You started your own wedding business because you love the idea of creating fairytale moments for happy couples.  But unlike fairytales, wedding planning is not always smooth sailing. As you step into the exciting world of wedding planning, it is important to remain mindful of the potential missteps that beginners tend to make. You shouldn't be scared of making mistakes, that is all part of the process, but this article will help you to sidestep the most common pitfalls so that you can focus on establishing a strong foundation for your career and delivering exceptional experiences for your clients.

From inadequate planning and communication to pricing pitfalls, we have identified the most common mistakes of new wedding planners and found actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges and emerge as a successful wedding planner. For an extra helping hand, we suggest exploring the advantages of employing a wedding planning business coach. Want to be a step above the rest? Set your career as a wedding planner off on the right step by avoiding these four common mistakes made by new wedding planners.

Mistake #1: reducing your prices

As a new wedding planner, you'll inevitably feel the temptation of lowering your prices in the hopes of attracting more clients. Whilst it is true that your prices should reflect your level of experience, it is also true that you should never undersell yourself. If you're looking to differentiate yourself from your competition, low prices is a risky way of doing so. Reason one, it can indicate that you provide a lower-quality service—people love a bargain but not if they think they are going to receive a poorer standard as a result.

Secondly, seriously low prices can attract toxic wedding clients; clients who'll want to exploit your services and make it harder for you to build a good reputation as a wedding planner. If you think your prices aren't quite right, conduct some market research to assess the rates of your local wedding business competitors or those of fellow new wedding businesses. Use your findings, along with your understanding of your brand positioning and dream clientele to inform your pricing strategy.

Mistake #2: failing to prepare

As exciting as it is taking on a new client, never let your enthusiasm cloud your judgement. A happy couple is one who feels constantly reassured by your organisation and alertness. "By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail", so always begin your planning process with a thorough client consultation or ask couples to fill out a client questionnaire. By the end of the client consultation, you should have a thorough understanding of the couple's vision and expectations for their wedding day and a realistic idea of whether or not you can deliver.

When it comes to your couple's big day, check and double-check that you have everything you need in order to make the day run as planned. Setting clear expectations is your saving grace for any client miscommunication.

Mistake #3: skipping the paperwork

Because they're pricey and complicated, a lot of new wedding planners put off creating a legal contract until it is too late—don't make the same mistake! Having a legal contract shields you from client conflicts, vendor liability and all the other risks associated with being a wedding planner. A legal contract should clearly state your scope of work, payment terms, and liability limits as a wedding planner. This way, your client can't hold you responsible for issues out of your control. Before taking on any projects, employ a lawyer to help you draft a personalised legal contract.

Another level of defence is wedding planner insurance. Never proceed without insurance for your wedding planning business. In the (unlikely) case that things go wrong, your insurance will have your back.

Mistake #4: project overload

Last but not least, know your limits. Don't be reckless and accept too many projects at once—the fuller the plate the more likely it is to spill! There is no definitive number of wedding clients you should take on per month, you'll need to judge your own capabilities by assessing your availability, your resources, and the project's complexity. As a new wedding planner, the last thing you want is to take on an overwhelming amount of projects that result in you not delivering the best service for each of your couples—client testimonials are everything when you are just starting out. Ultimately, you need to protect yourself from burnout. You are at your most creative when you are well-rested!

One of the most prominent conversations in the interior design industry today is AI. AI is developing fast, and industry insiders are quick to explore its potential as a design partner, admin assistant, and communication tool.

This article delves into:

• AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement: AI can enhance the interior design process by handling administrative tasks, generating initial design concepts, and predicting trends. However, it cannot replace the creativity, empathy, and personal touch of a human designer.
• Collaboration with AI: Designers can use AI for tasks like rendering models and trend analysis. AI can complement a designer's skills by providing logistical support and innovative ideas while the designer adds creativity and personal insights.
• Embracing AI for Efficiency and Sustainability: AI can streamline workflows by reducing administrative burdens and improving material efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable interior design industry.

While it's easy to think about the latest AI developments and their potential in the industry, we at Visualist decided the best way to answer this question was to ask those in the industry. So, in collaboration with NYC Design Week, we invited experts with a keen interest in AI in the interior design industry to join us for a panel discussion. Meet our panel...

Sally Booth

Trend forecaster and PhD student exploring what the limits of AI are in design and creativity.

"I am currently in my first year of a PhD looking into the use of machine learning in the process of predicting colour for trend predictions. I am the founder of my own trend consultancy and worked for an international colour agency predicting and writing about trends. I find AI absolutely fascinating but my research revolves around how AI is going to augment and enhance the creative process, as opposed to replacing the creative themselves."

Maya Mystery

Founder of 3D Guru, an AI-enabled design tool for architects and interior designers.

"I did a bachelor's in civil engineering and then went on to do a master's in architecture. During my master's study, I realised there are a lot of use cases of technology in architecture and design which can be leveraged, which inspired the creation of 3D Guru—a co-pilot for 3D design."

Artem Kropavinsky

Interior designer based in New York.

"I'm an interior designer and founder of Interior Design Studio based in New York. I have always been curious about technological innovations and how they can be implemented in the interior design process, especially now that they are developing so rapidly. We are very proud to use innovations that enhance the client's experience and streamline our working process—for example, using AI and virtual reality in our renderings."

Alongside our panel of experts, we wanted to hear from our audience—mainly working interior designers interested in AI's impact on their industry. Before the talk started, we surveyed them to gauge their general feelings about AI. Of those surveyed...

• 14% are wary about copyright issues with AI.
• 27% think AI devalues their work.
• 27% think AI makes their process faster and more efficient.
• 36% think AI could reduce their time spent on admin.
• 36% think AI sparks new creative ideas.
• 64% are curious about AI but don't know how to incorporate it into their workflow.

The overall sentiment: we're not completely against AI; we just don't know how to use it yet. Thankfully, our panel discussion provided some answers. As a working interior designer, what do you need to know about AI right now? Where will you see it in the future? Watch the full talk here or keep reading for a summary of the biggest takeaways for interior designers.

It is okay to be unsure about AI

The media is constantly buzzing about AI developments—but as a designer, it's okay to have reservations. Interior design is a highly skilled discipline, and the personal aspect makes it special. It's hard to accept technology entering that creative process.

Even if you're positive about AI and curious about its use, you might not know where to start. That's okay too—64% of the interior design industry feels the same, according to our survey!

AI's role in the future of interior design is almost certain, but you, the interior designers, define that role. It's okay to take your time figuring out how AI fits into your process. It's okay to get the balance wrong at first, and it's okay to reject AI altogether. You're still in control of your creative process.

AI can be trusted

If we can learn to trust AI, we can explore the ways that AI might positively impact the workflow of interior design professionals and the interior design industry at large.

There are two sides to running your own interior design firm: admin work and creative work. Odds are, you didn't become an interior designer because you love admin tasks. But, like it or not, admin is a huge part of being a creative professional. AI could work to a designer's advantage by handling the admin side, saving time and costs. With this perspective, we can see AI as a hero—tackling mundane tasks to protect the time you need to connect with clients and tap into your creativity.

You are not competing with AI

A beautiful room means nothing if it doesn't meet the emotional and functional needs of its occupants. AI might craft beautiful things, but it can't interpret a client's wants and needs. Often, clients don't even know what they want—interior designers guide them through that process, something AI can't do yet.

The best partnerships involve partners with different but complementary skills. This is true for AI and interior designers. AI can handle the groundwork—the calculations, logistics, and even conceptualization. Interior designers bring the flair—the eye for detail, client considerations, and nuance.

You can work collaboratively with AI

Most designers agree that using AI as an administrative assistant is a good idea, but what about working collaboratively with AI?

A good application of AI in the interior design process is in render modelling. For example, 3D Guru helps designers quickly create concepts they can explore with clients or personalize based on trends, design, and customer preferences.

"There are a few things which AI can do very well right now: generating pixels, render models, marketing content etc. But there are a few things which it can't do very well, namely creativity and common sense reasoning." - Maya Mystery

AI-rendered designs can help interior designers see things differently and think outside their usual constraints. But AI has no concept of reality. It might produce a design with a sofa that's not available locally or a floor plan that's not structurally viable. An interior designer then interprets that vision to make it feasible. AI lacks the creativity, compassion, and rationality of an interior designer, and likely always will. However, we can embrace AI's skills in a way that complements our own.

Predicting the future is possible with AI

To predict the future, AI looks to the past. AI can analyze historical information to understand what’s coming next. For example, colors and materials trending at any time can be linked to the attitudes and events of that era. When similar circumstances arise, we can expect similar aesthetic trends to reappear.

Narrative, storytelling and communication are all incredibly important in design. Trends should be interpreted in line with your ethos and your identity." - Sally Booth

Although trends follow a cyclical process, each interpretation is different. This interpretation is the role of the interior designer. AI can inform you of a rising trend, but applying that to your client's needs and the ever-changing cultural landscape requires skill and adaptability.

AI is a sustainable solution

AI could drive the interior design industry towards a more sustainable future.

