide

About Design Biz Survival Guide

What if you could hang out with experienced design professionals and entrepreneurs who have drive and vision, ask them about their successes and failures, and more; then take an insight or two to guide your own business journey? That's what we do each episode on Design Biz Survival Guide. Hosted by Rick Campos – recovering interior designer turned business coach with over a decade of experience in the design industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at how to launch, navigate, and grow your design business. The intention of this podcast is to inspire and empower designers with the tools and information you need to survive in the business of design.

Publisher

Design Biz Survival Guide

Category

business · business

Language

aa

Explicit

No

First episode

21 May 2018

Latest episode

9 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

232 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Nov 2026

   232: Reed Humphrey | Dezign Assist

   Today we welcome Reed Humphrey, co-founder and managing partner of Dezign Assist, a remote staffing platform developed exclusively for designers by designers. In this episode, Reed shares the staffing pain points that his own design business of fifteen years experienced over time and how they leveraged international design talent to successfully support the team, then packaged that solution as Dezign Assist. Reed also breaks down how the platform works, from inquiry to onboarding, the qualification and vetting process for remote team members, and how Dezign Assist is committed to supporting design firms by providing a cost-effective and efficient way to scale your design business by accessing and utilizing the global interior design community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS How Reed's experience building Alder & Tweed Interior Design inspired the creation of Dezign Assist, a remote staffing solution designed specifically for the interior design industry. Why hiring international design talent can help interior design firms overcome local staffing shortages, increase productivity, and scale their businesses without expanding their in-house teams. How Dezign Assist recruits and vets qualified remote designers in the Philippines, including education requirements, professional experience, technical assessments, and interviews. The wide range of responsibilities remote design assistants can handle, including CAD drawings, space planning, elevations, 3D renderings, sourcing, vendor communication, procurement tracking, and project documentation. How Dezign Assist manages time zone differences by aligning remote team members with East Coast business hours to support real-time collaboration and efficient workflows. A breakdown of Dezign Assist's staffing model, including full-time and part-time options, approximate hourly costs, HR management, and a streamlined hiring and onboarding process. Why delegating administrative and technical tasks allows senior designers to focus on higher-value creative work, improve profitability, and create a healthier work-life balance. How design firms, from solo entrepreneurs to established studios, can leverage remote staffing to build sustainable teams, manage fluctuating workloads, and support long-term business growth. NOTABLE QUOTES "It totally changed the, the dynamic of those two teams, not just allowing them to have more bandwidth, but they were also happier because it took some of that back and work off their plate, and now they're more in the creative, which is what designers wanna do." — Reed Humphrey "My high-value people were doing low-value work that isn't necessarily-- I mean, you gotta do it, but it wasn't making me more profitable." — Reed Humphrey "This is kind of a great way to do it or to kind of dip your toe into scaling." — Reed Humphrey "Our industry is so complicated. It's so nuanced." — Rick Campos SUPPORTING RESOURCES Dezign Assist Website: https://dezignassist.com/ Dezign Assist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dezign.assist/ Alder & Tweed Interior Design: https://www.alderandtweed.com/ High Point Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/ Las Vegas Market: https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/ Studio Designer: https://www.studiodesigner.com/ SketchUp: https://www.sketchup.com/ Enscape: https://www.chaos.com/enscape SPONSOR LINKS Dezign Assist — Featured Industry Spotlight partner: https://dezignassist.com/

2. 

