AI for Interior Designers™ *Podcast

Ep 73: What I'm Doing This Summer (And Why I Want You to Join Me)

Episode 73 — What I'm Doing This Summer (And Why I Want You to Join Me) AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast · Jenna Gaidusek Jenna gets honest about what's been happening behind the scenes — a scattered site, an evolving program, and a summer that's finally clearing the runway. She shares why she permanently left ChatGPT for Claude + Gemini, how she actually uses AI (spoiler: it's not chat threads - it's custom apps and branded dashboards built for real design workflows), and what's coming this summer with Field Day, a 9-week live AI learning program starting June 2nd. Open enrollment pricing drops from $149 → $79. A new website is on the way. The AI App Studio is growing. And none of it is built by a tech company guessing what designers need.  Field Day — Enroll Now (Starting June 2nd): aiforinteriordesigners.com/field-day [https://aiforinteriordesigners.com/field-day] Key Takeaways * After more than three months away from it, Jenna has officially and permanently moved on from ChatGPT — not because of the product, but because of the company and the people running it. Her current stack is Claude and Gemini, and she is not looking back. * The way Jenna actually uses AI has almost nothing to do with typing into a chat thread. She builds branded apps, dashboards, and custom AI-powered tools that pull from spreadsheets and calendars and produce beautiful, functional interfaces designed specifically for design business workflows. * The AI App Studio inside her programs is growing — and every tool in it was built by a working designer, for working designers. Not by a tech company that thinks it knows what you need. * Field Day is a 9-week summer AI learning program starting Tuesday, June 2nd. It begins at absolute square one and builds every single week, with live sessions, structured study halls, and hands-on implementation time built into every class. * Open enrollment class pricing is dropping from $149 to $79. The economy is hard, and Jenna wants more designers to be able to access the training. Plain and simple. * A fully rebuilt, highly interactive website is in progress and coming soon. The current site is being untangled — Jenna knows it, she owns it, and it is getting fixed.

EP 72: AI Search Conversation: The new Rules of Being Found Online

The rules of being found online haven't disappeared. They've evolved. In Episode 72, Jenna sits down with Robyn White of RDW Design Studio — website designer, brand strategist, and SEO specialist for interior designers — to break down exactly what has changed with AI search, what still matters, and what your design firm needs to do right now to show up when potential clients are searching in ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. If you have been putting off your SEO because it feels overwhelming, or wondering whether all of that work you already did on your website even matters anymore, this episode is your answer. (It does. You are not starting over. You are adding layers.) WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * The difference between traditional SEO and AI search — and why the shift from keywords to questions changes everything * Why brand mentions are the new backlinks and how podcast features and press mentions are working for your AI visibility right now, even without a link * The exact blog post structure that makes your content extractable by AI: key takeaways first, answer before support, FAQs at the end * Jenna's voice note workflow — how she turns real client meeting moments into search-optimized blog content that sounds like her because it is her * What EEAT means and why your case studies, client stories, and testimonials are more valuable than ever * Whether AI-written content actually hurts your Google rankings — Robyn gives a refreshingly honest, nuanced take THE ONE THING TO TAKE FROM THIS EPISODE If AI can't clearly define you, it can't recommend you. Get crystal clear on who you are, what you do, who you do it for, and how you do it. Then make sure that message is consistent everywhere you show up online. Websites, social profiles, newsletter bios, podcast features. It all needs to match. These are bots. Inconsistency breeds distrust. ABOUT ROBYN WHITE Robyn White is the founder of RDW Design Studio, where she works almost exclusively with interior designers as a website designer, brand strategist, and SEO specialist. She offers traditional SEO, AI search optimization, website design, and ongoing monthly SEO services. Find Robyn at rdwdesignstudio.com. She is also joining Jenna as a guest instructor for Q2 of the AI for Interior Designers™ Certificate Program — her class on AI search visibility is May 19th. Enrollment closes May 4th. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Claude by Anthropic — anthropic.com ChatGPT by OpenAI — openai.com Google NotebookLM — notebooklm.google.com Perplexity AI — perplexity.ai Google Analytics — analytics.google.com LuAnn University — luannnigara.com/lu/ AI for Interior Designers™ Certificate Program Q2 — aiforinteriordesigners.com   CONNECT WITH JENNA www.aiforinteriordesigners.com | @aiforinteriordesigners