One positive impact is waste prevention. AI technology allows designers to predict how much material they need for each element of the room, such as curtains, flooring, and upholstery. This prevents overordering and excess waste. AI can also help manufacturers adopt a supply-and-demand production method, reducing overproduction and deadstock.

If we can predict more accurately, we will prevent manufacturers from making for making's sake which will ultimately have a beneficial impact on the planet. - Sally Booth

AI technology is continually improving, so we can expect further developments to positively impact the carbon footprint of the interior design industry.

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If you're an interior designer with opinions or questions on the future of AI in the interior design industry, get in touch! Join in the conversation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Visualist is a software supporting creative professionals to grow, earn, and scale. Want to learn more? Head to our website.

Contracts and legal matters can sound intimidating to interior designers, usually because we don't know where to start.  So, let's start with the why. Contracts are not only imperative to the security of you and your business, but they are a valuable asset in defining your boundaries and securing better client relationships. A well-written contract and an understanding of how to use it is an empowering tool for interior designers. No one knows that better than Wendy Estela, an attorney specialising in advising on legal matters for interior designers. Wendy offered up her expertise in an "ask me anything session" with our community of interior design entrepreneurs—she might have answered your questions too...

Meet our expert: Wendy Estela

My name is Wendy Estella. I'm an attorney and I have been for 23 years, believe it or not. In the last 5 years, I've focused my attention on working with interior designers. My clients range from designers that are just starting out to celebrity designers—client management issues remain even when you're on the cover of a magazine. My services are a mix of legal negotiations and coaching because often it is not the contract that needs work, it is the approach. People are often surprised at how much free advice I give away. I do so because I believe that if every designer elevates the way they work and the standards they hold for themselves, then the industry as a whole will improve.

What are the basic legal terms and conditions I need to establish with all new clients?

Your initial agreement should be structured as a letter of agreement. In your letter, you want to talk about pricing and scope. These are the only things you need to focus on initially. Your pricing has to be clear, and if a client doesn't understand or agree to your pricing, you should not move forward. You don't want the client looking for a cheap deal. You want the client that wants you. Along with your letter of agreement, I suggest attaching a page of legal terms and conditions at the back where you should highlight your terms for:

Communication process

It is very important to outline how you talk and establish communication boundaries with your clients. For example, I have clients who say texting is only allowed during certain time periods (i.e. don't text on Sunday night!) It is also important to establish boundaries with who your client can contact. Often, clients take it upon themselves to reach out directly to your vendors—you do not want that. That is your relationship, so make sure your contract explicitly states that there is to be no contacting your people.

Revisions and fees

Be clear about how many revisions are included in your package price and how much additional revisions will cost on top of that. Be sure to explain to your clients that your creativity is what they're hiring, not your ability to purchase furniture. You are being hired to create a work of art and you don't tell an artist what to paint. If you do offer purchasing agent services, that's a different contract.

Proprietary information and photography

Proprietary information means confirming that the design is owned by you. Clients are not purchasing your design, you own that. Worst case scenario: you get fired halfway through a project. At least that client can't demand that they get access to the design files because they belong to you. It is important to mention photography too because, as you know, images of all your completed projects are needed for your portfolio. It is important to state upfront that you’ll be taking photos of the completed project for this reason.

Shifting risk

As a designer, you shouldn't be responsible for every contractor working on the project. You're responsible for certain things in your contract but your liability needs to be limited. If for whatever reason the homeowner is not happy with their final product, there should also be a limit on your liability. It is worth noting that if you do commercial work, you need to be very aware of the different protections you should have in place. Because if your contract isn't written correctly, a business can sue you for lost profits which can really add up.

Cash flow

The golden rule of contracts: make sure that in every instance you're ahead with the money. You cannot have a situation where you get to the end of the project and you are trying to get that last 10% from your client. You always have to be ahead. When there's money that could be fought over under the amount of approximately $25 000, it needs to be written into your contract. Because the cost of chasing it in court exceeds what you're going to receive. In attorney jargon: is the juice worth the squeeze?

Transparency

Pricing transparency is a hot topic in the industry right now. A lot of designers choose to disclose their vendor pricing and the markup that they charge or the discount that they provide. Firstly, clients don't like the word markup. Instead use, administrative fees, discounts off retail, or procurement fee—those are much better terms. Secondly, I think that is a mistake. I think that you should simply present an invoice and say this is the price. If a client is asking for your pricing and you're unsure of whether to give it to them, my response is, “Do Crate and Barrel give their pricing? Do they tell you what they pay from their supplier and the percentage markup they charge? No. Nobody does. You are a retailer. This is your price. Treat this as confidential information and make sure your contract reflects that.

Dispute resolution

I’m a big believer that the dispute resolution method should be written into your contract. If a disagreement with a client escalates, you shouldn't take it to court. Opt for arbitration—an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. If you go to court, it’s a public record. You don't want your name and your brand dragged through the mud like that. If you can resolve an issue privately, do so. Your contract should also talk about non-disparagement because, in the age of the internet, one bad review can kill your business. And that works both ways, no bad-mouthing clients either!

Does "decorating" my contracts make me look unprofessional?

Picture this: you’re having a wonderful discussion with your client about beautiful design concepts and then you pull out a monster document, riddled with whereas clauses and probably some Latin terms, and place it on the table with a thud. Way to ruin the mood! Your contract should be an extension of your brand. It should have the exact same look as your proposal or any other documents you issue—the same design, letterhead, font, colours etc.

And you can be creative with it, something as simple as turning it sideways so it reads like a book or putting images throughout—which helps with the visual appeal but also in explaining the process to your client. You can describe each step with text and then illustrate you doing these things with an image—the photos aren't telling the story, but they're supplementing it. The primary purpose of a contract is to protect your legal rights, but it is also there to educate your client. You want your client to read the contract properly before signing, so make it readable. The goal is to make your contract a communication tool.

Can I charge for the time I invest in securing projects pre-contract?

Every business has overheads and I view this as a business development cost that you just have to absorb. If it's a project you really want and it's a huge opportunity, don't let the money put you off—you’ll make it up along the way. In theory, you could build it into your design fee somewhere down the line by tracking the time you invest in each project and building those hours into your pricing. I have a client who charges for their initial meeting and proposal at an hourly rate before any contract is signed. If somebody really wants to work with you after you clearly state that you charge a consultation fee, that's great.

If I sell a design to a customer, can I still use it in my portfolio?

Question number one is, What does your contract say? If you create something as a graphic designer, you own the copyright as default. But if a client then signs a contract called a Works for Hire, then they are purchasing that copyright. You can still have a license to use it, but that needs to be written into your contract. E.g. I retain a license for marketing purposes and list where you plan to use it. How and when you share these images is more of a business decision, it is best to keep an open conversation with the customer to work out a deal that suits you both. There is always a way to spin it, everyone likes some free publicity after all.

I'm new to interior design, do I need a contract for my first few projects?

If you're new to the interior design industry, do not make the mistake of neglecting to invest in a lawyer, or at least a contract template. Yes, you might be able to make it through without one but it is about setting standards for yourself. From the outset, you need to be training yourself to have structure and it is easy to lose that discipline without the correct documents.

The other piece of advice I have for new interior designers is, whatever you do, do not give away your services for free. A lot of new designers get walked all over because they are not valuing themselves. Think about it this way: how do you treat the most expensive item in your closet versus your cheap, old Amazon leggings? Don't be the Amazon leggings, be the Chanel bag! Have respect for yourself and others will do the same. Do not proceed without a contract even for a family member or friends—it's not an awkward conversation, it is what it is: You're not going to work for free. True friends want to pay you for your services. To get around any confrontation, you can simply make up an excuse. Give them an abbreviated version of your contract and say something along the lines of, "My lawyer makes me follow this set process" or "My accountant makes me do it because we need it for bookkeeping." Do not compromise your standards just because you know these people. Make them sign the paperwork.

What happens when clients don't follow the rules I put in place with my contract?

First things first, your contract has to say very clearly that if you, the designer, feel that the relationship has become toxic or if you feel that the client is being abusive towards you or your staff then you have the right to terminate the agreement at your sole discretion. The contract is there to protect you. If it is written correctly, there can be no backlash. It is always a good idea to go through the contract with your client in person and point this particular clause out. Some clients might ask why you have that provision, to which you can reply with a real-life story of when a client has overstepped your boundaries and why you don’t want it to happen again. Reassure them that you’re not going to use it against them but that it is there to protect you in the unlikely case it is needed. It can be difficult but you’ve got to stand up for yourself and know your worth. Do not put up with bad clients. The abuse is not worth the money.

What are the telltale signs of a toxic client?

If you look back to the first time meeting someone that you now deem a toxic client, you can now clearly see the red flags. Perhaps they were revealing themselves all along but at the time you were too focused on securing the project to notice.The most important thing to ask yourself is, “Do I like this person? To know that, you need to spend a little time with them. Bring your client out for a cup of coffee and go over the contract with them. Find a way to connect with them personally, clients will appreciate getting to know you—after all, your design is in part a reflection of you—and you'll be able to assess your compatibility for working together.

During this meeting, it is important to ask the question, “Have you worked with a designer before?" If you get a client who tells you that they've worked with many designers and only had bad experiences, the likelihood is it is going to be a bad experience for you too. Let your client talk about any previous experiences have had working with designers and watch out for red flags. The number one rule: trust your gut. You're in an industry where you’re constantly dealing with relationships and people and so listening to your instincts is key.

What happens when an amicable resolution isn't working out?

Having your preference for an alternative dispute resolution clearly outlined in your contract will help here. But there are exceptions. Let's say you're struggling to collect payment from a well-known client—imagine the story: [insert client name here]  stealing from a small business. Those are the kind of situations that you need to strategically think about with a lawyer in advance. You really don't want to air your dirty laundry on social media, especially as a business person. But unfortunately, clients often do. This is why having a non-disparaging clause in your contract is key. Don't seek revenge on these people. Move on. But also do not entertain toxic people. Get rid of 'em! You'll be far more respected in your industry and with other clients.

How do I avoid conceding in a negotiation just to secure the work?

Before entering into a negotiation, you have to identify what would make it a bad deal for you. If that comes to fruition, that is your walkaway point. If you don't identify this walkaway point, then it is very easy to keep giving and giving and giving. You do not want that situation. You want to be able to say that's a non-starter. So, figure out your top priorities and fix them in your mind, "There's no way I'm accepting this deal if..." And if they insist on that 'if' then you simply say, "As much as I'd love to work with you, I just don't think that we're a fit." That's okay. Don't be afraid to say no. The interior design industry is full of women and gay men—we're people pleasers, we're used to saying yes all the time. But remember, the day before your client signs is the day that you have the most power in your negotiation. The day the client signs, they're now the customer and the customer's always right. So you need to make sure that the contract is signed on terms that you are comfortable with.

The bottom line

A contract is not just about law. It's about how you want to run your business. It's about defining your preferences in commercial considerations, negotiations and relationships and moulding a future-proof reputation in the industry. Contracts are a powerful tool, use them wisely. Got more questions? Book a free consultation with Wendy now or find a growing library of legal advice on her Instagram.

Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.‍

Antique homes are beautiful relics of bygone eras. They exude class and elegance, but it takes a lot of work to turn the beautiful shell of an old building into a functional modern home.

Whether a home renovator yourself or a professional interior designer looking to embark on more renovation projects, Instagram is a great place to start looking for inspiration. These home renovation accounts on Instagram are not only a great source of aesthetic inspiration, but they are also a source of educational tips from renovators who have “been there, done that” and provide some much-needed motivation when your own project gets a bit tough!

Ready to add some old-world charm to your Instagram feed? Follow these 10 home renovation accounts on Instagram…

The Countryside Classic

Who: @ourcotswoldsconversion

What: 1950s Bungalow

Where: Adderbury, Oxfordshire

Scroll through the archives of this incredible transformation, a 1950s bungalow turned stylish modern residence. Though the final result is a polished masterpiece, the owner does not shy away from sharing the truth about the renovation: attention to detail, patience, and a lot of hard work. The owner also happens to run a home decor studio so you'll want to keep note of all the beautiful brands tagged!

The Victorian Masterpiece

Who: @1895stepler_house

What: 1895 Victorian-style House

Where: United States

Part 1895 Victorian, part indoor jungle! Sarah is the proud owner of this vintage treasure and a growing number of houseplants. This account is one for the interior lovers, Sarah has an eye for aesthetics and a knack for preserving the story of the original home.

The Newcomer

Who: @twodoorrevival

What: 1910 Tudor Revival

Where: Woodruff Place, Indianapolis

Meet Meredith, the owner of this magnificent 1910 Tudor revival and a not-so-handy home renovator! Meredith had no experience in the home improvement industry but proved you can transform a residence with nothing more than passion, patience and a will to learn. An account that reminds you to enjoy every step of the process, even the smallest details or the seemingly menial tasks.

The Perfect Pair

Who: @reorigination

What: 1896 Folk Victorian Farmhouse

Where: Nashville, Tennessee

Two minds are better than one, especially when it comes to renovations. Married couple JM and Linz document the slow and steady revival of their 1896 Victorian farmhouse. The pair are not afraid to get their hands dirty and put in the hard work, taking on jobs from cutting wood to connecting electric wires but ensuring they stay true to the original build in the process.

The Romantic Renovators

Who: @cbhouse_renovation

What: Georgian Coach House

Where: Hereford, Herefordshire

Once upon a time, a young couple fell in love with an old Georgian Coach House... Their affection for the home saw them undergo a long labour of love to restore it to its former glory. A heartwarming tale of how a house becomes a home—the couple even shared their wedding pictures that took place on the grounds of their estate.

The Bay Side Beauty

Who: @victorianbythebay

What: 1895 Queen Anne

Where: San Pedro, California

A true vintage lover, Gina proudly shares progress pics of her Queen Ann restoration and all the vintage trinkets she finds along the way. This account is a lesson in maintaining the original features of a classic home whilst making it functional and beautiful in the modern age.

The DIY Dude

Who: @manwithahammer

What: Georgian Property

Where: Devon, England

Greg, otherwise known as a man with a hammer, has been renovating his forever home to become his 'Admiral House' for three years. Greg posts great quality photos of his aesthetic decors and designs. He also loves wallpapers and textiles and tags all of his suppliers—interior designers take notes!

The Family Abode

Who: @powell_victorian_revival

What: 1890 Victorian

Where: United States

This Victorian residence has been sat dormant for years just waiting for the Powell family to come and restore it to a loving family home. After purchasing the property, all members of the family immediately pitched in to begin building their dream home. Follow for heartwarming content of the kiddos trying their best to help out their dad (aww!).

The Gorgeous Georgian

Who: @my_georgian_manor

What: Georgian Country Manor

Where: Dormansland, Surrey

As well as beautiful bathroom shots and satisfying before-and-afters, this account shares all the unglamorous parts of interior renovations too—which the interior design pros amongst us will find relatable. As well as staying authentic on the gram, the homeowners have stayed true to the authentic Georgian style of the home whilst still injecting buckets of personality with quirky murals and DIY decor. A treasure trove of inspiration for designers looking to venture out of their comfort zone.

The Classic

Who: @totheshireborn

What: Victorian Manor House

Where: Shropshire, England

Married couple Kath and Phil never expected that they'll be entering into another lifelong commitment—renovating this 60-room Victorian manor house. This account even has something to offer for those who prefer life outdoors, with plenty of garden restoration content too.

Starting out as a creative entrepreneur comes with many external challenges, but perhaps the toughest obstacle of all is internal—battling imposter syndrome. The antidote to imposter syndrome is a strong sense of your personal brand and infallible pride in sharing that with the world. Strong personal branding is the key to differentiating yourself in the creative industries where there is so much noise and competition for people's attention.

To help you tackle self-doubt and curate a powerful personal brand, we've enlisted the help of renowned personal branding coach Kelly Snodgrass. Kelly played a key role in building reputable brands like Uber and Pollen before leaving the corporate world behind to pursue her passion—which just so happens to be coaching others to do the same.‍

Meet your expert: Kelly Snodgrass

I'm Kelly. I'm a mother. I'm a creative. I'm a coach. I'm a product manager. I'm a writer. I'm an angel investor. I'm an engineer. I'm a multi-dimensional woman.

I spent years trying to fit myself into one of the many moulds that the internet tells us we should follow. But I found myself exhausted by trying to figure out the one label that described me—because it was impossible. I first ventured into entrepreneurship in 2018 which felt like blasting off into outer space; leaving corporate planet Earth and landing on the moon of entrepreneurship. At some point you have to leap into entrepreneurship, you can't just take a baby step.

My journey to becoming a personal branding coach was not easy. I knew deep down that coaching was my calling and yet I found myself unable to confidently own this belief. I actually had to hire a coach, in order to be able to say the words, "I am a coach." I could say, "I am thinking about becoming a coach", or "I am training to become a coach" but I couldn't accept myself as already being one. If I wasn't able to be proud of who I was, how was anybody going to hire me?

After a few months of coaching,  I found an alter ego version of myself born. A version that was incredibly confident and proud. My role now is to help you do the same. Everyone is capable and resourceful enough to Google their way to finding out how to craft posts, how often to post things, etc. But what is really hard to Google is how to approach personal branding from the inside. How to muster up the bravery and the courage that it takes to share your brand with the world and how to make personal branding feel sustainable in the long run. I am here to help you battle imposter syndrome and take pride in your work—not in your job title (whether that be interior designer, photographer, brand consultant etc.) but in what makes you unique in that role. People don't want to hire just anyone, they want to hire you.

