A new employee's first day sets the tone for their time within your company. A well-organised and supportive experience gives new hires a great first impression of the company as well as helping them to ease into their new role and improve their chances of success.

However, onboarding a new employee is no easy task, especially when making a new hire for a small business. Onboarding new team members is time-consuming and often stressful—but if not done right it can affect the employee's performance and that of the rest of your team. Instead of starting the process from scratch with each new hire, equip yourself with a bank of employee onboarding tools that help to streamline the process—making the hiring process more efficient and enjoyable for both you and your new employee.

From task management to team exposure, these tools help to streamline, and even automate, everything the new employee needs to get started. Stock up your employee onboarding toolkit with the best software on the market and welcome new hires with ease...

Tango

Best for: introducing daily tasks

It takes a team to Tango! Tango is a free Chrome extension that allows you to create a step-by-step guide for new hires, without increasing your workload. That's right! Simply press record, go about your task as usual, and in the background, Tango will be busy creating a document that summarises your process complete with instructional screenshots. But don't worry about privacy, Tango automatically crops the images and blurs out any private information! Edit and share your guide as desired. Et voila—a step-by-step guide to daily tasks in seconds!

Bubbles

Best for: explaining a new process

Some things are just best explained by Bubbles! If your new team member is a visual learner, or indeed their new task is best illustrated by video, then Bubbles is a go-to tool. Bubbles allows you to record your screen and voice as you walk through a process step-by-step. It also lets you assign the video to a team member and set a date and time when you need a response. Bubbles will send a reminder to the assignee when the deadline is close! This way, you'll be able to monitor a new hire's onboarding progress and offer additional support if necessary.

Caroo

Best for: showing your appreciation

Caroo helps you identify the best ways to welcome your new hires and reward hard work based on their care preferences. Caroo asks new hires about their likes and dislikes in the workplace and general personality and uses the data to put together a custom appreciation plan—a personal touch sure to make new team members feel appreciated through their onboarding process and beyond! With Caroo, you can send meaningful digital gift cards, automate birthday celebrations, treat the team to lunch and more! Remember: the happier your employees, the higher their productivity!

Confetti

Best for: building team spirit

Help new hires quickly find their place in your team by organising team-building activities and welcome parties with Confetti. Confetti is filled with hundreds of exclusive team-building games, onboarding activities, and virtual events that your employees can enjoy. This helps you promote inclusivity, strengthen team connections, and develop soft skills. You don't even need to spend precious time planning! Just scan, select, customise, set a time and date, and voila! Your event is all set.

The roundup

The tools you use to onboard new team members should be easy to use, clear and interactive. But remember, even with the best toolkit at your disposal, the key to successfully welcoming new hires is to make them feel at home. A healthy work place culture allows new team members to quickly gel with their colleagues and is beneficial to the productivity and satisfaction of your whole team. Here are a few creative ways to make new employees feel welcome on their first day:

• Decorate their desk. Customising your new hire's workspace is a fun and easy way to make them feel instantly at home.  You can have the team paste short welcome notes on their desk, put up small balloons around their space, or set up a custom desk nameplate for them! Even better if you could prepare something that is personal to them, their interests, their culture etc. Thoughtfulness is always appreciated!

• Get out of the office. Skip the icebreaker questions and get out and about! Without the pressure of work, your new employees can be themselves and learn about their coworkers in the same way. Not only will new employees and your existing team be able to bond more readily, but it will also give your team a well-earned reward for all their hard work—two in one. You could head to karaoke, attend a painting workshop, or go on a team picnic.

• Create a welcome hamper. A welcome hamper can include handy workplace tools, welcome trinkets, snacks, personalised gifts/cards and more. You could even make it a more practical gift by including information packets on the company and their role responsibilities and a printout of their daily tasks and schedule.

As a wedding planner, first impressions count—and your copy is that first-touch with prospective clients. Ellie Kime is an expert copywriter specialising in wordplay for wedding planners. Having started out in the wedding industry herself, Ellie understands the needs of wedding and events professionals. She prides herself on crafting warm, welcoming, conversational copy that connects and converts—and she can teach you how to do the same. We invited to unravel the copywriting conundrums of wedding professionals in our community, let's dive in...

How can I bring some more flair and personality to my copy?

Have you ever tried dictating your copy? We can feel a lot more "in the flow" when we speak as opposed to writing things down. Either dictate in real-time or record a voice note and then play it back, you can then extract bits that you like and tweak accordingly. It also often comes down to feeling comfortable implementing devices like puns, rhymes and witty comments. I think doing some TOV (tone of voice) work is really useful in improving confidence because you feel secure knowing that you're still operating within your brand guidelines.

TOV guidelines are keywords that you want your brand to be associated with, words like "sisterly", "approachable", "down-to-earth" etc. You can then assess all your copy against your TOV guidelines and see whether you're hitting them.

Any tips on crafting a bio for my About page and for IG that stands out from the crowd?

Inject some personality into it, however small. Already, that'll help you stand head and shoulders above so many others who don't think professionalism & personality can work together. PSA: they can. Really bloody well!

Another thing would be to avoid jargon that your readers won't understand. If it's industry-specific terminology that your couples would use, totally fine; if they don't know what it means, you're wasting precious characters. If you're struggling to think of a word which captures what you do/how you do it, think about how you make your clients feel—this transformation will really sell it. Don't play small. Own your area of brilliance!

Besides the obvious places (Instagram captions, About page) where else should I be focusing my attention in terms of copy?

Never underestimate the power of website microcopy—the little bits on your site like your button links, footer etc. A lovely example can be seen on Samantha Ciuni's site, where the button on her branding page says "Apply to be branded". Funny, tongue-in-cheek, makes me want to click!

Sure, the people who see them are going to be pretty far into your sales spiel already,  but showing a bit of personality at every stage of the process will remind clients of why you're so fab and why you're worth the money! Also, think hard about the little details in your emails. I once booked a client based purely on the fact that I changed my iPhone email signature to "Sent from my phone - your email was so exciting I just couldn't wait!" I have also seen some great unsubscribe messages, this one spring to mind: You can [unsubscribe] all you want but you'll always be in our hearts.

