This is why nobody is hiring you as a designer
If your inbox is empty and your calendar is wide open, it’s not bad luck - it’s something you’re doing (or not doing).
Here’s why clients aren’t hiring you and how to fix it.
1. Your portfolio is weak (or non-existent)
No portfolio = no proof. No proof = no trust.
People hire designers because they see what they can do, not because they say they’re good. If your portfolio is small or nonexistent, clients will move on.
How to fix it:
If you don’t have real projects yet then create conceptual work and projects. Find a floor plan online and design a dream home using SketchUp or other software.
Share your process, not just finished projects. Sketches, 3D models, floor plans - these all show clients how you think and work.
Use your own home as a project case study (if you have a home that is of a style clients would like)
Offer to redesign a space for free - e.g. friend, family, local cafe etc. Make sure they will be happy for you to use their finished space in your portfolio
Use mockups to present your ideas in a professional way
Turn SketchUp models into realistic renders (be transparent that these are renders - trying to trick clients is unethical and will always backfire)
2. People don’t like your design style
Hard truth: you have to sell what the market wants.
If nobody is hiring you, it’s time for some self-reflection. Are you actually good at what you do, or do you just think you are?
Loving design and being good at design are two different things.
You might believe your style is unique and visionary, but if clients aren’t buying, it’s not working. You have to sell what the market wants, not what you personally like.
This isn’t about selling out - it’s about understanding what people will actually pay for.
How to fix it:
Be brutally honest about your taste – Look at the top designers in your area. Compare your work objectively. Does your work look just as polished as theirs? If not, you have some work to do to level up your skills.
Get professional feedback – Stop asking friends and family if they like your work. They won’t be honest. Join a design group (like our design community!), ask experienced designers for feedback or even hire a mentor to tell you the truth.
Study the fundamentals of great design – Bad taste often comes from a lack of understanding. Learn composition, proportion, balance and colour theory. Good design isn’t just about picking pretty things - it’s about creating a cohesive, well-executed space.
Research what’s in demand – Study top designers, check Instagram trends and visit high-end real estate that’s for sale in the areas you service. If you hate everything that’s selling, you either need to evolve or find a different clientele.
Pivot slightly without losing your identity – If your style is too niche, tone it down slightly to be more market-friendly.
Stop assuming clients are the problem – If every client rejects your work, you are the common denominator. Instead of blaming them for “not getting it,” figure out why they don’t like it and fix it.
Be willing to improve – The best designers are always learning. If you haven’t improved in the last five years, you’re stagnating. Take courses and push yourself to get better.
3. Nobody knows you exist
You can be the best designer in the world, but if nobody sees your work, it doesn’t matter.
Most designers think posting a few times on Instagram or relying on word-of-mouth is enough. It’s not. You’re invisible.
Clients won’t magically appear. You need to force yourself into their world.
How to fix it:
Post your work consistently – If you’re not posting at least 3-4 times a week on Instagram (ideally daily) you’re missing opportunities. Share your projects, behind-the-scenes and helpful (non-obvious) design tips. This helps you stay top of mind when someone needs a designer.
Stop making content for other designers – Clients don’t care about your love of obscure Italian furniture brands. Speak directly to homeowners and business owners about their actual design problems.
Use Pinterest for organic reach – Unlike Instagram, Pinterest content lives forever. Upload mood boards, before-and-afters and project images. This can drive traffic to your website for years. Pinterest isn’t a great conversion tool but it works really well for brand building and driving traffic.
Engage with local businesses – Network with real estate agents, builders and high-end furniture stores. These people already work with your ideal clients and can send referrals your way if you build a relationship with them.
Claim your Google Business profile – If someone searches “interior designer near me” and you don’t show up, you’re losing easy leads. Set up your profile today. Add photos. Get reviews. Be the designer that actually pops up when people are looking.
Stay on your past clients’ radar – Most designers never follow up. That’s stupid. Send a quick check-in email 6-12 months after a project to see how they’re enjoying their space and to just say hello. It reminds them you exist and they may just have a friend who needs your help.
Run targeted ads – If you have the budget, a small, well-targeted Instagram or Facebook ad campaign can put you in front of local clients looking for a designer right now.
4. You’re talking to the wrong audience
Designing for "everyone" will attract no one.
If your marketing is vague, clients won’t feel like you’re the right fit. They’ll scroll past you and hire the designer who speaks directly to them.
Stop trying to appeal to anyone who needs a designer. Instead, get hyper-specific.
How to fix it:
Decide exactly who you want to work with – Luxury homeowners? Café owers? Developers? If you don’t pick, the market will ignore you.
Speak their language – If you design modern apartments for busy professionals, don’t say “I create beautiful interiors”. Say “We design functional homes for busy professionals” Clients should feel like you’re talking directly to them.
Make your portfolio and content match your ideal client – Want high-end residential clients? Stop posting budget-friendly IKEA hacks. Your content should reflect the type of projects you want more of.