Ready to say invest in yourself and your business? Follow Kelly's three-step guide to battling imposter syndrome and owning your personal brand...‍

1. Define your value

When we think of personal branding, we tend to compare ourselves to products. The problem with thinking like this is that most products serve one purpose, whereas we creatives are not one-dimensional products. Using traditional marketing perspectives and tactics on ourselves is very limiting and wrongly encourages us to build a personal brand around just one way in which we create value versus showing an accurate representation of our multi-dimensional selves and the many ways in which we and our brand positively impact our community. Personal branding isn't about commoditising your entire life, but it is about selling a commodity. And the commodity is you and your uniqueness. Instead of using a traditional brand marketing strategy, I suggest crafting a life brand statement—a statement that encapsulates the overarching ethos of your brand. Two things to remember when doing so:

• Share your value, all of it. When I first started coaching, I failed to acknowledge something really important in my branding: coaching was just one aspect of what I did. You are not just your job, you are a person that creates value in all aspects of your life. Your life brand statement should reflect that.
• Explain how you deliver that value. It should also clearly communicate how you create that value—what you do in service of others and how you deliver that service. Prospective clients want to know exactly what they can expect from working with you.

The earlier you can get your life brand statement correct, the better. You will be more confident in sharing your brand with the world and you will feel more motivated because you are constantly reminded of your long-term goals. When you can keep your focus on this higher mission, it keeps the short-term fear of failing/ imposter syndrome at bay.

2. Build your confidence

Everybody already has a personal brand, there is no need to go and "create" one. Instead, it is about learning to articulate it and becoming confident enough to do so. Being proud of yourself, and the ensuing confidence that comes with pride, is what people buy. Confidence is infectious—we want it for ourselves. We build confidence in two ways, one by believing in our business and being very secure in the value we offer. Two, by telling others all about it—the more you share, the more you fuel your own pride.

Set yourself a simple goal: tell three people about your business. Pick varying levels of familiarity: one friend, one acquaintance, one stranger. Introduce yourself as your future self and see what happens. This works even if your business is very new and you feel like there is nothing to tell yet. You can talk about things that haven't happened yet, but you are hoping will, because if you're not willing to talk about them, how are they going to happen? Once you have spoken to three people, speak to three more. Set yourself a target of say 3 per month. It doesn't need to be a big goal, just a goal that you feel is realistic and achievable.

3. Own your reinvention

If and when you choose to reinvent yourself as a creative entrepreneur, you have to do so wholeheartedly. If you don't go all in then that really powerful fuel can become a bit of a smouldering spark. The one thing that holds most people back is fear of embarrassment. But it is not embarrassing that you want something that's different from what you have today. It's only embarrassing if you operate from that shameful place, so instead you have to own it. And in reality, people love a Cinderella story. Once you learn to own your reinvention you'll find it becomes a cornerstone of your personal branding. Congratulations if you have already taken the first step and opened your own business. A lot of people are not willing to take that first step and the fact that you have is credit to your dedication and your passion.

Another common mistake in the reinvention process is trying to hold on to the old. You have to say goodbye fully to your old self, in order to successfully reinvent yourself. Whether that be in material possessions, relationships, hobbies, or interests—you have to let it all go. It is about making space for a new part of your life. The goodbyes might be hard, but the future you is worth it. Why do you have to let go? I'll explain with a metaphor: you have a full garden but you'd like to add a rosebush. You cannot just add that rosebush—the garden is full. You have to remove something that you no longer want to be able to plant the baby rosebush and allow it to grow. There is an uncomfortable void that you have to sit with as you reinvent yourself where you feel like you're at less than a hundred per cent, but that's what allows new things to bloom that are more aligned with who you are today. So, I'm giving you permission here to fully reinvent yourself and fully own that new version of you.
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Find out how Kelly Snodgrass can help you to "innovate a new way of living" on her website, or connect with Kelly on Instagram.
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Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.

Likes, reels, engagement, algorithms—it's a lot to keep track of! Social media marketing takes a lot of time and energy to get right but as a creative business owner, your time is precious. And besides, wouldn't you like to spend less time scrolling and more time creating?

That is where social media managers come in. Expertly versed in the ever-changing landscape of social media, a social media manger is your ticket to higher engagement, a more consistent brand message and better client conversion rates—not to mention a lot of saved time!

Find out how hiring a social media manager could benefit your business...

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What does a social media manager do?

A social media manager is responsible for developing and implementing a social media strategy for your business. They collaborate with you to identify your business's pain points and solve gaps in your current social media marketing strategy that will help your business move forward.

The responsibilities of a social media manager vary from one company to another. It all depends on the amount of help you require and your long-term goals. For reference, a social media manager can help with:

• Developing a social media strategy
• Creating visual content
• Creating a content calendar or schedule
• Managing social media accounts
• Analysing social media metrics

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3 signs it is time to hire a social media manager

Sign #1: Your engagement rate is low

If you're consistently putting in the work for your social media and still not receiving many likes, comments, or follows, there is something wrong with your strategy. Causes vary from inconsistent branding to over-promotion, but for a thorough diagnosis, you'll need a social media manager.

Sign #2: You struggle with managing your time

When running your own business, time is precious. So, if the pressure of social media management is bogging you down, why not outsource it? This way, you can focus on the quality of your services and other high-priority tasks!

Sign #3: Your branding is inconsistent

Ask yourself: are my social media channels a strong representation of my brand? If the answer is no, a social media manager will be able to help. A social media manager establishes a strong brand identity for your business by keeping your voice, visuals, and content connected all throughout your social media accounts. This strengthens your business' reliability and boosts brand recognition!

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How a social media manager can help your business

Enhance your social media strategy

Nobody creates better strategies than a social media expert. Based on your goals and audience, they identify the best social media platforms to focus on, create a content calendar to track posting schedules and come up with an audience engagement plan.

With the help of a social media manager, you don't have to rack your brain thinking "What's next?" Instead, all you have to do is review the content calendar, hop onto the scheduled events, see what's working and what's not, and welcome all the new clients you're sure to attract!

Create high-quality content

A social media manager knows what type of content resonates best with your target audience, and perhaps more importantly, how to make it—and make it well. High-quality content makes your business feel professional and reliable—exactly what a potential client wants to see.

Speed up your response time

Be honest—is there a few unanswered messages in your DMs right now? Busy as you are, you likely don't have enough time and energy to keep up with all the messages you're receiving. However, a prompt response time is key to securing leads. A social media manager can help build a positive relationship with your social media audience by responding to comments and messages in a timely manner.

Bonus: they could also address any negative comments, so you won't have to deal with the stress!

Establish industry connections

Influencer marketing is a valuable tool to widen your market reach. When a trusted influencer recommends your product or service, it can lend credibility to your brand and encourage potential clients to check it out. A social media manager can identify suitable collaborators and build relationships for your brand.

Decode your social media metrics

Engagement rate, content reach, follower growth, top-performing content—you know the terms, but what are you actually doing with that information? A social media manager can unravel the stats to provide valuable insights into how your social media strategy is performing. Regularly tracking your metrics makes it easier to spot growth opportunities and optimise your marketing strategy to achieve better results.

Social media managers for creative businesses

Convinced that hiring a social media manager is the right move for your business? Let's take a look at your options...

Emanuela Schneider

Interior designers, meet Emanuela Schneider! Emanuela Schneider is the founder of Marketing Interiors, a boutique marketing firm specialising in the home improvement industry. Emanuela has helped countless interior design entrepreneurs to build better client relationships and increase brand awareness with the power of social media.

Connect with Emanuela Schneider on Instagram, or visit her website for more information.

Mari Smith

Mari Smith specialises in Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger consulting for small businesses. As well as 1-1 coaching, Mari has produced an invaluable bank of social media growth resources for creative entrepreneurs.

Connect with Mari Smith on Instagram, or find more information on her website.

Katya Varbanova

Creating viral content isn't an easy task and yet Katya Varbanova has helped over 17,000 business owners to reach their viral social media goals. Katya ensures that even after the virality subsides, her clients are left with an engaged, loyal audience prime to convert into paying clients.

Connect with Katya Varbanova on Instagram or find out more about her services on her website.

New York City is a hub of creativity and innovation, so it is no surprise it is the home of the industry-renowned expo NYCXDesign Festival. The festival is a stage for innovative furniture pieces, groundbreaking design and intelligent discussion on the future of the interior design industry.

NYCxDesign Festival 2023 runs from May 18- 25th across multiple venues scattered throughout the city. Thankfully, a host of virtual events means the festival is accessible to non-New Yorkers too!

For interior designers, the festival is an opportunity to source new suppliers, find inspiration, educate themselves on topical issues and touch base with the international interior industry community.

Attending NYC DESIGN Festival as an interior designer

When it comes to staying ahead in the competitive world of interior design, attending trade shows like NYCxDESIGN Festival is a must. Attendees will walk away feeling inspired, educated and connected.

Three reasons interior designers should attend NYCxDESIGN Festival events:

• Expand Industry Knowledge. A jam-packed timetable of free and paid workshops, seminars, and talks led by industry experts to enhance your interior design knowledge and career.
• Connect with Professionals. Building connections is the key to success in the interior design business. By forging strong relationships with industry professionals, you gain access to tons of resources, ideas, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Build Your Reputation. Attend enough events and network in the right circles and eventually, people will start to recognise you and your brand. And as we know, greater brand visibility has a direct correlation to securing more projects.
  

5 Best Interior Design Talks at NYC Design Festival 2023

Understand your industry through the lens of panel talks—From talks on sustainable design to discussions on the future of interior design, there's something for everyone.

Visualist x Soulhaus: Celebrating & Reflecting Diversity in Design

When: 23 May 2023, 17:00 - 18:00 BST

Where: Virtual

Fee: Free

Join Visualist and The Soulhaus as they host a panel discussion with three successful female designers from diverse backgrounds to learn about how each reflects their cultural heritage and experiences in their ethos and designs. Featured in the panel:

• Victoria Adesanmi - owner of LA-based multidisciplinary design studio Aesthetics Studios.
• Remul Johnson - founder of home African-inspired home decor brand Meyourge.
• Winnie Tam - founder of London-based interior design studio fourteen a.m.

Get tickets to Visualist x Soulhaus: Celebrating & Reflecting Diversity in Design. Visualist are hosting regular panels throughout the festival. Explore other talks by Visualist on Eventbrite.

Practicality and Interior Design with Anna Page

When: 18 May 2023, 18:00 - 20:00 ET

Where: 837 Washington Street, New York City

Fee: Free

Marrying the art of form and function is a skill that Anna Page, founder of The Page Edit, has spent years mastering. Anna Page is joined by Shelby Vanhoy (creator of Pretty in Pines),  Alison Kenworthy (founder of Homeworthy), and Monique Valeris (senior editor of Good Housekeeping) for a discussion on style with plenty of substance.

Get tickets for Practicality and Interior Design with Anna Page.

What is the Carbon Footprint of a Piece of Furniture? A Primer for Action

When: 18 May 2023, 17:00 pm - 18:00 BST

Where: Virtual

Fee: Free

How can we measure the carbon footprint of a sofa, chair or table? How do materials, packaging, transport and disposal factor in? What are terms such as net zero, cradle-to-grave, materiality and embodied carbon? Hosted by leading sustainability experts, Lucy Arndt and Lucy Crane, the panel promises to be an insightful discussion on tackling climate change through design, culminating in a refreshing call to action.

Get tickets for What is the Carbon Footprint of a Piece of Furniture? A Primer for Action.

ImpactXDesign – Using Design for Urban Revitalization and Economic Justice

When: 18 May 2023, 12:30 -13:30 BST

Where: Virtual

Fee: Pay what you can

As an interior designer, you have the power to reshape the community. Ari Takata-Vasquez, founder and creative director of Viscera Studio, will teach you how. Ari Takata-Vasquez is the founder of In the Black, a shared marketplace empowering Black-owned businesses. Using In The Black as an example, Ari will illustrate how design can make a tangible impact on community and economic development.

Get tickets for Using Design for Urban Revitalization and Economic Justice.

The Black Home: More than Black Art with Designers Guild

When: 19 May 2023, 11:00 - 13:00 ET

Where: 837 Washington Street, New York City

Fee: Free

Founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, Malene Barnett, speaks alongside founding members of the guild Beth Diana Smith, Jomo Tariku, Leyden Lewis, and Lisa Hunt. The talk is an open exploration of the connection between Black culture and technology in the home. The conversation will explore the home as an expression of Black creativity and culture, where desires, stories, and lineage are expressed.

Get tickets to The Black Home: More than Black Art with Designers Guild.

Clerkenwell Design Week is one of the most prestigious events in the interior design industry calendar. The festival is a celebration of design, bringing together renowned designers, leading brands, and industry experts to infuse the British capital with exciting installations, industry-leading conversation and a creative buzz.

The event showcases the latest developments across product design, architecture, and interior design. For interior designers, the festival is an opportunity to explore trends, connect with suppliers, and engage in important industry discussions led by experts in the interior space.

Discover how to make the most out of your time at Clerkenwell Design Week as an interior designer.

Clerkenwell Design Week for Interior Designers

For interior designers, joining Clerkenwell Design Week is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the world of design. It's a invaluable is a ticket to industry knowledge, endless inspiration and a chance to connect with fellow industry professionals.

Improve your industry knowledge

Continually engaging with industry events is vital to your wider understanding of the interior industry. Clerkenwell Design Week Spearheaded by established design professionals and CEOs and offers a platform to learn about pivotal topics such as sustainable design practices, the integration of design and technology, and the importance of preserving historical design perspectives.

Create connections

We all know how essential networking is to the growth of your brand and your business. Clerkenwell Design Week is made for designers and manufacturers, meaning you'll have a wide range of opportunities for collaboration, professional development, referrals, and sourcing. Get involved, strike up conversations, and share your ideas. Who knows, it could lead to future opportunities for collaboration and professional development.

Discover recent innovations

Clerkenwell Design Week is a stage for industry innovators to unveil their latest works. The latest collections from the biggest names, right before your eyes. Clerkenwell Design Week exhibitions showcase the best and brightest in furniture, accessories, lighting and more. Browse the latest developments in furniture and lighting and get inspired by boundary-pushing installations. Take note of emerging trends and let the innovative spirit inform your own work—your clients will love it!

Events for interior designers at Clerkenwell Design Week 2023

Interior designers, wondering which talks to attend this Clerkenwell Design Week? Here are five you shouldn't miss!

Sustainable Living: Don’t Move, Improve! - Homes with Green Ambitions

When: 23 May 2023, 14:00 - 15:00

Where: Spa Fields Park, EC1R 0JX

Speakers: Marie-Louise Schembri, Anna Beckett, Mark Rist, Natalie Savva, Ben Hayes, Kaowen Ho, and Theo Games Petrohilos

Everyone in the interior design industry has a responsibility to incorporate more sustainable practices—this is your opportunity to learn how. Finalists of the annual sustainable design competition, Don't Move, Improve! will be showcasing their designs at Clerkenwell Design Week. Explore active design solutions that use natural, long-lasting, and renewable materials to reduce carbon emissions without compromising on liveability, materiality, and uniqueness.

Book your ticket here.

PANTONE: The Art of Living – Colour Trends for Home & Interiors 2024

When: 24 May 2023, 14:00 - 15:00

Where: Spa Fields Park, EC1R 0JX

Chairperson: Carola Seybold and Jane Boddy

The world is waking up to the importance of colour in design and how it impacts our mood—can you read colour? This colour trend forecasting session is hosted by none other than Pantone, a leading source of colour expertise. Attendees will benefit from an invaluable lesson in colour trends for the year ahead, as well as how to bring these colours to life across multiple materials and bridge the gap between the digital colour world and the real world.

Book your ticket here.

Biophilic Design in Practice

When: 24 May 2023, 15:00 - 16:00

Where: Spa Fields Park, EC1R 0JX

Speakers: Sam McCarthy

The impact of biophilic design on our mental health is undeniably positive, now it is time to harness that power in your own designs. Sam McCarthy invites you to learn the key principles of indoor planting, its benefits, and how to build effective greenery into your interior designs.

Book your ticket here.

BIID: Flexible Working and the Rise of Hybrid Hospitality Spaces

When: 24 May 2023, 16:00 - 17:00

Where: Spa Fields Park, EC1R 0JX

Speakers: Anna Burles, Tala Ojuolape, and Harriet Forde

A new way of living, and thus designing, has emerged. Spaces in the hospitality sector, hotels, restaurants, bars etc. are adapting to new social attitudes by rethinking the design of their interiors. This talk will explore how interior designers can successfully adapt to a changing market and delve into the question:  how do you create spaces that promote better productivity, collaboration, and creativity?

Book your ticket here.

Interior design exhibitions at Clerkenwell Design Week 2023

Aromas del Campo

When: May 23rd-25th

Where: House of Detention, EC1R 0AS

What: Lighting

Once a manufacturer of dried flowers and aromatic products in Valencia, Aromas del Campo now applies that same elegant aesthetic to lighting. Even more impressive than the undeniable beauty of their products, is Aromas' commitment to combining traditionally relegated materials like marble, wood, and ceramic with the fundamentals of metal and glass.

Visit Aromas del Campo's website.

Burmatex

When: May 23rd-25th

Where: St John’s Square, EC1V 4JJ

What: Flooring

Burmatex is known for its leading sustainability principles and commitment to responsible trading. Their latest collection is not only a visual delight but is also a glimpse into the sustainable materials and practices we can expect to see take over the interior design industry in years to come.

Visit Burmatex's website.

Plant Designs

When: May 23rd-25th

Where: The Old Sessions House, EC1R 0NA

What: Interior accessories

Plant Designs works with the principle of biophilia to build beautiful spaces that benefit residents and nature alike. At Clernkenweel Design Week, they launch a new preserved planting range that requires no water or light—a game changer in bringing nature into people's homes. Feel the natural craftsmanship for yourself, and discover how you can incorporate them into your next design project.

Visit Plant Designs' website.

Kirkby Design

When: May 23rd-25th

Where: St John’s Square, EC1V 4JJ

What: Fabrics, textiles, and wall coverings

The Kirkby Design team have earned themselves a reputation as innovators in the textiles industry. Their collections offer a distinctive mix of bold and understated designs, drawing inspiration from wool, chenille boucle, and quilted velvet, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an ever-changing market.

Visit Kirby Design's website.

Carysil

When: May 23rd-25th

Where: St John’s Square, EC1M 4DS

What: Kitchen & bathroom accessories

The beauty is in the details—and that is what Carysil provides. Carysil provides high-quality kitchen sinks, taps and accessories, browse their latest collection as a reminder to never neglect the finishing touches in your work as an interior designer.

Visit Carysil's website.

Newly-engaged couples flock to Pinterest every day in search of wedding day inspiration—pinning ideas of everything from dresses to tableware to replicate on their big day.

What does this mean to you as a wedding planner? It means you need a Pinterest account!

Pinterest can help wedding planners to maximise their brand visibility and connect their ideal clients. In this article, we cover:

• Why Pinterest is an essential marketing tool for wedding planners.
• The benefits of marketing your wedding business on Pinterest.
• How to successfully market your wedding business on Pinterest.

Ready to get started?

Why is Pinterest relevant to my wedding planning business?

Pinterest advertises itself as a "visual discovery engine", where users can create and share visual content, aka. Pins. What this means is Pinterest users actively search out relevant content to them, rather than passively consuming whatever shows up in their feeds. If someone is planning a wedding, they're going to search for it. If your content is good enough, they're going to find you. Not only does Pinterest make you more discoverable to your target clientele, but its interface also serves as a beautiful way to present your portfolio. Wedding planners can use Pinterest to showcase their own past projects and showcase specific areas of expertise, or create boards of other users' content to showcase their references and style to potential clients.

Wedding planners traditionally focus their social media marketing efforts on Instagram but Pinterest is a worthy Instagram alternative, here's why:

• Pinterest is a search engine, not just a social media platform. Unlike Instagram, Pinterest is primarily a visual search engine. This means that users are actively searching for specific content and can discover new businesses and inspiration based on their search queries.
• Pinterest has a longer lifespan for content. Pins on Pinterest have a longer lifespan than posts on Instagram. This means that wedding pros can create content that will continue to receive engagement for months, or even years, after it is first published.
• Pinterest is less reliant on algorithms. Instagram's algorithm can be unpredictable and frustrating for businesses trying to reach their target audience. Pinterest, on the other hand, is less reliant on algorithms and instead prioritises content that is relevant to the user's search query.

Advantages of using Pinterest as a wedding planner

Increase your brand visibility

In 2023, Pinterest has over 460 million active users, many of whom use the platform to search for wedding-related content. By using relevant keywords and optimising your boards for search, you are opening yourself up to a whole new audience for your wedding planning business!

Improve your website traffic

Pinterest is a powerful traffic driver, and many wedding planners use the platform to direct users to their websites and generate more leads., Entice users with aesthetic images, then convert them to potential clients with direct links to your website included in your Pins.

Be more receptive to emerging trends

Besides marketing to potential clients, Pinterest is an excellent site to watch for emerging wedding trends. As a wedding planning business, it is important to keep up-to-date on the latest updates and popular search inquiries. Leverage this data to your advantage and use it to position your business better.

How to succeed on Pinterest as a wedding planner

Use visually appealing Images

Pinterest is first and foremost a visual platform—aesthetics matter! As a wedding planner, you offer your clients much more than aesthetically pleasing design, but it is beautiful imagery that will make potential clients stop and take notice. Continually invest in a great photographer to photograph your weddings and use those images to build your visual portfolio on Pinterest.

Organise your work into boards to showcase your different styles or group your work by project. Play around with how best to present your portfolio—it's your work, and you know best how to flaunt it. Remember: every Pin is a potential customer.

Write strong descriptions

An image speaks a thousand words... but sometimes we need the words too. A cleverly crafted caption provides context for your images and is the key to converting a view, into an active lead. Keep your copy short but meaningful and include lots of keywords. Pinterest works like a search engine, SEO is important to ensure your pin pops up in relevant wedding-related keyword searches.

Produce creative content

There is more to Pinterest than visually stunning imagery. Pinterest users also search the site for useful resources and educational tools. Think: what can you create that is of use to your target audience? Wedding planning checklists, invitation templates, budget planners—the list goes on. BE creative in how you attract potential customers to your page.

Be clear with your CTA

Pinterest users want to save your work as inspiration, but you want them to do more—so tell them that. Include a clear CTA in every post you make, whether that be directing viewers to your website, prompting them to contact you directly or encouraging them to follow your other socials for more inspiration. Don't ask, don't get. Pinterest is a great way for you to expose your brand to an engaged audience full of your dream clientele, so what are you waiting for? Get pinning!

Get inspired

Pinterest is not just a space to highlight your own work, but also to take inspiration from the work of fellow wedding pros. Pin your favourite work to different boards on your profile and reference them when you're in need of a burst of inspiration. Having inspiration boards on your profile will also help prospective clients get a better sense of your style and reference points—a nice extension to your own portfolio.

"I'm a creative person. I don't do numbers. I can't do finance. I don't get it. I don't understand it. It's not for me." Sound familiar? Accounting doesn't always come naturally to the creative, and that is okay! For once, we're not going to advise you to bury yourself in educational resources on accounting for creatives—we're going to suggest you get an accountant!

Erin Walls is a chartered accountant and the founder of WardWilliams Creative—an accountancy firm exclusively for creatives. In her work, Erin has noticed a common thread of questions and reservations among her clients and so she's here to clear up the misconceptions. In short: don't be put off by accountants, because they can be helpful.

Read on for Erin Walls' advice on how a healthy relationship with your accountant can transform your small business, and how you can achieve it.

Meet Erin Walls

What do you do?

When you have a company or you're a sole trader, there are legal obligations to file certain reports and tax returns—I help people to make sure they meet those obligations. However, I am also here to help creative business owners to save tax, negotiate any tricky transactions and, ultimately, grow their businesses.

How did you end up in your role now?

Lots of work! After my 3-year degree, I completed another 3 years of education to obtain the professional qualification. After that, it’s all about experience. The longer you work the more experienced you become, so your advice becomes better and better. I trained in a bigger company, but soon realised I prefer working with smaller businesses where you can make a bigger impact on someone’s life.

Step 1 when taking on a new client is...

Getting to know them and the business. Every business is slightly different and the advice and support we give depends on what stage you and your business are at, how much experience or knowledge of finance you have, what you are trying to achieve and so on. For the first few months, we learn as much as we can about our new clients so that we can best serve their needs.

Why do you work with creatives?

All my friends and family work in the creative industries; when I qualified as an accountant they all came to me to ask for help. Many were already paying for their own accountant but didn’t understand what they were being told or felt intimidated, and often even patronised. I spotted a gap. A lot of creatives are left-brain thinkers and they need a different approach to make the financial side of the business click for them. So that’s what WWCreative does, it works with creatives on a level which is helpful and supportive.

Erin Walls' 5 rules for a healthy relationship with your accountant

1. Do your homework

Keep the receipts

Not so long ago, you used to have to keep paper copies of business records but these days, photographs will suffice. As soon as you receive a receipt—an invoice from Amazon, a restaurant bill etc.—take a photograph and save it to a drive or an app (Dexter or Expensify are good options). It is that easy.

Stay on top of things

You can't stop marketing just because you're having a busy spell, and you can't stop keeping financial records either. Dedicate time every week to review your invoices, receipts etc. and organise them in a logical way to pass on to your accountant. Tackling a backlog of paperwork is a scary and time-consuming task, approaching it in manageable blocks is easy. A positive side effect of this system is that you'll also have a better idea of the money coming in and out of your business and so can make more informed, reactive decisions.

Be smart with your expenses

The common sense approach to expenses:  if you spent the money because you needed to for your business, then it will be allowable. The areas where people tend to come unstuck are entertainment and travel—to be on the safe side, consult your accountant!

2. Meet up often

The frequency with which you need to see your accountant depends on how comfortable you are with the figures and what is going on in your business. At WardWIlliams Creative, we have some clients who are in a growth phase: they need to register for VAT, they're beginning to make overseas sales etc. Naturally, they have a lot of questions and need a lot of support and so we are in regular contact. Then we have other clients who are just ticking over. They have been doing the same thing for a while with the same clients and feel fairly confident in that. These kinds of clients speak to us once or twice a year and then at the end of each year, we have a meeting to go over their figures and plan for the year ahead. It comes down to how much support you want or need at any given time.

If you're ever feeling unsure, you should be able to easily speak to your accountant for advice. Equally, if things are working well for you you don't need the burden of overly-frequent communication. These days most accountants don't charge per hour, they charge an annual fee—so don't hesitate to reach out when you need advice. It is better to check in regularly than be in a mess at the end of the year because you were worried about additional fees!

3. Don't be afraid to ask for help

Don't be scared of accountants! I regularly find myself asking clients: why didn't you speak to someone before? And the answer is that they assumed an accountant was going to be too expensive, or they thought we might patronise them, or they didn't want to feel like they'd done something wrong. In the long run, this attitude is bad for business. The lesson here is: Don't suffer in silence. Don't be afraid to accept help or ask for it. If your budget is tight, sometimes the bank has mentorship schemes and a lot of accountants will give you a free initial consultation.

4. Find the right match

Obviously, from a business perspective cost is always going to be a factor in your decision. Which is why, before hiring an accountant, you need to be honest with yourself about how much support you need. If you opt for a really cheap service, you'll likely receive less attention and support. That will work for you if you're a business owner who does not need that support, you simply need to tick the boxes for filing. But if you know you require more support, you probably need to pay for a slightly more involved accountant.