Is it worth starting a newsletter as a wedding planner? If yes, should I target clients or vendors?

Yes! The buy-in that customers have on an email vs. Instagram is vastly different. As for who to address, I would angle towards your clients (bonus: any vendors in your contacts list will likely still be impressed by you!)

I always encourage the repurposing of content—efficiency is key. If you're already writing a blog that content should definitely be recycled into newsletter content.

I'd like to start repurposing my blog content for social media. What should be my first step?

Though it sounds pretty grim, "chunking" is really useful in blog post writing. Chunking refers to breaking up copy into chunks so that it's not overwhelming to read. Headings are then really useful for signposting and help a bunch with SEO. These headings are then a good places to start for social media content. For example, a blog post covering"10 Wedding Trends for 2023" becomes a 10-slide carousel on Instagram (or TikTok, now that it loves photo galleries!) where each slide corresponds to one of the headings/trends.

How often should I be publishing blog content?

It's less about frequency and more about consistency. If you've got a batch of 12 blogs written up, it might be better to publish one a month for the next year rather than every couple of days. The more words your site has, the better it is for SEO. So, if you've got loads to say, keep the blog content coming!

How do I continually come up with interesting new topics for my wedding blog?

Content creation works differently for everyone, but here are a few methods that work for me:

1. Create content buckets by distilling what you talk about it into 4/5 areas that you specialise in. All your content ideas can then be planned out based on these buckets. For example, as a London wedding planner, your content buckets could be wedding tips, supplier shoutouts, trend watching and London elopements.
2. Answer The Public and What People Ask are great tools for finding out what people are searching for on Google within your niche.
3. Ask your audience on Instagram what they're struggling with, and how you can help.
4. Check your FAQs for stuff that you could expand on!

The key to effective content creation is making sure you're constantly in conversation with your audience, that way you can always make sure you're serving up relevant info. Whilst it is great to stand out, remember that sometimes you might be talking about the same thing as someone else, but your perspective will be totally different. And that's ok too! You don't need to continually reinvent the wheel, you just need to spin it in a way that will suit your clients.

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Read more copywriting advice from Ellie Kime on her blog or learn more about how she can help your business by visiting her website.
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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.

Creativity is continuous experimentation, imagination and learning—all enhanced by social interaction.

Creatives benefit from community. Naturally, social media sites were used to host community interactions but somewhere amidst algorithmic updates and relentless reels, creative communities were left scattered and disillusioned. Instagram is designed to build audiences, not communities.

If only there were a digital platform that champions interaction, invention, and education to allow these creative communities to thrive...

Creativity and community

Creatives have long understood the benefits of community—access to support, procrastination deterrence, exposure to new perspectives, and opportunity for collaborative learning. Workshops, like those hosted by Creativity Explored, and conferences, as held by In/Visible Talks, are examples of how creatives have come together to capitalise on these benefits.

Creative Mornings is another example—a New York-based brunch club for local creatives, that grew into an international network. But as they scaled, Creative Mornings began supplementing in-person events with a permanent online directory for their community. Moving online allows communities to stay connected regardless of distance. Digital alternatives make networking logistically viable for everyone—opportunities and creative conversations should not be limited by geographical, social, or financial barriers.

There is demand for a platform that allows creative communities to interact as authentically as they would in real life, whilst embracing the inclusivity and convenience of the internet.

Slack as a solution

Enter, Slack.

Slack is a messaging service designed for internal company communications. However, Slack's OOO potential remains largely unexplored. Slack workspaces dedicated to creative industries do exist, but they are largely lying dormant—communities brimming with potential, simply waiting to be activated.

However, other industry-based communities have more readily adopted Slack into their communications. Wordsmiths—a Slack community created by Sonder & Tell—functions as a space for writing professionals to develop their craft. Channels are dedicated to discussing notable copy (the good, the bad and the ugly), sharing inspirational prompts, gathering advice, and advertising job opportunities.

Another Slack community gaining traction is the Freelance Schmeelance group, founded by Harling Ross. Harling works as a freelancer in the brand consulting space and has become a de facto 'connector', often referring brands to other freelancers for stuff that doesn't fit her area of expertise. "I love referring people for jobs, especially fellow freelancers. It's fun to play a small role in giving talented folks the opportunity to do their thing." Harling further explains, "I'm conscious of how significant a privilege it is as a freelancer to have a platform on social media where brands can find me, and I want to pay that forward as frequently and widely as possible." And so, Harling built her Slack community. "It's grown into more than just a job referral platform, there's quite a bit of general advice-sharing that happens here too—which I love. I also love hearing about connections people have made through Slack, and jobs people have been hired for. The definition of a win-win."

Building a playground

Slack has termed itself "a playground for your creative process", but how exactly can a messaging tool evolve into a playground—a space characterised by experimentation, interactivity, and entertainment?

To turn Slack's blank canvas into a fruitful space for collaborative thinking, ideation, and creative exploration, we searched for lessons from infamous playground equipment.

Sandpit: laying foundations

A child looks at a sandpit and sees an opportunity to build something from scratch. Creatives can look at Slack in the same way.

Create a solid structure

When building a sandcastle, it is important to lay strong foundations. When this theory is applied to Slack, that means getting your channels in order.

Channels can be tailored to the needs/interests of the community. These channels act as "performative silos"—focusing discussion on a specific topic. Yet avoiding the limitations of siloed thinking, because ideas can then spill out into other channels and collide with supplementary conversations to create great new ideas. Wordsmiths' #copyofnote channel consistently receives engagement—why? It has clear guidelines, is open to interaction and is a little bit playful! Specificity provides clarity, interesting topics capture attention, and activities offer delight.

Use all the tools available to you

Slack is simple. But simple features can make a big impact—namely, apps and audio. Audio had a moment last year with the launch of Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces, and Slack also has audio-chat capabilities—known as Huddles. Hosting live calls is a good way to add the "human touch" to a digital space. Active engagement with live conversation is concrete evidence of an invested community.

It is also possible to integrate apps into your Slack channels—try Mural, a virtual collaborative whiteboard and Lucid Spark, a space for digital brainstorming.

Seesaw: give and take

Collaborative learning theory implies that we learn best through working together. We are more likely to process, compound and build on teachings when we work in collaboration with others.

A common channel in many Slack communities is "gives and asks"—participants are encouraged to ask for help and offer solutions where they can. Make it clear that this is a safe space for the community to share their work and opinions but that all participants should welcome the suggestions and critiques of fellow designers—viewing them as an opportunity to grow.

Climbing frame: the element of challenge

Risk-taking

A creative mind enjoys risk and experimentation. Though, of course, a degree of stability and predictability in daily work is reassuring, creatives need to be challenged in order to grow.

Slack channels could act as risk simulators—all the challenge, stimulation, and fun without any consequences. Pose thoughtful questions, work through problem-solving scenarios together, and set design challenges. A Slack community can become a gym for the creative mind.

Think outside the box

Many Slack communities are built around a common discipline or profession (marketing, graphic design, etc.) but what if they were a little more abstract?

Interdisciplinary thinking is in high demand. Slack could function as a space to bring together expansive thinkers from across creative disciplines to tackle complex problems. A digital think-tank, if you will. Breaking convention could position your Slack channel as a breeding ground for innovation, problem-solving, and ideation.

Merry-go-round: optional participation

Whilst we are used to having our attention farmed on social media, Slack can be different.

Just like on a merry-go-round, members of a Slack community should be able to hop on/hop off as and when they choose. Avoid pestering, setting time limits, or imposing 'obligatory' activities. Communication should be frequent and consistent, but be careful not to overwhelm the community with challenges, advice and questions—they'll switch off their notifications.

Swings: keeping the momentum

A Slack community should ultimately be self-sufficient—participants will be invested enough to keep the community running without too much maintenance. However, there are things you can do initially to build that loyalty and investment...

Break the monotony

Remember, you're dealing with a highly visually responsive demographic. Social media takes advantage of the engaging nature of visual imagery, so take that lesson and combine it with genuine value-adding content. Utilise gifs, videos and other visuals to break up text and keep conversations digestible and fun.

Collective encouragement

Collective encouragement is a great community-building exercise. In the Freelance Shmeelance community, Harling Ross created a channel titled #shmeelance-wins— a place for celebrating achievements. When people feel encouraged and valued by their community, they are more inclined to contribute.

Designing beautiful spaces comes naturally to you as an interior designer. But handling admin and business matters—well, that's another story. Chances are you're a proud solopreneur but as your interior design business grows, it could be worth hiring a virtual assistant. Behind the scenes of every great design is a myriad of menial tasks—what tasks can an interior design assistant help with exactly? Client communications, product sourcing, 3D renderings,  concept boards—essentially if you hire the right VA, they can do whatever it is you need to free up your time.

Interior design entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses are often restricted by too much time spent on day-to-day admin,  hiring a virtual interior design assistant can change that and help you take your interior design business to the next level.

How does a virtual interior design assistant help interior designers?

Admin, bookkeeping, marketing, social media management, client comms—being an interior design entrepreneur means wearing a lot of different hats! A virtual interior design assistant can share the load and gift you back time to spend doing what you do best: designing.

With the help of a VA, you'll have more time to commit to improving your designs, establishing a presence in the media and potentially taking on more projects—hello increased profits. And crucially, employing a virtual interior design assistant will help protect you from burnout. You're at your most creative when you're well-rested and unstressed. Let a VA lighten the load to keep you performing at your best.

Is hiring a virtual assistant for my interior design business cost-effective?

As mentioned, hiring a virtual assistant frees up time for you to focus on growing and scaling your interior design business. Yes, short-term hiring staff is a big investment but long-term it is sure to pay off in dividends.

Your other options for bringing in help are hiring a junior designer or in-person assistant, but a virtual assistant is the most budget-friendly way to bring in an extra pair of hands. There is no need to make room for them in an office, support travel costs or provide tools like a laptop—as your VA will work from their own home, which by the way could be anywhere in the world! Hey, that's an extra dollar saved for you!

How to hire a virtual interior design assistant

Like any other business, finding the right personal assistant to work with you can be tricky. Follow these steps to ensure you're hiring the right VA for your interior design business.

1. Utilise reputable sites to search for candidates. Save yourself time and ensure the quality of applicants by posting your job description on reputable sites like UpWork, LinkedIn, and eVirtual Assistants.
2. Prepare a detailed job description. Are you looking for specific skills or expertise? Make sure to write it down to attract the right candidates.
3. Ask the right questions. An interview is the most important step in the hiring process, above anything you need to see whether you and your potential VA click. Try asking these questions to ensure they're the right match for your interior design company:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses as a virtual assistant?
• What is your preferred communication method?
• How do you stay organised when you have multiple active projects?

Wedding bells are ringing for a whole new generation! Are you prepared to plan weddings for Gen Z clients? Will you even notice the difference?

Generally speaking, Gen Z couples are very different from Millennial couples. Gen Z are idealistic, techy, price-conscious, and love a sweet balance of quality, price, and good customer service. They also communicate in different ways, Gen Z couples are digital natives and so your traditional methods of communication and engagement might need to adapt. Familiarise yourself with the changing requirements of a new generation of wedding clients and prepare for bucket loads of fun!

Best to be social

First things first, to even work with Gen Z clients you're going to need to be active on social media. The digital natives that they are, where do you think Gen Z will go to search for their wedding planner? That's right, social media. That doesn't stop at the client acquisition phase, Gen Z clients are likely to want to continue to communicate with you via DMs and regular video calls.

For this younger generation, TikTok replaces Google. You want to craft a strong presence across both TikTok and Instagram to ensure this new generation of clients are exposed to your business. Whilst you're there, it is a good idea to do your research and stay up to date with all the evolving trends that these clients are sure to request. Remember: for this demographic, "aesthetic" is everything, alongside experience and connection.

I wanna hold your hand

Rather than this being a generational factor, this one could come down simply to age. Your Gen Z clients are going to be younger, mostly in their early to mid-20s, which will likely mean they need a little extra reassurance and guidance throughout the entire process. Gen Z couples will frequently ring or text you whenever they want to ask something, your role here is to hold their hand as much as it is to plan the event! With these younger clients, your communication needs to be thorough, regular and honest—this generation really values transparency. Be patient and perhaps a little parental, but never patronising. Gen Z clients most definitely know what they want and want to be treated with respect, they just need a hand to hold too!

