Six Figure Designer

Hosted by Pam Durkin

Arts Design

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Episodes

162

Latest episode

Jun 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!

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60 recent

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.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

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!Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

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?Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

June 8, 202638 min

Ep 159: Your Highest Design Fee Starts Before the Proposal

Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method Your highest design fee does not start when you send the proposal. It starts much earlier, with the opportunities you attract, the people inviting you into the conversation, and the way you shape the scope before pricing it. In this episode, Pam introduces the V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee: Visibility, Invitation, and Proposal.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

May 25, 202645 min

Ep 158: The $20,000 Refrigerator Was Just the Beginning

In this episode, I’m debriefing the Naples Experience (my Signature in-person event), but not in the way you might expect. Yes, there was a $20,000 refrigerator, a private chef that works with the cast of Yellowstone, luxury showrooms, a private sunset cruise, and homes ranging from $8 million to $84 million. But the REAL transformation happened when the designers stepped away from the endless client requests and daily to-do lists and immersed themselves in a room full of smart, driven, curious women who are building businesses at the next level. In this episode, I'm talking about why luxury has to be experienced before it can be confidently sold, how proximity and exposure demystify the high end, and why unforgettable client experiences are what create raving fans.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

May 18, 202643 min

Ep 157: When the Dream Project Is No Longer a Yes For YOU

In this episode, we’re talking about the surprising growth moment when a project you once dreamed of is no longer an automatic yes. After a coaching call inside the Luxury Client Academy, I’m sharing the story of a designer who was presented with a large, exciting project that looked incredible on paper, but the builder quality, client expectations, reuse requests, and overall project conditions didn’t feel aligned. This conversation became a powerful example of what happens when your standards evolve, your discernment sharpens, and you stop making decisions from urgency. We’ll explore how to recognize when hesitation is actually information, how to qualify projects beyond size and budget, and why turning down a “dream” project can be one of the clearest signs that your business has grown.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

May 11, 202629 min

Ep 156: If You Say This Word, I GUARANTEE You’re Undercharging

In this episode, we’re talking about one tiny word that could be quietly costing you thousands in your design business: “just.” If you’ve ever said, “It’s just a small bathroom,” “It’s just a few finishes,” or “It’s just a consultation,” you may be unintentionally minimizing the expertise, decision-making, and professional value you bring to your projects. I’ll unpack why designers use this word, how it affects your pricing, and why work that feels easy to you is often the exact thing your clients need most. Plus, you’ll learn how to catch yourself before you undercharge and start describing your work in a way that reflects the true value of your experience.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

May 4, 202638 min

Ep 155: Beyond Product: The Business Strategy Hiding at Market

High Point Market is not just about pretty product, new introductions, or showroom visits. It is a business laboratory. If you pay attention, it shows you where your relationships are strong, where your systems may be creating friction, where new opportunities are hiding, and who is truly invested in helping your design business grow. In this episode, I’m sharing the biggest breadcrumbs I picked up from Market, including why vendor relationships are such a powerful asset, how the right partners can feel like an extension of your team, and why networking is essential if you want to build visibility, deepen industry connections, and attract more high-end luxury clients.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

April 27, 202639 min

Ep 154: You’ve Tried Everything - and That Might Be the Problem

If you’ve been thinking, I’ve tried everything and nothing is working, this episode is for you. In this conversation, we’re unpacking why the problem may not be a lack of effort, ideas, or ambition, it may be that you’re focusing on the wrong things in the wrong order. I’m breaking down how to identify the tasks that actually move your interior design business forward, why so many designers stay stuck in cycles of over-creating and under-prioritizing, and how to stop chasing what feels exciting in favor of what creates real traction. If your business feels busy but not built, this episode will help you see what needs to change.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

April 20, 202648 min

Ep 153: 5 Money Lessons I Wish I Knew Sooner

In this episode of I Wish I Knew Sooner, I’m sharing the money lessons that would have saved me so much stress, second-guessing, and unnecessary struggle in business. We’re talking about why you can’t price for the best-case scenario, the importance of paying yourself first, knowing your monthly number, separating out money that isn’t really yours, and planning for the number and type of projects you actually need to hit your revenue goals. If you’ve ever had money coming in but still felt strapped, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you were truly profitable, this episode will help you start looking at your business finances with more clarity, intention, and confidence.Ready to stop waiting for better opportunities and start creating access to them?Join me for my FREE live workshop, The V.I.P. Path to Your Highest Design Fee, where I’ll show you the three shifts that help designers get seen, invited, and paid for bigger design projects.Wednesday 6/24, 12pm Eastern.👉Save your seat at luxuryclientacademy.com/vip-method

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