   2 Nov 2026

   231: Brian Woulfe | Every Day Is a Learning Day

   Today we welcome Brian Woulfe, founder and director of Designed by Woulfe, an international design studio based in London. In this episode, Brian shares his journey from musician to design business owner, his experience growing and leading a team, and his biggest revelations about the business of design. We also discuss his relationship with profit and how working with a business coach revealed game-changing opportunities for structure, efficiency, and team culture for his interior design business. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Brian shares his unconventional journey from musician to interior designer and how taking unexpected opportunities led him to establish an international interior design studio with projects across five continents. Learn how Brian grew his design business from a one-person operation to a large international team and why identifying his strengths and weaknesses was essential to becoming a better leader. Discover how hiring a business coach transformed Brian's approach to delegation, staffing, team structure, and operational efficiency, revealing opportunities to maximize his team's creative potential. Brian explains the importance of building a supportive network of interior designers with similar business models and experience levels, as well as developing intentional mentor-mentee relationships. Explore Brian's perspective on overcoming imposter syndrome as an interior designer, embracing new challenges, and using open communication to build confidence and stronger professional relationships. Learn why understanding the true hourly cost of every team member—including salaries, overhead, benefits, and professional development—is critical to setting profitable interior design fees. Brian shares why problem-solving, humor, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are essential skills for surviving and thriving in the interior design industry. Hear Brian's personal definition of success and why earning the respect of his team, fostering a positive studio culture, and creating a fulfilling work environment matter more than financial status alone. NOTABLE QUOTES "Business is business. So how you communicate, how you market yourself, how you network, how you do your finances, what you do about profitability, the crux of it, they're all the same." "Never throw anyone under the bus. The team is the team, and you have to support the team, and that's where you will get the most respect from your peers." "But profits are really important. It's the only way you can grow a business. It's the only way you can grow your team. It's the only way you can keep talent." "Rome wasn't built in a day, and it, you have so much to learn, and I'm still learning absolutely every single day, and you just need to go with that." SUPPORTING RESOURCES Designed by Woulfe Website: https://www.designedbywoulfe.com/ Designed by Woulfe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedbywoulfe_/ Brian Woulfe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianwoulfe/ SPONSOR LINKS Design Manager & Design Spec: https://designspec.com/survivalguide (https://designspec.com/survivalguide) — Explore both platforms and receive 10% off your subscription. Interior Design Society (IDS): https://interiordesignsociety.org/ — Use code DBSG75 for $75 off a new membership.

3. 

   26 Oct 2026

   230: Ben Johnston & DuVal Reynolds | DAA, Diversity Advocacy Alliance

   This episode is presented in partnership with the High Point Market Authority's Diversity Advocacy Alliance, a group dedicated to advancing, improving, and supporting diversity by cultivating a welcoming environment and expanding representation of the BIPOC community within the home furnishings industry and its leadership. Today we welcome Ben Johnston, chair of DAA, and DuVal Reynolds, past chair and founding member. Together, they share the mission of the Diversity Advocacy Alliance, what it means to them, and the impact DAA is making on the industry. We also discuss the role that High Point Market Authority played in championing the implementation of DAA, the leaders who are keeping the momentum going, and what the future holds for this valuable association. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Discover the mission of the Diversity Advocacy Alliance (DAA) and how the organization is working to expand BIPOC representation and create a more inclusive home furnishings and interior design industry. Learn how High Point Market Authority helped establish DAA and how an initial advisory committee evolved into an organization driving meaningful industry change. Hear Ben Johnston and DuVal Reynolds share their personal journeys with DAA and the experiences that inspired their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Explore DAA's growing impact through educational panels, networking opportunities, mentorship initiatives, industry events, and its annual Open Arms, Mentorship, and Social Responsibility Awards. Find out how DAA's transition into an independent nonprofit organization will create opportunities for expanded programming, partnerships, fundraising, and volunteer involvement beyond High Point Market. Discover practical ways interior designers can champion diversity through intentional sourcing, inclusive hiring practices, mentorship, and advocating for underrepresented professionals. Hear how Ben's advocacy helped create a historic opportunity for designer Arianne Bellizaire and why using your influence to open doors for others can have a lasting impact. Gain insight into the progress being made toward a more inclusive design industry, from increasingly diverse representation at High Point Market to new opportunities for BIPOC designers and future generations of creative professionals. NOTABLE QUOTES "I know that every door doesn't have to be kicked down. Sometimes you can just knock to say, 'Hey, is there space to have a conversation?' And go from there." "So use your platform to lift up other people." "I think there are so many ways in business that you can promote diversity. One is just you could start sourcing from BIPOC entrepreneurs" "With simple moves, simple actions, intentional changes do make a difference. That's all you have to do." SUPPORTING RESOURCES Diversity Advocacy Alliance (DAA) Website: http://diversityadvocacyalliance.org/ Diversity Advocacy Alliance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diversityadvocacyalliance/ SPONSOR LINKS Diversity Advocacy Alliance (Episode Partner): https://diversityadvocacyalliance.org/ Design Manager: https://www.designmanager.com/ DesignSpec: https://designspec.com/ Interior Design Society (IDS): https://interiordesignsociety.org/ — Use code DBSG75 for $75 off a new membership.

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

62 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

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