Luxury on a budget

Given the current economy, you'll find that Gen Z clients don't have wads of cash to splash on a wedding—but that doesn't mean they're willing to compromise on the feeling of luxury. The good news is that many Gen Z clients prioritise experience and quality time with their nearest and dearest over extravagant decor or stunts. In order to craft a Gen Z couple's perfect day on a tighter budget you'll simply need to listen closely to what it is they really value and be creative in where you source materials, catering and entertainment from—the challenge should actually be good for you!

Meet the parents

Last but not least, expect to see more than a young couple during consultations! Most Gen Z clients will often bring their parents or relatives with them to aid in their decision-making. Most of the time it's because they need the assurance of having someone more experienced to help them but sometimes you'll find that the parents just want to join in the fun! It is important to acknowledge the suggestions of everyone involved in the planning process, but always prioritise the wants of the couple. Worst case scenario you'll need to come between minor conflicts between the parents and the couple. But at the end of the day, both parties only want one thing—a beautiful wedding!

As an interior designer, the question "How much?" should never make you nervous. The key is to be confident in your pricing strategy for interior design services. This confidence will assure your clients as well. There are various pricing strategies for interior designers, allowing you to choose what works best for you. It's crucial to value yourself and your services while covering your expenses. This approach should also be realistic and appealing to clients. The good news? It's easier than you think! Start by asking yourself these three questions to set the right pricing for your interior design services.

This article will explore:

• Defining Your Services: Clearly outline what your interior design packages include to ensure fair pricing and prevent scope creep.
• Understanding Your Market: Research competitors' pricing to understand client expectations and justify your own rates confidently.
• Covering Costs and Profit: Calculate your desired income, consider business expenses, and set prices that reflect the value of your services.

What are you offering?

Before you put a price tag on it, you need to be clear about what you're offering. Are you providing clients with everything from mood boards to project management? Or are you offering initial concepts only? Maybe you have different packages that cover different extents of the services?

Determining the scope of your services and clearly defining the contents of each package will provide clarity for both you and your clients. This strategy allows you to accurately break down the costs associated with each product, ensuring your pricing is accurate and fair. Clear guidelines regarding what is included in the price of a project will also prevent clients from demanding additional tasks outside the agreement. Avoid giving a quote with a vague package description; you might end up spending more than you earn.

What do your competitors charge?

Well, this is awkward. Your client just pointed out that your competitor offers a much more comprehensive service at a much lower price point. While you should never undersell yourself to match others, you need to be realistic about the value of your interior design services and what clients are willing to pay. It never hurts to check the prices of your competitors in your area. Although your competitors likely won't share their exact rates online, it's worth researching the general pricing consensus—clients always want a bargain.

Tip: Houzz is an excellent site to check for price references. If you don't want to compromise on your pricing to match competitors, then prepare yourself for these situations by having a strong justification for your pricing strategy and confidence in your ability.

How much do you need to earn?

Remember, you are an interior designer and a business owner. You need to charge enough to cover your business expenses and still make a healthy profit. The profit margin need not be exorbitant, but it should definitely reflect the value of your work. If you provide excellent services with exquisite results, you deserve to charge like a luxury good.

As a starting point, work out your desired yearly income. Divide the amount by months, then days of work. This strategy will give you a rough estimate of what to charge for your personal labor, which you can then account for on top of the cost of materials, travel, and other expenses.

Does AI have a future in the world of interior design? An ongoing debate within the interior design world asks whether AI is a threat to the interior design craft, whether interior designers can learn to work collaboratively with AI as a tool, or whether indeed designers can ignore the AI craze altogether! We're curious too, so we set up a little experiment. We asked Interior.AI to design several rooms, taking infamous design styles for inspiration. Then we asked real interior designers to offer their critique. See how AI measured up...

Meet the experts

Artem Kropovinsky. Artem is the founder of NYC-based interior design studio, Arsight.

Renee Hundley. Renee is an interior designer and co-founder of Dream Nest Interiors based in Ventura County, CA.

Ana Maria Torres. Ana Maria is an architect, interior design and landscape designer. She is the founder of award-winning architecture firm, at architects.

Diana Hathaway. Diana is the founder of Gorgeous Color, an interior design firm specialising in colour consultancy and Feng Shui design.

French Farmhouse bedroom

Artem Kropovinsky: This design is a somewhat okay starting point for human interior designers seeking inspiration. However, it still contains odd elements, such as the large mirror that isn't aligned with the headboard. The carpet's repetition and small size next to the bed on the right appear illogical. Furthermore, the mix of different ceiling lighting styles creates a disjointed look.

Renee Hundley: This bedroom has an agreeable colour palette of warm earthy tones. However, it also has major flaws, noticeably making the room appear off-balance. The mirror is poorly placed based on its size and proportion to the bed. There is a sconce that appears to be protruding from the mirror instead of the wall. The potted topiary is oddly placed at the foot of the bed, and the rugs underneath the bed are not placed correctly.

Luxury bathroom

Diana Hathaway: In this bathroom, AI didn’t understand what makes a bathroom luxurious or useful. The resulting design is cold and uninviting. The overwhelming stone or tile texture creates a busy space that doesn’t achieve that "retreat" vibe it was going for. The scale of the room and elements are not balanced, so the Feng Shui does not promote positive “chi” energy. Curved walls and openings may have intended to give the bathroom an organic feeling, but instead creates a cave-like experience.

Artem Kropovinsky: The excessive use of grey in this room, featured on the floor and two walls, leaves the space feeling suffocating and lacking in airiness. The absence of alignment and harmony is evident, and the wavy shapes seem arbitrary. Overall, the interior comes across as uninteresting.

Renee Hundley: Spatial planning is lacking in this rendering with the poorly placed tub. The colour palette is very bland and one-dimensional. The walls and floor are made of the same material, which offers no variation of texture or colour. Besides the large bathtub, there’s nothing that screams a luxurious bathroom here.

