Starting with the Rug: Pettina Eckart-Watts & the Celestial Lagoon Collaboration

In this episode of Designing Australia, I’m joined by Paul Coulson from Earthborne by Design for a candid conversation about what it means to run a design practice in a changing market. We talk about quieter pipelines, shifting client behaviour and the temptation to respond by discounting, over-marketing or questioning your own value. Instead, Paul argues for a more considered approach: change the scope, not the value, communicate more clearly what designers actually bring to a project, and focus on the relationships that sustain a practice over the long term. We also explore the loneliness that can come with running a small design business, why reaching out to other designers matters, and the value of having honest conversations about the difficult periods as well as the wins. Ultimately, this is a conversation about resilience, connection and adapting without losing sight of the value of good design. Find more of Paul's work https://www.earthbornebydesign.com.au/

Stop Marketing to Everyone: Building a Design Business That Gets Noticed What does good marketing actually look like for a small interior design practice? To kick off Season Two of Designing Australia, Dave sits down with interior designer and marketing professional Marilena Baynes, founder of Marilena Baynes Interior Design Studio, to talk about finding your audience, positioning your practice and getting much clearer about who you're actually trying to reach. We get practical about what works for a small studio with limited time and resources, where designers should be putting their marketing energy, what we might be wasting our time on, and how to turn the design process itself into content that demonstrates real value. A conversation about marketing, branding and building a design practice that doesn't need to appeal to everyone, just the right people. Featuring Marilena Baynes, Marilena Baynes Interior Design Studio. https://www.marilenabaynesinteriors.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marilenabaynesinteriors/

Pour a wine and unwind with Dave in this festive solo episode as he walks through the 12 biggest lessons he’s learned as an interior designer, from networking, communication, and boundaries to confidence, creativity, and charging what you’re worth. This reflective end-of-year special dives into the realities of building a design career: the wins, the mistakes, the messy client moments, and the quiet breakthroughs that shape who we become as designers. Whether you’re a design student, a fresh grad, or simply need a mental reset coming toward the end of the year, these 12 lessons offer reassurance, clarity, and a warm reminder that every designer starts somewhere and you're never alone on the path to creating wonderful spaces.

In this episode of Designing Australia, Dave chats with Brisbane designer and good wine drinking buddy, Kirsty Duncan, founder of Bearcanvas Interiors, an award-winning studio known for creating timeless, intuitive spaces that reflect how people truly live. Together, they unpack the reality of imposter syndrome in the design industry; the quiet doubt that can creep in, whether you’re just starting out or decades into your career. They explore how to reconnect with your confidence, how to communicate your true value to clients, and why so many homeowners only realise the importance of using a designer after their renovation. It’s an open, honest conversation about self-worth, professionalism, and the courage it takes to back yourself as a creative. 🎧 Hosted by Dave Harvey, Disko Designs 📍 Guest: Kirsty Duncan, Bearcanvas Interiors https://www.houzz.com.au/professionals/interior-designers-and-decorators/bearcanvas-interiors-pfvwau-pf~1133418554

In this episode of Designing Australia, Dave sits down with Brisbane builder Dan Murray, Director of Finer Touch Projects, to explore what true collaboration between designers and builders really looks like. With a simple philosophy — to build cool things, well — Dan shares how early communication, transparency, and mutual respect can transform a project from functional to exceptional. Together, Dave and Dan unpack the nuances of the designer–builder relationship: navigating revisions, managing on-the-fly changes, balancing creativity with constructability, and maintaining a client’s confidence from start to finish. Whether you’re a designer, builder, or just love good process, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes great homes are built through teamwork — not tension.