Attract, don’t chase – The right clients should land on your website or Instagram and immediately think “This is exactly who I need”
5. Clients don’t trust you
No trust = no sale.
Even if someone loves your work, they won’t hire you if they don’t believe you can actually deliver.
Nobody wants to gamble with their money on an unproven designer. If you don’t actively build trust, clients will ghost you.
How to fix it:
Ask for testimonials – Social proof is everything.
Share case studies – Don’t just post a pretty picture and expect people to be impressed. Tell the full story: What was the problem? What did you do? What was the transformation? Clients need to see results, not just aesthetics. Plus - storytelling sells.
Be seen as an expert and authority in your niche – Stop only posting project photos. Write about design mistakes to avoid, renovation tips and layout strategies. Teach people something. When people learn from you, they trust you.
6. You’re making it hard to do business with you
If your process is annoying, clients will go elsewhere.
No one wants to fill out a 10-page form, sit through a forced “discovery call” or wait a week for an email reply.
The more hoops they have to jump through, the faster they’ll move on to a designer who makes things easy.
How to fix it:
Simplify your initial inquiry process – add an online booking form to your website so clients can pay and book an initial design consultation right there and then. The bonus of this is you also save time on the admin of setting this up PLUS you will start to make a bit of side-income while you’re out and about working on other client projects. The easier you make the process, the more people will book.
Be responsive – Reply to all DMs or emails within 24 hours - but ideally within a few hours and even better within a few minutes. Often the difference between getting a client or not is simply who gets back to them the fastest.
Remove friction – If you wouldn’t go through your own process, fix it. Clients should feel like working with you is effortless, not frustrating.
Don’t make clients work to give you their money. If it’s hard to hire you, they will go elsewhere.
7. Your pricing is off
You’re either:
A) Charging too little and look inexperienced
B) Charging too much without proving your value
Either way, clients aren’t convinced you’re worth it.
How to fix it:
Be transparent about pricing – As part of your booking form say something like, “Our full-service design starts at $X.” The bonus here is that potential clients self-select out if they don’t meet your minimum budget requirements.
Explain the ROI of hiring you – Most clients don’t see design as a necessity so educate them on why it’s an investment. Show how good design increases home value and improves daily life.
Stop underpricing thinking you will win more work – Cheap designers attract nightmare clients. If you charge bottom dollar, expect scope creep, late payments and zero respect for your work. Plus you won’t be able to photograph the projects for your portfolio. Raise your rates and act like a professional.
Back up your high pricing with proof – If you charge premium rates, show your premium results. High-ticket clients want to see experience and social proof.
Position yourself at the right level – If you’re struggling to book clients at your price point, you’re either in the wrong market or not proving your worth. Adjust accordingly.
8. You look unprofessional
Even if you’re talented, sloppy branding and errors makes you look like an amateur.
If your website looks DIY, your email is a Gmail account, you make grammatical mistakes in your communication or you just don’t look the part, clients won’t take you seriously.
How to fix it:
Upgrade your website – If your site looks outdated or half-finished, fix it. Your website is your storefront - make it look like a business, not a hobby.
Ditch the generic email – janedesigns@gmail.com screams inexperienced freelancer. Use a custom domain: hello@janedesignstudio.com. It signals professionalism.
Be polished in all communication – Spelling mistakes, casual emails or late responses destroy credibility. Write clearly and always double check your work before sending. Sloppy errors could be the reason a client won’t hire you (as they won’t trust you with their biggest asset - their home).
Invest in good branding – your logo, fonts and visuals should reflect your expertise.
Look the part – If you meet clients in person, dress the way a professional designer should. Like it or not, people judge and first impressions matter.
Clients don’t just hire talent - they hire credibility and professionalism.
9. You’re not doing enough proactive lead generation
Most designers sit around waiting for clients to find them.
That’s why most designers are broke. Clients don’t just show up - you have to go get them.
How to fix it:
Make lead gen a daily habit – DM 10 potential clients every day, engage with people on Instagram and actively network in person. If you’re not consistently reaching out, you’re not serious about growing your business.
Tap into referrals – Your best clients will come from past clients. Ask for introductions. People trust recommendations from their friends/family.
Get out of your bubble – If you’re only posting on Instagram and hoping for the best, you’re doing the bare minimum. Get out there and actually start trying to find clients.
Follow up on past inquiries – People get busy but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to work with you. Follow-up = more business.
If you’re not actively generating leads, you’re not running a business - you’re just waiting. Do the work - it’s not meant to be easy!
The harsh truth: If nobody is hiring you, you need to try something new!
It’s not bad luck. It’s not the market. It’s how you’re positioning yourself.
The designers who get booked:
✅ Have strong portfolios
✅ Make their work easy to find
✅ Show up online consistently
✅ Speak to the right audience
✅ Build trust
✅ Remove friction from the hiring process
If you’re not doing these things, you will struggle to get hired.
But here’s the good news: every one of these problems is fixable.
it’s totally within your control!
Thanks for reading and catch you in my next post :)
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
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