Trade Tales Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen

Donna Mondi on why she created a client experience taskforce; the book that made her goals feel manageable, and why she’s reconsidering a role she created on her team that left her too far out of the loop when it came to the firm’s design work.

Christopher Courts and Edel Legaspi on the decision to separate their professional partnership, the new opportunities they hope to conquer as solopreneurs, and how they’re now thinking about differentiating themselves from other firms.

Ali Budd on how she sets her firm apart in the competition for clients, what it takes to create a safe space for employees and finding the sweet spot where she can play a role in every project.

Kai Williamson on why hiring a senior designer first transformed her business, how she landed on a per-square-foot fee structure, and how she realized that doing good work and feeling good about the work aren’t always the same thing.

Brian Paquette on why aesthetics alone won’t make him say yes to a project, what he learned from downsizing his team, and how a focus on simplicity inspired his approach to billing.

Michael Hilal on why he’s not afraid to hire a team with more experience than himself, why he’s rethinking his approach to media after a whirlwind of early press attention, and the fine line between inspiration and copycats in the design industry.