Art Deco living room

Ana Maria Torres: Whilst I appreciate the geometric shape of some of the furniture pieces incorporated in this design, the proposal is lacking a hierarchy. There is no focal point, everything blends together in this living room. Instead, the opulence of the Art Deco style could have been replicated by using a repeated and bold geometric pattern on the walls, while the rest of the décor remains a backdrop to that. Instead, you could match an upholstered sofa to your wall colour and bring in bold artwork.

Diana Hathaway: AI understood some things about Art Deco, as the shapes are correct. The sheer clutter of the room is the antithesis of good Feng Shui—any decorating style can benefit from the balance of decor and open space. The monochromatic colour scheme is soothing but doesn’t support its attempt at Art Deco style. Even in the most neutral spaces, colour is an important part of Art Deco-inspired design, and often the palettes are filled with cool colours.

Scandinavian kitchen

Ana Maria Torres: Scandinavian design is typically a minimalist look, with a warm touch introduced by the texture of natural materials. In this case, the colour combination, the cabinet design, the cabinet layout and their relationship with the appliances, and the choice of black tubular light fixtures all speak to traditional minimalism. But what is missing is the friendly and sociable characteristics of the Scandinavian kitchen as a place to hang out and chat. The clean lines of this Nordic-inspired kitchen are all very well thought out in their entirety, while they have ample light and some warmth from the organic natural materials included.

Renee Hundley: This kitchen is missing some major spacial planning elements, with its extremely heavy cabinetry all on one wall and nothing to break up the heaviness of the floor-to-ceiling cabinets such as open shelving or glass doors. The layout of cabinetry in a kitchen is the single most important way to give the feeling of openness and function. One of the biggest flaws is the island placement in the room, with not enough walkways all the way around it. The colour palette is very bland, and nothing produces the feeling of a “designer” touch. The backsplash could have been a different shape or a little more vibrant to give it life.

Maximalist living room

Artem Kropovinsky: Overly vibrant colours mean this interior could be difficult to live in. The decision to merge two distinct sofa styles in one space feels awkward. The room is cluttered with excessive details, and without a clear focal point, it feels overwhelming. The dominant colours clash, making the space uncomfortable to occupy.

Ana Maria Torres: Many think of Maximalism as “more is more" but to me, individuality is the essence of maximalist design. While maximalism allows for a wide range of bold colours and a variety of shapes, it should still be intentional. The design should have a common thread weaving through the selection of colours, furniture, and décor. In this maximalist living room, the colour palette is adding a cohesive element to the space. It feels intense, but it does not feel disjointed.

Diana Hathaway: AI definitely ran with the “maximum” in maximalist. The nuances of the style were lost — yes, the room is maximalist, but it misses the mark by being too maximalist. The resulting design is jarring, as it lacks visual relief. The key to a successful maximalism design is to include some areas without decor, to allow you to take in the colourful and curated chaos around you. In this AI design, the colours appear to be perfectly balanced and distributed throughout the room, but that shouldn’t be the goal. Human eyes are able to use colour in varying portions to achieve balance, while AI sees it as a math problem. There is no allusion that maximalism can fit into a Feng Shui aesthetic. Feng Shui’s main goal is to balance energy, and a well-done maximalist room is just bursting with energy. There are not enough Feng Shui cures or tips to change that—the energy is the beauty of a gorgeous maximalist space.

The verdict

Artem Kropovinsky

AI is great for many things, but not for interior design. Interior design is about creating spaces that reflect the personality, preferences and needs of the client. AI cannot do that because it lacks human intuition and empathy. It can only follow predefined rules and algorithms that are impersonal and superficial. AI is not ready for interior design yet. Maybe in the future, it will be able to learn from human designers and create more personalised and creative solutions. But until then, we interior designers prefer to use our own skills and experience to deliver high-quality interior design services that meet our clients' expectations and satisfaction.

Renee Hundley

Renderings are a large part of visual aid used in the interior design industry and are seemingly an easy area to substitute a real-life person. However, is there really a substitute for the emotion and personal touch that comes from the creativity of the human mind? The appeal of AI is apparent in terms of simplicity and possibly even cost-effectiveness, but these renderings are proof that AI lacks that special touch. The “wow” factor is still something only a human can produce.

Ana Maria Torres

‍I believe that our sense of beauty and our understanding of the nature of the spaces we inhabit are intertwined. Each new project and client offer that possibility.  The French novelist Stendhal offered the perfect expression of this intimate affiliation between visual beauty and our perception when he wrote that “beauty is the promise of happiness.” Artificial intelligence is unable to bring that unique and personal spark to a design—at best it’s a personal shopping research tool. Each designer holds the keys to making a space unique and personal to the client and knows the best way to communicate those ideas. The best designs are those in which the client’s personal vision is combined with the particular qualities of a space—the designer’s own personal experience and vision are the glue that brings them all together. Al does not—cannot—bring that personal meaningful touch to design.

Diana Hathaway

Interior design, like art, relies on nuance to create liveable spaces. The spaces that interior designers create are meant for humans and they speak to a human experience. As a designer or an artist of any kind, it’s our collective memories, moments, and impressions, that allow us to create meaningful art or spaces for other humans who find it resonates with their life. AI cannot speak to the human experience which includes the spaces we live in. AI could be useful for business applications in the interior design industry as it’s a detail-heavy industry. It could also be used to generate ideas which an interior designer could then apply human nuances to, to create a space more quickly. I would think of AI as an assistant in interior design, but I wouldn't trust it to deliver client-ready designs.

The economy is extremely volatile. You could be on top of the market one day and find yourself rolling down the hill the next day. Recession is the cause of many creative small businesses' downfall. More often than not, small businesses underestimate the economic uncertainty and realise their mistake far too late.

Thankfully, there are lots of quick-fix steps you can take to make your creative small business recession resistant and keep your creativity and your finances afloat in uncertain times.

Keep an eye on your money

Creative small businesses with poor cash flow management are the most vulnerable during an economic recession. According to a US Bank study, 82% of small businesses that go bankrupt. do so due to poor cash flow management.

