Behind the Design

Olivia Austin
  • 4.8 (36)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Behind the Design is a podcast for ambitious designers and creatives ready to move beyond inconsistent income, overworking, and playing small and into a more refined, scalable, and sustainable business and life. Hosted by Olivia Austin, brand strategist and business mentor, the show goes behind the scenes of what it actually takes to build a high-performing creative business through smarter offers, confident pricing, streamlined systems, and the mindset required to scale without burnout. This is the gateway into The Studio Co., where clarity, leverage, and long-term growth begin.

  1. 3D AGO

    155. Why Your Design Studio Isn't Scaling

    TAKE THE FREE QUIZ, The Studio Growth Assessment, to find out what's holding your brand & website design studio from scaling. https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-growth-assessment Many designers assume that if their studio isn’t growing, they simply need more clients, more visibility, or better marketing. But the truth is, most design studios struggle becuase their business was never structured to scale, not because of talent or demand.     In this episode, Olivia breaks down the real reasons many design studios plateau, from unclear positioning and over-customized services to the systems and structural foundations most designers never build.If you’ve ever felt busy but not necessarily growing, or wondered why your studio still feels unpredictable despite working hard, this episode will help you see your business through a new lens.You’ll learn:• The biggest structural mistake most designers make • Why freelance habits often prevent studios from scaling • The four bottlenecks that limit studio growth • The mindset shift that separates freelancers from studio owners

    24 min

  2. MAR 4

    154. Why Slow Seasons Are the Best Time to Grow Your Studio

    Every design studio experiences slower seasons at some point. While these periods can feel stressful, they can also be some of the most valuable moments for strengthening your business.In this episode, Olivia shares how successful studio owners use slower seasons strategically to improve their positioning, refine their services, build stronger systems, and increase their visibility.Instead of reacting to quiet periods with panic, you’ll learn how to use them to create a stronger foundation for your next season of growth. https://thestudioco.co/aligned-offer-suite-workbook

    21 min

  3. FEB 25

    153. The Part-Time CEO Playbook: How to Scale Without Burning Out with Shay from Bucketlist Bombshells

    I’m joined by Shay (co-founder of Bucket List Bombshells) to talk about what it actually looks like to scale a business with intention without letting it consume your calendar, your energy, or your life. We go behind the scenes of how Shay and her co-founder went from meeting in a café in Mexico to building a global education brand with 10,000+ students, a multi-million dollar business, and a team structure that supports freedom (not burnout). We also unpack the difference between chasing shiny strategies and making data-driven decisions you can stand behind—plus Shay’s practical “90-day experiment” framework for knowing what’s worth your time.

    1h 5m

  4. FEB 18

    152. The Hidden Costs of Being Flexible With Clients

    #branddesign #websitedesign #creativeentrepreneur I’m breaking down the hidden cost of being “flexible” with clients and why that flexibility might be the very thing keeping you stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle. If you’re constantly adjusting timelines, adding extra revisions, customizing your entire process, or discounting to “make it work,” it probably feels like good service. It feels kind. It feels accommodating. LINKS: https://thestudioco.co/the-studio-mastermind https://thestudioco.co/aligned-offer-suite-workbook

    27 min

  5. FEB 11

    151. Motherhood, $15k Projects & a 3-Day Workweek

    FREE GUIDE: Why High Paying Clients Aren't Choosing You, Yet! https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps Let’s be honest, when you see someone running multiple businesses, signing high-ticket clients, launching programs and raising little kids… it’s easy to assume they’ve either got a secret productivity hack or a nanny living in their basement. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how I structure my 25-hour workweek without waking up at 4am, burning out, or working late every night. I’ll walk you through what my weekly schedule actually looks like, how I set it up to be both profitable and sustainable, and the key decisions that made it all possible. Whether you’re a parent or not, if you're tired of the chaos and ready for more ease and clarity in your schedule, this one’s for you.

    38 min

  6. FEB 4

    150. Why You Slow Down Right Before a Breakthrough

    FREE GUIDE: The 5 Strategic Gaps Keeping Designers Stuck Under $200k → ⁠https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps⁠ On mile 25 of a marathon, I noticed something that stopped me in my tracks: everyone around me was walking, not in the painful middle when the miles felt endless, but at the very end when the finish line was finally in sight. It made me realize this is exactly what so many of us do in life, business, habits, and motherhood: we don’t quit at the beginning, we quit at almost. In this episode, I break down the psychology behind why our brains slow us down when we’re closest to a breakthrough, why this is especially true for women and moms carrying an invisible mental load, and how high performers use simple rituals and identity shifts to push through the resistance of the “last mile.” This isn’t about hustling harder—it’s about understanding what’s happening in your brain and becoming the woman who finishes stronger than she starts. If you’ve ever felt yourself stall right before something big, this one is for you. https://thestudioco.co/ @byoliviaaustin // @thestudioco.co

    36 min

  7. JAN 28

    149. Behind the Scenes of $300k-$500k Design Studios

    FREE GUIDE: The 5 Strategic Gaps Keeping Designers Stuck Under $200k → ⁠https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps⁠ What does it really take to scale into $300K–$500K years? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes conversations we’re having with designers who are stepping into $40K+ projects, leading teams, and operating as true CEOs of their studios. Because at this level, growth isn’t about more leads — it’s about capacity, boundaries, leadership, and learning how to hold more responsibility and revenue without burning out. If you’re booked, talented, and ready for your next level, this episode is for you. LINKS: ⁠The Studio Retreat (March 2-6, 2026)⁠⁠The Studio Mastermind (April 2026)⁠⁠Studio Growth Accelerator Waitlist⁠

    34 min

  8. JAN 21

    148. The Truth About $30K Months, Solo Scaling, and Building a Studio That Fits Your Life With Kenzi Green

    https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps // Download our free guide called “Why High-Paying Clients Aren’t Choosing You... Yet” where we break down the 5 strategic gaps keeping talented Brand & Web Designers stuck under $200k. https://thestudioco.co/5-strategic-gaps If you’ve ever thought, “I know I’m good at what I do… so why isn’t the money matching yet?” this episode is for you. Today I’m sitting down with Kenzi Green, founder of Kenzi Green Design and co-founder of The Brief Collective, where she helps designers book $10K clients and finally ditch the starving artist mentality for good. What makes Kenzi’s story so powerful is that she didn’t grow by building a massive team or working nonstop. At one point, she was hitting $30K months completely solo — with no employees, no agency chaos, and a business model that actually supported her life. In this conversation, we’re getting real about what actually drives income as a designer, including: Why having more followers does not automatically mean you’ll make more money How to structure offers that support consistent, high-value bookings The positioning shifts that help you attract better-fit clients And the mindset transition from being a talented creative to stepping fully into the CEO role If you’re ready to stop chasing visibility and start building a studio that pays you well, supports your lifestyle, and lets you grow without burnout, you are going to love this episode.

    1h 8m
See All (161)

4.8
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Behind the Design is a podcast for ambitious designers and creatives ready to move beyond inconsistent income, overworking, and playing small and into a more refined, scalable, and sustainable business and life. Hosted by Olivia Austin, brand strategist and business mentor, the show goes behind the scenes of what it actually takes to build a high-performing creative business through smarter offers, confident pricing, streamlined systems, and the mindset required to scale without burnout. This is the gateway into The Studio Co., where clarity, leverage, and long-term growth begin.

Information

  • Creator
    Olivia Austin
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Olivia Austin
  • Show Website
    Behind the Design

You Might Also Like