But the biggest thing for me is the relationship. You need to feel that your accountant understands your business. Most accounts will give you the same work because we all use the same rule book. It's more about the journey. It is about finding a relationship with someone that you feel comfortable with, and you think will support you.

5. Set your value

Accountants can help you manage your money, but they can't help you make it. Creative industries are very hard to work in because making money is very hard. In an attempt to differentiate themselves from the competition, many creatives lower their prices, but this has negative consequences on how people value the work of creatives. The fix: everybody in the creative sector needs to hold to their value. Over time it will get better, and people will get used to paying what they should rather than knock down prices. Rather than focusing on undercutting your competition, focus on what you need to earn. Remember: the price you set, sets your value.

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Book a consultation with Erin Walls, founder and director of WardWilliams Creative.

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Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.

As a creative freelancer or owner of a creative independent business, good financial hygiene is the key to success. However, sometimes money management can leave us feeling overwhelmed and out of our depth—we're good at creating, not filing taxes! If only there were more transparency in the world of financial management and clear-cut answers to your most pressing financial concerns—what is the best way to organise your finances? What expenses are eligible to be written off? How do you build a budget with a fluctuating income?

Thankfully, you've ended up in the right place. We invited our creative community to an "Ask Me Anything" session with accounting expert Claire Van Holland. Her advice helped clear up financial confusion and empower our community to make better financial decisions for their businesses—and we want to share the advice with you too.

Meet our expert: Claire Van Holland

Claire Van Holland is the founder of CV Ledger, a modern accounting firm built for creatives. Claire is first and foremost a creative, who just so happens to also like crunching numbers. She fell into data analytics, financial projections and budget forecasting over the course of an extensive career in corporate media, which saw her work with media giants including Pandora Media, Disney Interactive and MySpace Media. After co-founding a furniture design business with her husband Aaron in 2011, she realised she could provide more impact by using her corporate analytics experience to help other creatives achieve financial autonomy through collaboration. She launched the CV Ledger in early 2016 and the rest is history.

In Claire's own words: "As an independent business owner or creative freelancer you're already busy enough, you don't need the stress of managing your finances constantly looming over your head. I know full well that organising and managing finances is the last thing you want to be doing—you'd rather be creating of course! And so this is me looking out for my creative tribe, helping and empowering my fellow creatives to overcome the stigma and uncertainty when it comes to managing money." Without further ado, let's set you on the road to financial success...

What is the best way to separate your personal finances from your business finances as a creative entrepreneur?

The best way to separate business finances from personal finance is to simply create separate accounts. Yep, it's that easy! All of the money you earn in your creative work (whether that is full-time, part-time or freelance) should be deposited in your business bank account. So if you get paid an invoice by a client, you flow all of that money into your business checking account. All work-related expenses should be charged from your business account and personal expenses that have nothing to do with work—groceries, for example—come out of your personal account. You should never meld the two.

If you want to take it a step further, you can also have a business credit card. Whether or not it is actually registered officially under a business is neither here nor there, as long as you are not incurring any personal expenses on that credit card and it is used solely for business. The golden rule is ensuring that you never put any personal transactions on there because that's when it starts to get confusing. You want to mitigate the stress of crossing the lines between business and personal as much as possible, especially come the tax-return season, and I promise the simple action of separating your accounts will do so.

What account types should I have as a small business owner?

Disclaimer: how you structure your accounts comes down to how you are running your business, how complex and layered it is and how much money you are moving in and out of your accounts. The most common account types for small business owners are:

• Income account. An account that houses all the money coming into your business.
• Operating expense account (which can also be a credit card). An account that deals with all your regular dues/expenses.
• Payroll payments account. An account dedicated to paying out employees, contractors and potentially, yourself.

How do I approach paying myself a wage as a small business owner?

The easiest way to give yourself a wage as an independent business owner is to take a "draw" or a "distribution" for yourself. This is as simple as deciding upon a fixed amount you'd like to earn each month and then transferring that money out of your business account and into your personal account. It sounds a little bit too easy, but that is it. You could even set that up in increments, or change the frequency to suit your needs: once a month, twice a month etc.

There is also the option of running a payroll for yourself, meaning that you are designating yourself as an employee of your own company. Therefore, when you pay yourself, you are also paying out payroll taxes. Of course, there will then be requirements contingent on whether or not you are officially registered as some sort of corporation and dependent on your region. If you are considering the payroll option, thoroughly look into those requirements or seek advice from a professional to ensure you are not putting yourself at risk of incurring plan penalties.

As a freelancer, my income varies from month to month. How can I budget for this?

For personal budgeting, first list out your fixed monthly expenses, the ones that you can definitely expect: rent, groceries, and subscriptions. Now work out your projected monthly income. Start with the months you can predict your income: recurring work, pre-booked clients etc. This will just give you insight, even if there are shifts and changes and adjustments along the way. Don't be generous, always err on the side of caution and work off the lowest possible income. Subtract your fixed expenses from the income that you are anticipating and get a sense of what money you have left over. If you are in the negative, you know that you need to identify areas to cut back spending or really step on the gas in terms of finding additional client work to pad out your overall earnings.

If you're looking to create a business budget, again start by listing out your essential expenditures; the basic things your business needs in order to operate: rent, software, payment processing, utilities, etc. Once you have figured out where you are currently spending your money, the next layer is identifying where you need to spend money next. A good example of that would be training expenses, or enlisting the help of subcontractors. Maybe you're in a situation where you can't take on all of the work yourself so you want to bring in external help—what is the cost of doing so? Once you have identified these current costs and projected costs, you need to work out a monthly total—that is your budget. Good budgeting is a mixture of building good habits, having good tools and planning ahead—always budget for a minimum of 6 months ahead.

I am a freelance content creator and a 9-5 employee. How do I manage my taxes?

If you have a 9 to 5, there will already be taxes automatically taken out of your pay check. As a freelancer, your taxes won't be automatically deducted—you'll need to do that manually. Tax levels vary depending on your location, but 30% of your wage is a good base measure of how much to set aside—better to assume higher than be caught short. For every payment that you receive as a freelancer, let's say it's $500 this week and $2,500 the next, you want to put 30% of that sum aside to cover your tax payments. I recommend setting the money aside in the spirit of 'set it and forget it.' If you have a separate tax savings account, which I recommend everyone does, then transfer the 30% immediately into that account and then you don't have to worry about it intermingling with the rest of your money.

What is the best financial organisation software for creative entrepreneurs?

Often people don't want to pay for financial software and instead choose to keep it old school with a spreadsheet, but then you lose the beauty of automation. And so, I really do encourage you to make the investment for yourself and for your business because ultimately it gives you peace of mind and saves you buckets of time. Finding accounting software that works for you is half the battle in feeling confident and secure in managing your finances. As a creative myself, I understand the importance of finding visually appealing software with a good user interface My personal recommendation is Xero, they pitch themselves as being beautiful accounting software designed for small businesses—and I agree with that. I also recommend FreshBooks for freelancers or anyone who regularly deals with invoices. I'd advise trialling a number of systems to see what resonates with you in terms of usability, technology, and experience. If you need some help getting started, I offer training sessions in using Xero.

How do I get the most out of my expenses?

The very first question you ask yourself is, "Is this a business-related expense?" If the expense is directly incurred as a result of the work that you do, it is eligible to be written off. For example, you can offset expenses related to research and development. As creatives, we draw inspiration from an endless number of places. Maybe research takes the form of going to a movie because you are creating a branding identity, or taking a trip to experience an area that influences your craft in some way. Remember you need to be prepared to justify why each payment is an essential expense for your business—if the answer feels a little too far-fetched, be careful. For example, people often ask me whether they can write off a very expensive meal. My response is, "What are the justifications for that meal?" If you met a potential client for dinner in order to secure a big business opportunity, maybe that is eligible. If you treated your significant other to a classy dinner, the answer is probably not. You need to justify the direct impact of any expense that occurred on the work that you do.

Next, maintain good accounting hygiene. Build the habit of classifying your financial activity on a regular basis so that at the end of the tax year, or the end of any given month or quarter, you'll be able to pull your financial statements (income statements, balance sheets etc.) and take them directly to whoever is preparing your taxes. They will then use that information to prepare your tax submission for the year. Be discerning about who you work with for your tax preparation. Work with a professional who understands your industry and exactly what it is that you do. If you're working with somebody who doesn't understand your industry, you're doing yourself a disservice because they'll likely run more on the conservative side of tax write-offs.

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Got more questions? Reach out to Claire via her website or on Instagram. Alternatively, tune into her podcast, Naked Finance, for a regular dose of easy-to-implement financial tips and tricks for creatives and small business owners.

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Visualist regularly invites industry experts to answer the practical questions of our creative community. Brand messaging, financial management, legal contracts—you name it! Secure an invite to our next event by joining us on Facebook.

Generation Rent—the collective of young adults (18-40) priced out of the housing market. Unable to buy, they are a generation condemned to rent, spending a high percentage of their income in doing so.

