189: The Design Besties | Creative Minds Connecting with Purpose

Today we welcome Whitney Atkinson, Rhobin DeLaCruz, Nikki Watson, and Lori Johnson – also known as The Design Besties. In this episode, we discuss the power of community over competition and the impact that collaboration has on their design businesses, personal lives, and the wider design community. The group shares how they met, their diverse creative backgrounds, and how their supportive circle has become an unexpected game-changer in both business and life. Plus, we explore their shared passion for giving back through a philanthropic project that is transforming teachers' lounges across the country.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

• The unexpected way The Design Besties met and how their connection blossomed into a supportive sisterhood.
• How diversity of background and discipline enhances their collaboration and sparks creativity.
• Why true collaboration often means aligning with creatives outside your direct discipline.
• The impact of their first pro bono teachers' lounge transformation – and how it's evolved into a national nonprofit initiative.
• How giving back to the community enriches their own lives and businesses.
• Advice on forming your own creative support circle – including what to look for and what to avoid.
• Their personal definitions of success and survival in the business of design.

NOTABLE QUOTES

• "These are the people that I didn't know I needed. It's been the most amazing experience so far."
•  "I think a lot of us are doers, and we're all just cut from the same cloth."
•  "Part of that admission is knowing that finding the other people that do, and building relationships, is how we grow."
• "Surrounding myself with the right people, that's what these three bring for me. It's life-changing."

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

• The Design Besties Website
• The Design Besties on Instagram
• WUGS Weighted Rugs by Whitney Atkinson
• Rhobin DeLaCruz Designs
• The Design Quad by Nikki Watson
• Lori Johnson Fine Art

SPONSOR LINKS

• Design Manager — Project management and accounting software for interior designers.
• Daniel House Club — Trade purchasing power and concierge services for designers.
• Hooker Furnishings — Furniture, lighting, and décor for residential and commercial spaces.

REGISTER FOR DESIGN BIZ RETREAT
Don't miss the 6th Annual Design Biz Retreat, October 6–7 in Newport Beach, CA. Reserve your spot now!