Six Figure Designer

Hosted by Pam Durkin

Arts Design

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Episodes

170

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

Struggling to find great clients and design projects? Not making enough money and struggling to manage the projects you have? This is the show for YOU!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 10, 202625 min

Ep 169: 4 Business Lessons I Learned From a Puppy

Apparently, all I needed to sharpen a few business lessons was a puppy who had never seen grass, hated his harness, and needed to be taken outside approximately 700 times a day. In this episode, I’m sharing four surprisingly useful reminders our new puppy gave me about business.If you’ve been feeling buried under everything you still need to fix, learn, or figure out, this is your reminder that growth rarely happens all at once. Sometimes the smartest move is to stop looking ten steps ahead.Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

August 4, 202621 min

Ep 168: The Best Project I Never Took

On paper, it looked like the perfect project.An 8,000-square-foot home, a major renovation and all new furnishings. Exactly the kind of opportunity most interior designers dream about. But I walked away. In this episode, I'm sharing the story behind one of the most important business decisions I ever made and why saying "no" had nothing to do with the budget and everything to do with protecting my process. If you've ever been tempted to bend your pricing, skip steps, or change the way you work because you're afraid to lose the project, this conversation is for you. You'll learn why the projects you decline can shape your reputation just as much as the ones you accept, and why becoming a sought-after designer starts with trusting the way you do your best work.In this episode, we discuss:Why not every dream project is the right projectThe red flags I recognized before saying yesWhy your process is one of your greatest business assetsThe mistake so many designers make when they're afraid to lose an opportunityHow protecting your process builds trust, confidence, and a stronger reputationThe mindset shift that helped me stop chasing projects and start choosing them intentionally Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

July 27, 202635 min

Ep 167: Why Inspiration Isn’t Enough: The Business Conversations Designers Need

In this episode, I’m joined by Jen Atkinson, founder of NEDCON, to talk about why designers need more than inspiration to build strong, sustainable businesses. We discuss the conversations our industry often avoids: money, profitability, sales, leadership, and implementation, and why Jen created a more intimate conference experience centered on practical education and honest business growth. I’m also sharing why I said yes to speaking at NEDCON and what I hope designers take away from my session, Money Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner.To get all the info and tickets to NEDCON, visit www.nedconference.comWant to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

July 20, 202641 min

Ep 166: Is Your Website Sending the Right Signals to Luxury Clients?

Your website may be beautiful, but is it actually making affluent clients feel confident enough to take the next step? In this episode, I’m joined by Robyn White of RDW Design Studio to talk about what luxury clients are really looking for when they land on an interior designer’s website and why trust, clarity and a sense of safety matter more than words like luxury, bespoke or elevated. We also discuss how to position your portfolio for the work you want next, create a dedicated page for referral partners, and make your inquiry page feel like the beginning of a personalized client experience, not just another contact form. This episode will help you look at your website with fresh eyes and identify the signals that may be building confidence or quietly creating doubt.Robyn is offering to provide those interested with a free Luxury Client Website Appraisal! You can sign up here: https://rdwdesignstudio.com/luxury-client-website-appraisal/Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

July 13, 202610 min

Ep 165: Did the Nonsense Sneak Back In? The Mid-Year Reset for Designers

At the beginning of the year, we talked about doing things differently, creating space, getting lighter, and deciding what no longer deserves access to you. But halfway through the year, it is easy for the old ways to sneak back in. In this episode, I’m talking about the mid-year reset so many designers need, especially when you are tired from being “on” for clients, contractors, vendors, family, and the business itself. This is not about creating a massive new plan but taking a breath, looking honestly at what is working, what needs to be refined, and what needs to be removed before you carry it into the second half of the year.Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

June 22, 202630 min

Ep 164: More Referrals Aren't the Answer if They're Not a Good Fit

In this episode, Pam closes out the V.I.P. Method series by explaining why more referrals are not always the answer if they are the wrong fit. She shares how designers can have referrals coming in and still feel frustrated when those opportunities are too small, too vague, too late, or not aligned with the level of work and fees they want. Pam explains why referral quality matters more than referral quantity, how past clients and industry partners may need clearer language about what kind of work to send your way, and why better-directed referrals can lead to stronger opportunity conversations, better proposals, and higher design fees. This episode leads into Pam’s free live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, happening June 24th at 12 PM Eastern.Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

June 18, 202644 min

Ep 163: Proposal: Stop Quoting Too Soon - Start Shaping the Opportunity

In this episode, Pam breaks down the “P” in her V.I.P. Method: Proposal. She explains why one of the fastest ways designers undercharge is by pricing too soon, before the real scope, timeline, client expectations, builder responsibilities, and level of support are fully understood. Whether the request comes from a client or a builder, vague language like “we just need help with selections” can hide a much bigger responsibility. Pam shares why asking clarifying questions does not make you look inexperienced...it makes you look professional, in control, and more like a business owner. You’ll learn why your proposal should not be a reaction to a vague request, but a clear recommendation based on the opportunity you have shaped before you price it.Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

June 15, 202637 min

Ep 162: What If They Say I’m Too Expensive?

In this episode, I talk about one of the biggest fears designers face when they start thinking about higher design fees: “What if they say I’m too expensive?” This fear often causes designers to shrink, soften, discount, or overexplain before the client has even objected and the real issue may not be about price at all. Sometimes “too expensive” is actually a clarity problem, a scope problem, a fit problem, or a sign that the opportunity was priced too soon. This episode is part of the V.I.P. Method series leading up to my free live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, happening June 24th at 12 PM Eastern.Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

June 11, 202632 min

Ep 161: Invitation: Stop Waiting for Referrals and Start Creating Access

In this episode, I breaks down the “I” in the V.I.P. Method: Invitation. If reaching out makes you feel like you’re chasing, begging, or being cringey, this episode will help you see it differently. I explain why better opportunities often come through relationships, why people forget about you when you’re not top of mind, and why staying connected in a thoughtful, personal way is a key part of creating access to higher-fee projects. You’ll also hear why the phone not ringing with the right opportunities does not mean you’re not good enough, it may simply mean the right people don’t know what to invite you into yet. I share how to make outreach feel curious, personal, and relevant instead of cookie-cutter, plus I give you one simple exercise to help you reconnect with someone this week. This episode is part of the V.I.P. Method series leading up to the free live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, happening June 24th at 12 PM Eastern. Grab your seat with the link below!Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

June 11, 202627 min

Ep 160: Visibility: Are You Known for the Work That Can Support Bigger Fees?

This episode is part of the V.I.P. Method series leading up to my free live workshop:The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee: 3 Shifts to Get Seen, Invited, and Paid for Bigger Design ProjectsJoin me live on June 24th at 12 PM Eastern.Register for the free workshop here: luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method Your highest design fee does not start when the proposal goes out. It starts much earlier — with what you are known for, who is inviting you into the conversation, and how clearly the opportunity is shaped before you ever present a number. In this episode, we’re diving into the V in the V.I.P. Method: Visibility. Many designers are showing up, posting, sharing their work, and even getting referrals — but they are not always becoming known for the kind of projects that can actually support bigger fees. Visibility by itself is not enough. The real question is: Are you visible for the right work?Because if people do not know what kind of projects to send you, they may send you anything...or nothing at all. In the next episode, we’ll talk about the I in V.I.P.: Invitation.Once you know what you want to be known for, the next question is: who is already near the clients, projects, and opportunities you want?Want to connect with me and learn more about my coaching program? You can find me here:Instagram: @pameladurkinCoaching: www.pamela-durkin.com/coaching

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