EP 71: Stop Keeping It All in Your Head: Building AI-Powered SOPs for Your Design Firm

Are Your Business Processes Living Rent-Free in Your Head? If your team can't access the knowledge you carry around in your mind, your design firm is more vulnerable than you think. In this episode, Jenna Gaidusek sits down with Dixie Willard — Founder of Poised & Plumb and operations expert for interior design firms — to talk about how AI is completely changing the way designers build, document, and manage Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). In this episode, you'll learn: * Why keeping everything in your head is one of the biggest risks to your business * How to use voice-to-text to capture your processes on the fly — even during a furniture delivery * Why Google NotebookLM is a game-changer for creating a private, searchable knowledge base your whole team can use * How to bring your brand voice into Claude the right way (without dragging in years of messy chat history) * The mindset shift from depending on SaaS tools to building your own AI-powered systems * Why documented SOPs are your business's best protection when the unexpected happens This conversation is packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately , whether you're a solo designer or managing a growing team. Don't miss these upcoming opportunities with Dixie: Dixie will be speaking at the 2nd Annual AI Design Tech Summit on April 2nd and teaching an in-depth course on AI-powered SOPs as part of the AI Certificate Program in May (Q2). Register before the summit for Q2 and your summit ticket is included! 🎟️ Summit tickets: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/virtual-design-tech-summit-26 [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/virtual-design-tech-summit-26] 📚 Certificate Program: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.ai/ [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.ai/] Resources & Links: 🔗 Dixie Willard's Website — Poised & Plumb: https://poisedandplumb.com/ [https://poisedandplumb.com/] 📲 Follow Dixie on Instagram: @poisedandplumb | @designingdixie 🌐 Learn More About AI for Interior Designers: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/ [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/] Join the AI for Interior Designers Community! Subscribe to the Podcast so you never miss an episode Follow Jenna on Instagram: @aiforinteriordesigners | @jenna.gaidusek If this episode hit home, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and tap the notification bell — staying ahead of AI in the design world starts here. 🎓 Explore AI for Interior Designers™: https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/ [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.com/]

EP 70: Keeping Interior Design Human in a World of AI with Sharon Sherman

In this special episode recorded live from the KBIS 2026 Podcast Studio, Sponsored by AJ Madison Pro, AI for Interior Designers *Podcast host Jenna Gaidusek sits down with the KBB Person of the Year, Sharon Sherman, founder of Thyme & Place Design. As AI moves at a breakneck pace, who is guiding the ship? Jenna and Sharon dive deep into the "feminine energy" required to nurture this technology, the importance of setting rigid ethical boundaries, and why AI can mimic a mood board but can never understand the "energetic quality" of a home. From Sharon’s AI assistant "Ursula" to the rising trend of "Analog Rooms," this conversation is a must-listen for designers looking to stay human in a digital world. In This Episode, We Discuss: * AI as a "Child": Why boundaries and "parenting" your AI models are essential for ethical design. * The Ethics of Stealing: How to use AI to enhance your own portfolio without infringing on others. * The Power of Analog: Why "sit tests," real stone, and physical connection are becoming the ultimate luxury in a digital age. * Human EQ vs. AI IQ: Why the industry still needs the "voice of reason" only a human designer can provide. * The "Wait and See" Crowd: Why the industry needs hesitant designers to help build better solutions. Resources & Links Learn with Jenna & Sharon: * AI for Interior Designers™ Certificate Program: Register for Q2 Enrollment Here [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.ai/] * Q2 Class (May 8): The Ethical Designer: AI Humanization & Team Leadership [https://www.aiforinteriordesigners.ai/calendar/q2-class-2-the-ethical-designer-ai-humanization-team-leadership] Connect with Sharon Sherman: * Website: Thyme & Place Design [https://thymeandplacedesign.com/] * Instagram: @thymeandplacedesign [https://www.instagram.com/thymeandplacedesign/?hl=en] Our Sponsors: * AJ Madison Pro: Smarter appliance sourcing and exclusive trade programs. ajmadison.com/pro [https://www.ajmadison.com/pro] * KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show): Special thanks to the KBIS Podcast Studio. kbis.com [https://kbis.com/]

