After attending Milan Design Week and then heading straight to High Point Market, I found myself sitting with a lot of thoughts about our industry, our clients, and what actually matters when it comes to design.

This episode is a very honest reflection on the contrast between those two experiences and the bigger lesson I walked away with.

I talk about:

• Why designing for real life matters more than designing for attention
• The difference between exclusive design and approachable design
• What Milan taught me about industry pressure and expectations
• Why practical, livable interiors are not less sophisticated
• The danger of designing for peers instead of clients
• How to stay grounded in your own design perspective
• Why relationships still matter in this industry
• The importance of creating spaces that support the way people actually live

I also share some behind-the-scenes thoughts from both Milan Design Week and High Point Market, including what surprised me most during both experiences.

If you have ever questioned whether you are “doing enough” as a designer because of what you see online or in the industry, this episode is your reminder that clarity, functionality, and understanding your clients will always matter more than hype.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Milan Design Week
• Salone del Mobile
• High Point Market
• ASID presentations
• Discovery calls and messaging for designers

Text Me a Message!

How I Use AI in My Interior Design Business

In this live session, you will set up AI to sound like you, use it in your real workflow, and walk away with tools you can apply immediately in your business.

https://mcclainmethod.com/ai

Support the show

🌟 For all things John and The McClain Method, head to: www.mcclainmethod.com https://mcclainmethod.com/ for information on coaching, memberships, & more!

Sign up for my free 40 min training: The 3 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming an Interior Designer https://learn.mcclainmethod.com/dsa_webinar_registration

📕 Order a signed copy of John's book: The Designer Within (or purchase anywhere books are sold!) https://johnmcclaindesign.com/designerwithin

Connect With John!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@mcclainjohn
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mcclainmethod
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohnmcclain/

Most designers are comfortable talking about design.

Very few are comfortable talking about what happens after.

In this episode, I sit down with Renee Biery to unpack what actually happens when a project moves into construction.

We talk about the gap most designers have, why contractors operate the way they do, and how your role shifts in this phase whether you realize it or not.

This is not about becoming a contractor.

It is about understanding the process well enough to lead it.

SHOW NOTES (CLEAN + NATURAL)

There is a part of the design process that most designers avoid.

Not because they do not care about it.

But because no one really teaches it.

Construction.

In this episode, I sit down with Renee Biery, interior designer, educator, and host of The Only Girl on the Job Site podcast, to talk about what this phase actually looks like and why it matters more than most designers realize.

We get into the reality of working with contractors, how communication breaks down, and why designers often feel out of place on a job site.

But more importantly, we talk about how to change that.

Because your role does not stop at selecting finishes.

It evolves.

And when you understand how to step into that role, everything shifts. The client experience improves. The project runs smoother. And your value becomes a lot more clear.

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT
Why construction feels intimidating for so many designers
The real role of a designer once a project moves beyond design
How to communicate with contractors without overstepping
What contractors actually expect from you
Where designers unintentionally create friction on job sites
Why being involved early changes everything
The difference between knowing everything and knowing enough
How construction work can stabilize your business long term
THE CORE IDEA

You are not there to control the project.

You are there to translate it.

And when you understand that, your role becomes a lot more powerful.

About Renee Biery:

Renée Biery is a Luxury Interior Designer, Podcast Host and Construction Expert Featured by Washington Post, New Old House, Miami Herald and Homes & Gardens.

Text Me a Message!

How I Use AI in My Interior Design Business

In this live session, you will set up AI to sound like you, use it in your real workflow, and walk away with tools you can apply immediately in your business.

https://mcclainmethod.com/ai

Support the show

🌟 For all things John and The McClain Method, head to: www.mcclainmethod.com https://mcclainmethod.com/ for information on coaching, memberships, & more!

Sign up for my free 40 min training: The 3 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming an Interior Designer https://learn.mcclainmethod.com/dsa_webinar_registration

📕 Order a signed copy of John's book: The Designer Within (or purchase anywhere books are sold!) https://johnmcclaindesign.com/designerwithin

Connect With John!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@mcclainjohn
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mcclainmethod
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohnmcclain/

Episode 94: Set Up Your AI Once So It Actually Works Every Time

Most designers are using AI.

But they’re barely scratching the surface.

And it’s costing them time every week.

In this episode, I break down what I saw at Design Edge and why most designers feel like AI isn’t working for them.

This isn’t about tools.

It’s about setting it up the right way so it actually helps your business.

What You’ll Learn

• Why AI feels generic or off
• The real reason it’s not saving you time
• How to use it beyond captions
• One simple setup step that changes everything

Your One Action Step

Set it up properly.

Work Along Workshop

How I Use AI in My Interior Design Business (and How You Can Too)
May 13, 2026 • Live + Replay

You’ll set this up with me in real time.

$47 (price increases May 8)
👉 McClainMethod.com/ai

Final Thought

You don’t need more tools.

You need a better way to use what you already have.

Text Me a Message!

How I Use AI in My Interior Design Business

In this live session, you will set up AI to sound like you, use it in your real workflow, and walk away with tools you can apply immediately in your business.

https://mcclainmethod.com/ai

Support the show

🌟 For all things John and The McClain Method, head to: www.mcclainmethod.com https://mcclainmethod.com/ for information on coaching, memberships, & more!

Sign up for my free 40 min training: The 3 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming an Interior Designer https://learn.mcclainmethod.com/dsa_webinar_registration

📕 Order a signed copy of John's book: The Designer Within (or purchase anywhere books are sold!) https://johnmcclaindesign.com/designerwithin

Connect With John!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@mcclainjohn
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themcclainmethod
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mcclainmethod
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohnmcclain/