How I Built a Creative Business From Scratch (With Zero Experience)

Lucy Baird didn’t leave her job with a clear plan. She left because she knew staying was no longer an option. What followed was the slow, quiet build of Studio LGB, an interior design practice rooted in clarity, trust, and work that speaks for itself. Less than two years in, her studio is already earning attention from the likes of Architectural Digest.

In this episode of Founders With Nick, Lucy shares how she navigated those uncertain early months, how she won her first major clients without a portfolio, and what it really takes to go from employee to founder in a saturated industry.

🟣 In this episode, we cover:

🏙️ Starting a design studio with no cofounder, no funding, no backup
📐 The slow, thoughtful way she landed her first big projects
🧠 The mindset shift from employee to creative entrepreneur
💬 Why client relationships are as much psychology as they are design
⚖️ How she’s defining growth on her own terms

For anyone thinking of making the leap, or already mid-jump, this is a real look at what it means to create on your own terms.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:00 Leaving your job and sending that important email
06:56 Building a network from scratch in New York
09:46 Debunking misconceptions about interior design
11:49 The brutal truth of project and client management
16:24 How to accurately charge clients for work
17:52 Signature style and what makes work stand out
19:56 Art as the starting point for every room
21:24 Struggling with numbers but learning to let support in
23:59 Facing scepticism and proving yourself in a male-dominated industry
28:31 Hot streaks, dry spells, and faking confidence online
30:58 Advice for anyone stuck in a job they’ve outgrown
33:11 Spaces as a glimpse into people’s personalities
36:09 Old buildings, charm and the soul of a space
37:14 Leaving a legacy through design and function

→ Follow Founders With Nick:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/founderswithnick
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/founders-with-nick

→ Nick Langridge
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-langridge/
LNGR: https://www.lngr.co.uk/

→ Follow Lucy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucycurates/
Studio LGB: https://www.studiolgb.com/