Use financial management software and money management tools to monitor what goes in and out of your account. The better you know your numbers, the easier it is to create a financial strategy that works even through the highs and lows of the economy. Tracking KPIs will also keep you in the know and allow you to make better decisions for the financial health of your business.

Create more income generators

Diversifying your offering means more streams of income that are less vulnerable to economic uncertainty and changing consumer habits.

You could introduce a new service or product, offer recurring membership plans, produce sponsored content, create educational content and so on. More avenues of income and more overall revenue mean a more robust business.

Build better relationships

Loyalty goes a long way. When times are tough, it is your repeat clients that will keep you in business. Good relationships with your clients also earn you some ambassadors for your business. Rest assured that they'd recommend you at any chance they get! So make sure not to focus all your investments on earning new customers, but leave some for your current clientele as well.

Stand out from the crowd

A strong business idea with a niche appeal and great marketing is likely to withstand even the toughest of financial storms. Try to stay calm and confident and focus on providing the best possible service you can to your clients—these times will pass. Strategy for a recession-proof business complete!

Statistics show that around 849 new female-led businesses open every day. That's an increase of 114% since the early 2000s! A number worth celebrating. However, raising funds as a female entrepreneur for a creative start-up is still challenging. Thankfully, there are an array of business grants for women-owned startups and small businesses. Whether it be from female investors, women's groups, or feminist organisations—support is available for those who seek it.

Start browsing your options now. Who runs the world? Girls!

SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

Ideal for: black-owned businesses

SoGal is on a mission to support Black women in their business endeavours. Black female entrepreneurs receive less than 0.5% of venture capital funding, SoGal's start-up grant is designed to change that. SoGal Grant awardees can receive $5,000 to $10,000 cash grants and benefit from an "Ask Me Anything" programme led by the SoGal team to support and assist with the trials and tribulations of running a new company.

In 2020, Un-Ruly, founded by Antonia and Abigail Opiah received a $10,000 cash grant. Today their nearly 10,000 fans on Instagram act as proof that business is thriving. Want the same for your business? Take your first step by filling out the SoGal application form!

37 Angels

Ideal for: high-risk, high-reward ventures

Founded by women, for women. 37 Angels is a community of female angel investors who are dedicated to investing in businesses owned by women. They know and acknowledge your struggles in running a business, and because of that, you know you're in good hands. 37 Angels invests in up to 10 female-led startups annually and offers up to $150,000 in cash grants! Learn more about the application process on their website.

Cartier Women's Initiative

Ideal for: eco-advocates

The Cartier Women's Initiative is a yearly global entrepreneurship program that rewards and recognises high-impact businesswomen who practice commendable sustainable business efforts. Open to all women-run businesses, every year three Cartier Women's Initiative regional awardees receive financial support of up to USD$100,000. Plus, awardees will also receive human capital aid and social opportunities.

Keep track of the application schedules on the Cartier Women's Initiative website.

Amber Grant from WomensNet

Ideal for: passion-driven projects

The Amber Grant was founded in memory of Amber Wigdahl, an ambitious, to-be businesswoman who passed too early at the age of 19. In honour of her memory, WomensNet donates $30,000 per month to a woman-owned business. In addition, the network has extended its reach by offering different opportunities such as marketing grants, business category grants, and two annual $25,000 cash grants.

Learn more about how to apply for a grant here. All grant awardees are announced on the 23rd of each month, set a reminder now.

IFundWomen

Ideal for: new business owners

IFundWomen provides an online platform for female business owners seeking funding. Here, you can raise capital through fundraising or through small business grants. Additionally, there are opportunities for business coaching and networking with like-minded individuals!

IFundWomen has partnerships with tons of international companies, browse all available opportunities on the official IFundWomen website!

When it comes to PR, interior designers can be left feeling confused and a little intimidated. What if I don't have industry connections? How do I know the right person to contact? What should even be in my pitch?

Thankfully, The PR Collaborative exists to put interior designers' minds at ease and help them land tons of interior design publication features in the process! Founded by Alex Abramian, The PR Collaborative is a space for new, emerging and mid-career interior designers and interior photographers to master the art of PR. Alex gives us a sneak peek into a day in The PR Collaborative by debunking some common media misconceptions for interior designers...

Myth #1. You have to have a bank of appropriate credentials before reaching out to the media.

Incorrect. Start your PR early, you don't wait to have certain accomplishments under your belt. The media loves to discover rising design stars.There's a lot of recycling of the same 50 designers in the media, so it's really exciting for an editor to discover someone who they've never heard of.

The other thing that I really want to emphasise: If you are considering approaching the media on your own without a publicist, you will be a breath of fresh air. Editors are drowning in pitches, and  90% of them are coming from publicists. So, if you're a designer or a photographer reaching directly out to a journalist, a writer, or an editor, you're going to stand out. Don't wait until you've met a certain "benchmark", get those media connections going earlier in your career. It will pay off in dividends as you get more work under your belt. Also, you don't need to be perfect but the photos of your work absolutely do. People will often come to me with their project shots and half the time I look at the images and I say, we've got to get it reshot. We can't go out to the media with this. It won't do you any good. In fact, it'll hurt you.

Myth #2. You need a polished press release in order to reach out to the media

Speaking to a journalist is not far from how you would send a text to a friend. You want to keep it really short, really specific, and you want to let them know if a project has been published or not. They are not looking for a press release. There are three things that really matter to journalists:

• Where is your project located?
• Has it been published before?
• What does it look like?

Myth #3. "The media only cares about what I do. They don't care about who I am"

The media wants to know more about you than just the projects that you've created—they want to know about the person behind the project. It's really important to play the longer PR gam: forging media relationships. The more you stand out the better it is. In every pitch, you need to include a photo of yourself and a bio about what you do. One of the best ways to engage an editor's brain is by putting a face behind the email. It is really important that your bio and your portrait tell the same story. Embed both of these within the email—nobody wants to click on a link if they don't have to. Make it go down easy, like a milkshake. Don't make more work.

Myth #4. You can only get one media hit per project

Landing multiple features for one project is all about understanding how to differentiate your pitches. First, you need to approach a national publication with a home tour. A national publication will only accept unpublished work, so it is wise to even keep your project off social media until you have landed this exclusive feature. If you're relatively new to the PR game, I'd recommend placing it digitally, not in print. If you wait for print for a national publication, you're going to wait forever but really you want to be becoming a media insider sooner rather than later. One thing to consider is that at the moment clients have a general preference for large, minimal, neutral spaces. The media on the other hand like mostly tiny, and mostly colourful. They're completely at odds. The way to combat this? Hunt for projects where you're going to be able to do something super colourful and also super relatable and accessible (not quite DIY but that kind of feel).

Once you have landed a feature in a big national publication, you can go to more local media with the same offering—they won't care nearly as much whether this project has been published or not. Step 3, you start looking for round-up stories. That's your "15 beautiful kitchens", "64 white bathrooms", "10 beautiful outdoor decks" etc. With these types of stories, it is not going to matter whether the work is published or unpublished, so you can repeatedly recycle the same images. This is how you start racking up 3, 4, 5, or 6 media placements. A common misconception I hear is, "They just did a round-up of white bathrooms, I can't pitch them another white bathroom." Don't worry about it. The media is constantly recycling the same concepts with different images, and ideas. Sometimes, you can even take the project apart and pitch it out for a specific room, specific process etc. The key is to mould your pitch exactly to the publication and how they like to cover homes. So, in one pitch to a house and garden magazine, you might say, "how I integrated the indoors into every room in the house", for another publication you might say, "how I renovated a kitchen without taking down a single wall."

Remember: not every project is going to take off! Often people have just 1 or 2 projects that get picked up at any given time and the rest simply aren't as captivating to the media—don't worry about it, that's just how the game is played.

Attention interior designers! You don't need a publicist to get publicity. You just need to listen to Alexandria Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative. The PR Collaborative is an online community that helps interior designers and photographers secure publicity in top-tier publications. A former writer and editor for The Hollywood Reporter, Architectural Digest, LA Times, House Beautiful and more, Alex knows what editors are looking for and she's going to teach you too!

We invited interior designers in the Visualist community to a PR-power hour, where Alex Abramian debunked common media myths for interior designers and answered their most pressing press-related questions. In case you missed it—here are the highlights...

Can I still get my work published even though I don't have any contacts in the media?

Absolutely. In a lot of ways, editors prefer someone with fewer followers because it's like they've discovered something new. However, because these people are inundated with emails, I strongly advise anyone who's thinking about reaching out to the media to "flirt" with journalists first by engaging with them on social media. Most of the editors and the writers you'll want to reach out to will manage their own social media which means when you follow and leave a comment, they'll remember your name. Then, when they see your name in their inbox 2 weeks later, it is going to feel familiar and will be more likely to capture their attention. Don't flirt at noon and then email them at 4 pm. Give it a second. Editors are sensitive to people wooing them on Instagram and then immediately going to their inbox and pitching them. Give it a week, give it 2 weeks.

It is also important to familiarise yourself with editor's socials because it gives you a sense of who they are. Whether they like to bake bread on the weekends, or they love tulips, or they have a corgi, or they're building a barn or whatever that, knowing a little bit about them personally will flavour the tone of the email and help you stand out in their inbox as an actual human. To be clear, you want to be engaging with an editor's personal accounts, not the publication itself.

Who should I be pitching to?

For small, local print publications, go straight to the editor. If it's a larger publication, and this may surprise you, contact the digital editor. A common misconception is that print features are the most important. Print is not the objective, getting published is the objective. If you're looking to get into a national print publication, it's going to take years of strategic PR work to get there. In the United States, we have some beautiful print publications—they publish 18 homes a year. A digital editor is going to be cranking out 18 homes a week. Hence, digital publications offer far more opportunities of landing regular PR features. Another positive of digital features versus print stories, is that digital features can go live in 2 weeks to 2 months after emailing the editor. It can take 2 years for a print feature to be published.

Tip: don't underestimate local publications, they are incredibly important in your PR Portfolio. Firstly because you want to have a diverse portfolio of PR—national, local, digital, features—all the different flavours of PR. Secondly, local is where your future clients live. The free publications that come to your doorstep might be the only print media that people in your area are consuming, so these smaller local publications are the undervalued gateway to growing in your business. The goal is to use local publications to attract clients to you, and then use national publications to convert. Here's the perfect scenario: a local resident gets the local paper through their door. They open it and see your ad/feature, so they go to your website. Whilst there, they see that you were featured in Architectural Digest and the Wall Street Journal and think, "I gotta hire her!" PR is a multi-pronged attack.

I have my eye on a feature in a certain magazine but I can't find details of the editor—how can I conduct my research?

Step 1: search the name of your chosen publication + "Masthead" in Google. If you get the actual masthead—sorted! If that doesn't work, step 2 is to go to the website of that publication, scroll to the bottom and find their Contact Us page, the email you're looking for might be listed there. A third way is to scan the bylines. Is there a certain writer's name that crops up a lot, someone who is really cranking out the content for this publication? Now you have the name you can plug that into Google and find out more about them, their LinkedIn perhaps. Ultimately, you want to find out if they are freelance or staff.

If they're freelance, they most likely have a website. You'll find their contact details there. If they're staff, now you just need to find the format of emails for that publication and plug in their name. A great way to find the company email format is to go to that magazine's advertising section because there will always be an email for the one responsible for selling ads. Let's say it's joe.schmo@condenast.com. Now you know the company email format you can swap in the editor's name and you can guarantee that your email will reach them. If in doubt it is tempting to use the info@ address, but I suggest avoiding doing so because it probably won't reach who you're looking for and sometimes gets siphoned over to the ad side. In that case, you'll receive a quick, positive response but it's likely because they want to sell you an ad.

Do I have to be honest about my work having been published before?

Here's the thing, you've got to be transparent. Ultimately, you want to play the long game and establish lifelong media relationships—that's what will grow your business. However, that doesn't mean you can't spin your response in a positive light, "Oh shucks! This actually has been published, but I'm working on some other projects right now, and I'm going to be sure to reach out to you the minute I get the photos." Smaller publications will be less concerned with whether work has been published before, but your top targets will always want something that's unpublished.