Renters aren't a traditional target demographic for interior designers, oft written off due to financial instability or the inherent restrictions of rented spaces, namely structural limitations and unaccommodating landlords. But the ever-growing rental market is changing such that many young adults have accepted, even embraced, the idea that they will rent long-term and so are looking to interior designers as a way to make their space their own. This poses a new challenge for interior designers: how do you create the illusion of ownership when your clients don't in fact own the space?

Could Generation Rent be a catalyst for a new era of interior design, whereby interior designers must evolve to accommodate a much more mobile and adaptable way of living?

The dollar sign(als)

Interior designers have been monitoring the tipping scales of homeowners vs renters for a while. Artem Kropovinskyi is the founder of Arsight, a New York-based interior design studio that works on residential and commercial spaces. In 2018, Artem began to notice the shift. "The telltale signs were the rising demand for flexible and affordable living spaces, the decline of traditional furniture retailers, and the emergence of new platforms and apps that catered to renters who wanted to decorate their virtual homes. We had to be more versatile in the industry and take on more diverse projects." Artem and his team began working on more commercial projects to open up a new income stream. They also began an internal evaluation to see how they could make their services more appealing to this growing demographic of renters.

A big point of consideration for interior designers targeting renter clients: affordability. Interior design has traditionally been the reserve of the elite, but a growing middle-class market of renters means that has to change. Interior designers need to set their prices in an accessible ballpark in order to have their services considered. The good news for interior designers is that design is an area that renters are willing to invest in, statistics show that over a third of renters have spent money on doing up their landlord's property and that decorating (49%) and buying furniture (48%) are the two most popular ways to splash the cash.

In fact, many renters are motivated to invest by an unlikely source—social media. According to New York Times, individuals are investing in their rented apartments as a way to cash in on the algorithm's preference for "aesthetic" apartments. In exchange for pictures of their beautiful homes, content creators are receiving boosted views and sponsored brand deals. One woman, Imana Keal, reported $80,000 in earnings. Renters are still using interior design as a form of social signalling, in the same way homeowners long have. However, the focus has shifted from parading wealth, to boasting taste.

Though willing to invest, Generation Rent's budget is still tight. To combat shoestring budgets, interior designers can learn from virtual design platforms (the now-defunct Decorist, Havenly etc.) that have worked to democratise the service of interior designers by "modularising" it: room-by-room design, concept board designs etc. These compartmentalised packages have proved popular amongst renters who want to interact with interior design services but perhaps don't yet have the means, or the need, to invest in full-service packages. Interior designers can choose to market themselves via such platforms or copy their model by breaking down their offerings into accessible packages for renters and homeowners alike.

Products and preferences

In 2019, furniture giant IKEA pioneered a new movement with an entire collection tailored to renters—with all pieces made to be broken down, moved and set back up again. Other companies followed suit, some doing away with the idea of ownership altogether. ZZ Driggs is tackling the logistical and financial issues of purchasing furniture, "dismissing the idea that fashionable, consciously-made furniture is only for the elite" by offering New York City dwellers the option to rent statement furniture pieces.

Of course, furniture alone does not make a home. Companies supplying decorative items like soft furnishings and wallpaper have also found innovative ways to cater to Generation Rent. Danielle Millet is the founder of Peel & Paper, a sustainable, completely removable wallpaper brand. As a child, Danielle Millet experienced the frustrations of rented accommodation firsthand. "Although the houses we lived in were clean and comfortable, they lacked the freedom to have some wild patterns on my walls. Self-expression in (a home) signifies a sense of belonging. When you are not allowed to express yourself in a rented home, those plain white walls make you constantly aware of the fact that it does not 'belong' to you." Progressive companies like Peel & Paper and IKEA provide interior designers with a toolbox capable of meeting the demands of rental clients.

Interior designers equipped with the right tools, then just face the matter of understanding the design preferences of Generation Rent. The dominant lifestyle of the times has always manifested in interior design trends; take the vivaciousness of the 1920s and the resulting Art Deco style or the hippie-driven Bohemian style of the '70s. Mark Bittoni is the principal of Bittoni Architects, a firm working to combat the affordable housing crisis in LA with the development of co-living spaces, and he believes this day and age is no different. "As the cost of housing has risen, designers and architects have been forced to find ways to make smaller spaces feel more open and functional. In many cases, this has led to a focus on minimalist design, with an emphasis on clean lines and streamlined furnishings."

Minimalism makes sense for renters—the fewer possessions to manage when moving, the better. It also makes sense when you consider the budget preferences of the generation in question—more than three in four millennials would choose to spend their money on an experience over a material possession. Though often misjudged as sterile and boring, minimalist design is actually a doorway to more fruitful living—Generation Rent wants to work with interior designers who can optimise their space to support social experiences, professional success and general well-being. And hey, it's keeping the landlords happy too—whitewash walls, clean finishes and bright lighting makes for an inoffensive blank canvas easy to sell on to the next tenant.

With no signs of the property ladder becoming more accessible any time soon, Generation Rent is likely to be the first of many generations adopting more transient habitation habits. If this influx of renters has already changed the way interior designers and product designers are approaching their craft, can we expect rising rates of renters to have a profound impact on the very way in which we live?

Progressing together

In his work as an architect, Mark is tasked with increasing the efficiency of shrinking spaces whilst also taking into account the likely ever-changing tenants and their diverse needs. "Many apartments and homes are being designed to serve multiple functions, with rooms that can be easily reconfigured or repurposed depending on the needs of the occupant. For example, a dining room might next function as a home office or a living room might now require a fold-out bed for guests." And it appears these compact conditions are here to stay. "In the future, it is likely that the impact of rising rent prices on design will continue to be felt. As urban populations grow and housing becomes even more expensive, we can expect to see a continued emphasis on small, efficient spaces."

Is the future of interior design about finding increasingly smart solutions to decreasing square footage? Or is there an alternative ending, whereby interior designers pioneer a shift towards a more communal lifestyle ushered in by the smart design of communal spaces?

We are already seeing more young people across the UK embrace shared accommodation as an antidote to rising rental prices, with over 25% of renters still sharing accommodation at age 35. Though in many cases this is out of necessity, it is evidence that young people are open to the idea of living more communally. Way of Life is a property management company exploring this new consumer mindset by fostering the same sense of community whilst giving tenants their privacy and independence. As a Way of Life resident, you can have a self-contained living space to yourself (bedroom, kitchen, bathroom) but your tenure also grants you access to activities such as yoga, urban gardening and a virtual martini masterclass, all in the company of your neighbours.

It is not just a well-stocked activities calendar that separates Way of Life homes from your average rented apartment—it is design. Each Way of Life unit is designed by a team of in-house interior designers to make the most out of "space and light, storage and high-spec appliances". Tenants can even opt for professionally furnished apartments, another data point signalling Generation Rent's willingness to invest in their temporary living spaces. The pre-decorated apartments are intended as an antithesis to the uncomfortable nondescriptness of traditional rented accommodation but it is the communal spaces that really make residents feel at home. Way of Life complexes contain purpose-built communal areas that were intentionally designed to encourage interactions between strangers and foster healthy, social relationships—bright, inclusive and characterful being keywords on the moodboard. Interior designers who have experience in commercial design will find these qualities familiar but in the context of residential design, they may come as a surprise.

What the public wants from their homes and their places of leisure is becoming increasingly homogeneous. Adaptable yet practical, exciting yet personal and, crucially, supportive of social relationships. If designers and their businesses are to successfully adapt to this new approach to design, they must overcome a few logistical challenges. As Artem explains, "living in shared or communal spaces poses a challenge in maintaining privacy and personal space. Misplaced design can hinder this by limiting individual choices or preferences, imposing rigid rules or norms and neglecting aspects of security or hygiene." If communal living becomes a more viable option for the masses, interior designers who can develop a signature style that is social, yet secure, will be best placed to reassure clients and capitalise on the shifting market.

Interior designers should also prepare for a blurring of lines between the residential and commercial design, "Resi-comm", if you will. An exciting new market to explore, Resi-comm projects take the form of hotels, restaurants, office blocks or communal living spaces—essentially clients looking to use design as a way to bridge the gap between private and public spaces. This works both ways, as Nicola Lindsell from Boxx Creative explains."There are crossovers and merging between aspects of residential and hospitality interiors. For instance, there is a trend for private residential clients to desire chic ‘hotel-style’ bathrooms. And with the rise of Airbnb, hotels are becoming less corporate and focusing more on providing a welcoming home from home."

For interior designers, this means no longer viewing commercial and residential designs as "either/or" but as complimentary disciplines that can inform one another and intertwine to reimagine the way we live, work and play in domestic and commercial spaces.

So...?

Impermanent does not mean unimportant. To Generation Rent, their home—though temporary—is an extension of their self more than ever before. The role of an interior designer now is not to design for a fixed space, but rather curate a versatile design that could, in theory, relocate with the tenants—a reflection of their tastes, lifestyle and beliefs compiled through furnishings and decor.

Has Generation Rent changed the interior design industry? Yes. Unrecognisably so? No. After all the fundamentals of interior design have not changed—it is all about transforming a space to reflect the taste of its occupants, and making a house a home.