EP 69: Is Interior Design rendering Dead? How AI Tools Are Changing Client Visuals

Is Interior Design Rendering Dead? How AI Tools Are Changing Client Visuals In this episode of the AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast, Jenna breaks down whether traditional 3D rendering still makes sense for interior designers now that AI tools can create convincing visuals in a fraction of the time. For years, high-end 3D renderings were the gold standard. Designers would spend 10–14 hours perfecting materials, lighting, and tiny details. It was beautiful work—but also time‑consuming, expensive, and often overkill for what most clients actually needed: confidence in the concept and clarity around how everything fits. Now, AI is changing that balance. Jenna shares why she personally stopped offering full 3D renderings nearly two years ago, how she now combines accurate floor plans with AI-generated imagery and video, and what this shift means for render artists, students, and working designers. In This Episode, We Cover: * The shift from hand drafting to high-speed visuals: Why BIM tools and generative AI are the next inflection point in our industry’s evolution. * When to skip the 14-hour render: How to identify when a client needs a high-end investment versus when they just need a "vibe" check. * The New Workflow: How to build accurate 2D plans, then layer on fast AI visuals to sell the concept without the pixel-perfect obsession. * The Future of Render Artists: Why technical designers are more valuable than ever as “accuracy editors” and quality control specialists. * Designer vs. DIY AI: How to talk to clients who think they can replace a professional designer with a few prompts. Key Takeaways & Workflow Tips Why Traditional Rendering is Evolving Clients are increasingly hesitant to pay for "perfect" scale in every pixel when they can get a clear vision of the mood and layout in under two hours. Jenna explains how she uses tools like Mydoma’s Visualizer to create accurate floor plans and 2D drawings, then pivots to AI for the "wow" factor. Jenna’s Current AI Visualization Stack 1. Foundation: Create a solid, scaled floor plan with accurate dimensions. 2. Concept: Build a clean concept board with actual products in Canva. 3. Visualization: Use AI (Google Gemini or ChatGPT) to "drop" real products into an AI-generated room image. 4. Immersion: Turn those stills into short video walkthroughs using video-generation features to show the dog on the bed or the way light hits the sofa. Mentioned in this Episode Jenna’s Platforms & Education: * AI for Interior Designers™ (Site + Newsletter) [https://aiforinteriordesigners.com] * AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast Home [https://aiforinteriordesigners.com/podcast] * Live AI & Visualization Classes [http://aiforinteriordesigners.ai/classes] * Certificate Program Press Feature (KBB) [https://kbbonline.com/business-people-news/ai-for-interior-designers-launches-certificate-program/166304/] * Business of Home: Will AI put renders out of business?  [https://businessofhome.com/articles/will-ai-put-renderers-out-of-business] Visualization & AI Tools: * * SketchUp: sketchup.com [https://www.sketchup.com] * Mydoma Studio: mydomastudio.com [https://www.mydomastudio.com] * Canva: canva.com [https://www.canva.com] * Google Gemini: gemini.google.com [https://gemini.google.com] * ChatGPT: chatgpt.com [https://chatgpt.com]   Industry Events & Organizations: * IDS - Interior Design Society interiordesignsociety.org [https://interiordesignsociety.org/]  * KBIS – Kitchen & Bath Industry Show: kbis.com [https://kbis.com] * ASID: asid.org [https://www.asid.org] * High Point Market: highpointmarket.org [https://www.highpointmarket.org] * A + D Summit for Photographers in Austin March 4-6- https://www.ad-photosummit.com/ [https://www.ad-photosummit.com/] Use code JENNA for $500 off.  * LuAnn Nigara / LuAnn University: luannnigara.com [https://luannnigara.com] Final Thought AI images are a power tool for marketing and quick visualization, but they are not a substitute for professional space planning and real-world experience. If you’re ready to streamline your visuals and stop losing days to 3D modeling for every project, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with the latest tips and tools for designers!