What They Don’t Teach You in Design School
You learned color theory, space planning, and how to pull together a stunning concept board — or maybe you didn’t attend design school at all, but developed your skills through sheer talent, mentorships, or hands-on experience.
Either way, there’s one thing most designers quickly discover: the world of running a design business is not something they were prepared for.
Because once the diploma is framed — or once you’ve landed your first clients — many designers are shocked to realize that being a great designer is only half the job.
The other half? That’s business — and it’s often learned the hard way, on the fly, with plenty of mistakes (and late nights) along the way.
The Reality Check: Design School Doesn’t Prepare You for This
Design school prepares you for design — not for dealing with invoices, contracts, timelines, or difficult client conversations. Suddenly you’re expected to wear every hat:
Creative director
Project manager
Accountant
Marketer
Therapist (for your client and sometimes your vendors)
And while many designers start out energized and excited, that spark often fades when they realize how much of the day is spent putting out fires instead of creating.
The truth is, most of the stress, burnout, and chaos you feel doesn’t come from design work — it comes from the lack of systems and business processes to support that creative work.
Flying by the Seat of Your (Stylish) Pants
When business processes aren’t clearly defined, it’s easy to fall into reactive mode. You’re constantly answering questions, chasing updates, and redoing things that should’ve been right the first time.
Without boundaries or structure, you end up:
Saying yes to every client (even when they’re not a fit)
Managing timelines by text message
Forgetting to send invoices on time
Letting clients scope creep their way into your weekends
It’s no wonder your bottom line — and your joy for the business — takes a hit.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many designers have been there — and the good news is, you can turn it around.
The Business of Design Can Be Taught
You may not have learned it in school, but the business side of design is absolutely learnable. From creating a streamlined client process to setting healthy boundaries, these are the skills that help you go from surviving to scaling.
If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, start by exploring these key areas:
Mindset & Boundaries: Read Stop People Pleasing and Start Running Your Design Business Like a Pro and Own Your Value to strengthen your confidence and client control.
Systems & Processes: Check out 3 Must-Have Systems for Interior Design Business Owners and 3 Common Interior Design Business Problems for practical structure that saves time (and sanity).
Marketing & Growth: When you’re ready to grow with purpose, dive into Marketing Made Simple for Interior Designers, Business Growth Development for Interior Designers, and 5 Ways to Grow Your Interior Design Business.
Financial Health: Learn how to protect your profits in Financial Management Tips for Interior Designers.
Each of these business pillars is something most design programs gloss over — but they’re essential to running a sustainable, enjoyable design business.
You Deserve a Business That Feels as Beautiful as Your Designs
You didn’t start your business to drown in admin work or client chaos. You started it because you love transforming spaces — and that passion deserves a business foundation that supports it.
At The Interior Design Business Bakery, we’ve baked in every process, template, and system you need to run a successful design business — plus live coaching support to help you implement it all.
You don’t have to figure it out alone (or keep reinventing the wheel). Let’s turn your business into a well-run kitchen where creativity and profit rise together.