I'm considering paying for an ad with the view to getting some editorial in return, is this a worthwhile approach?

I know that ad teams have been known to promise designers that they would be under consideration for editorial if they bought an ad and very rarely does that come to fruition. So, I'm hesitant to let you spend money, because it doesn't always turn into actual editorial that you would want.

But there is one exception. There are some publications where ads are referred to as sponsored content and these really give the designer a lot of leeway into how that piece is laid out, it almost looks like a piece of editorial content. If you love the way the ads look, and you feel that they are designed to really target your audience, then it could be worth pursuing. But in general, I think that directly pitching an editor is a better allocation of your time and effort.

What is the number one mistake you see people making when reaching out to editors?

While an email might start with "Hi Kelly" or "Hi Brittany", the body of the email has very little personalisation. When I was an editor that was the bane of my existence—I knew that when I received a long perfectly polished email, it was also sent to all my competitor magazines as well. That's why you want to craft emails that are shorter, more casual and way more personalised—you want to do everything we can to make an editor feel like we are seeking out them and them only.

PR is a lot like online dating. You don't want people to feel scammed. You don't want people to feel like you're looking for a quickie, and you don't want these editors to think that you're playing the field. As with online dating, we go back to those first three important questions: where are you located? Are you playing the field (have you been published before)? And what do you look like?

One of the quickest ways to an editor's heart is to read their publication. Look at what they've most recently published and really understand what their approach to design and architecture is. Do they only do home tours? Do they have a house of the week? And what departments do they have? Every magazine has departments—reference those in your short, sweet and specific email to this editor: "Hey, I absolutely love that Marc career marble bathroom that you just featured. I did something a little different, but it kind of reminded me of what you just covered..." And then go into it. I cannot tell you how meaningful that will be to an editor to know that you took the time to read their publication.

What is an acceptable amount of times to follow up with an editor?

Reach out 2 to 3 times over the course of say 3 weeks—so once a week for 3 weeks. Be politely persistent. If they don't respond, move on.

How do I use media coverage to help me land new clients?

If you get any PR placement, it needs to be all over your Instagram, website and LinkedIn. That is the single hardest part of the entire process, because people are really hesitant to celebrate their success. But don't be shy, your future clients will be very interested to know that you have had this media recognition! To maximise the exposure of your features, Instagram is your friend. All your press should be visible on your feed and on your stories—every interior designers should have an Instagram highlight called "Press" to use as s a library of media wins. The same applies on your website, a page called "Press" or "Recognition" is a must. I refer to this as your "trophy wall" and you want to keep that trophy wall up to date with your latest features, whether it's a full-page spread or a single quote about stone slabs.

I’ve got an upcoming portrait photo shoot, any tips on how to get the perfect pics?

First things first, the shoot should take place inside a room you have designed. Secondly, these pictures need to tell a story that is cohesive with your brand identity. If your style is cottage colourful, you want to dress in jeans and a beautiful sweater, not expensive designer wear! You want there to be some cohesion between your look and your interior design style. These pictures should reflect you and the environment that you've created as a unified aesthetic. You need two types of shots:

• Action shots. Pictures of you actively doing something (plumping up a cushion, arranging flowers in a vase etc.) Top tip: these are really good for social media.
• Media portrait. A portrait (3/4 or full body—not a headshot) of you looking directly at the camera.

Don't be shy—remember you can always retouch photos, so don't let any insecurities hold you back.

What makes a great bio to include in my pitches?

Don't craft a bio that talks about how credentialed or capable you are—nobody cares. We assume you're credentialed and capable, we want to know how you're different. You need just 2 to 3 sentences that crystallise how you are different, in the PR Collaborative we call this your “unicorn bio”. What is it about you that is totally different from any other designer out there? I really encourage you to be specific about who you are. Do not try and be a generalist to the media or your clients— it is the quickest way to not make money. And have fun with it!

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.

Is your free time vanishing under pending tasks, meetings, and commitments? Clear your schedule with a versatile project management tool!

Managing creativity might sound impossible, but creative businesses need solid organization and management to grow.

With project management software, you can track progress, set deadlines, mark pending tasks, and collaborate with your team in real time, all in one place. No more long email chains and delayed replies!

Project management tools also offer metrics and data that benefit your business. This includes team performance analysis and task completion rates. Plus, they improve task transparency, keeping the team informed about all projects.

Ready to get organized? Discover the 5 best project management tools for your creative business in 2023!

This article will explore:

• The top project management tools for creative businesses in 2023, including ClickUp, Visualist, Flow, MeisterTask, and Walling.
• Key features and benefits of these project management apps, such as task management, collaboration, and resource management.
• How these tools can simplify your workflow and boost productivity for creative teams and solopreneurs.

Visualist

Made for: the collaborative creative

Project management with a personal touch. Visualist Hubs serve as an all-in-one space for everything you and your client need to manage projects smoothly.

Bookmark your most-used pages, from budgeting spreadsheets to content calendars. Create boards to organize projects from start to finish and bring clients on board for seamless collaboration.

ClickUp

Made for: the juggler

ClickUp is a control room for creative businesses. It has every tool you need to plan, organize, and collaborate on projects.

An easy-to-use interface and logical layout make ClickUp ideal for creative teams managing multiple projects.

Flow

Made for: the creative manager

Project management made simple. Flow integrates with your favorite organizational tools for easy onboarding and ongoing convenience.

Flow's standout feature is its flexible resource management tool. With a few clicks, managers can spot team members overloaded with tasks or at risk of missing deadlines and step in to help.

MeisterTask

Made for: the team player

MeisterTask helps you work better. Designed for solopreneurs and teams, it features diverse project management tools to keep your creative workflow efficient. Think time-tracking, data-driven reports, and Gantt-style timelines!

MeisterTask is built on the Kanban framework, promoting full transparency and consistent communication. It’s the ideal tool for teams to reduce confusion and boost productivity.

Walling

Made for: the post-it note enthusiast

If your office is covered in post-it notes, Walling might be the project management tool for you!

As the name suggests, Walling lets you visualize and manage your entire to-do list on a digital wall.

Divide your wall into sections, make easy edits, and invite fellow creatives to contribute and collaborate.