168 | 5 Ways to Build a Strong Foundation for Your Design Career With Katie Malik

“I just want to design, but why is this so hard?”

I get it! You love creating beautiful spaces, choosing finishes, and watching your vision come to life — but when it comes to running your design business, you suddenly feel lost. Pricing, contracts, permits, marketing, and systems aren’t what you signed up for. You became a designer because you love design, not because you wanted to be an entrepreneur.

So many interior designers share that same fear and frustration: I love what I do, but I don’t know how to run a business.

In this episode, I sit down with award-winning designer and educator Katie Malik, founder of Interior Design Deconstructed, who shares her honest journey from passion-driven creative to confident business owner. Like so many of us, Katie started her design career thinking her talent alone would be enough—until the reality of entrepreneurship hit. Through mentorship, business coaching, and intentional training, she learned how to build a sustainable practice that honors her creativity and her bottom line.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the business side of design, this conversation will remind you that you don’t have to figure it out alone. With the right guidance, systems, and support, you can transform your passion into a profitable design business. That’s exactly what I help designers do through my Launch Your Business Bootcamp—a step-by-step program designed to walk you through every stage of building a profitable interior design business — one that lets you thrive doing what you love.

Featured Guest:

Katie Malik is an award-winning interior designer and founder of Interior Design Deconstructed. With a Master’s in Philosophy from Cambridge University and advanced training in house whispering — a psychotherapy of space rooted in feng shui and energy alignment — Katie helps clients create homes and businesses that feel as good as they look. A triple UK Property Awards winner featured in Architectural Digest, Grand Designs, and The Times, she also mentors emerging designers to build profitable, purpose-driven studios.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✳️ How to transition into interior design from another career with confidence

✳️ Why creative passion isn’t enough — and what business skills truly matter

✳️ How investing in mentorship and coaching can fast-track your growth

✳️ The surprising power of networking and community for designers

✳️ What house whispering is and how energy and psychology connect to design

✳️ Why clarity about your business goals helps you grow with ease

Read the Blog >>> 5 Ways to Build a Strong Design Career Foundation

NEXT STEPS:🎯 Sign up today for Launch Your Business Bootcamp

You’ll gain a full year inside My Design Mentor, plus an eight-week program that gives you the roadmap, coaching, and systems to build a business you're proud of.

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

2:13 Katie’s Journey From Academia to Interior Design

5:00 Transitioning from Education to Entrepreneurship

7:39 House Whispering and Advanced Feng Shui

11:38 Building and Scaling a Design Business

13:42 The Value of Business Coaching

15:13 How to Learn From Designers Across the Globe

17:18 Lessons Learned From Running a Design Business

21:29 The Power of Systems and Processes

22:11 Katie’s Podcast: Interior Design Deconstructed