Episode 76: The Truth Behind Rebranding a Design Studio with Rebekah Zaveloff

Every once in a while, you sit down with someone who doesn’t just talk about design… they embody it. And in this episode, Rebekah Zaveloff proves she’s one of those rare voices you don’t forget. In this episode we sit down with Rebekah Zaveloff, co founder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio. If you don’t know her yet, you’re about to understand why so many people in the design world consider her one of the sharpest minds in the room. Rebekah takes us behind the curtain of a twenty year journey filled with hospitality grit, creative evolution, brand equity, naming nightmares, client psychology, and the real tension between what you want to build and what the market thinks you are. If you’ve ever wrestled with evolving your brand, redefining your identity, or figuring out how to grow without losing yourself, this conversation is going to feel uncomfortably familiar in all the best ways. We also unpack the real story behind building Kitchen Lab, spinning off Imparfait, and navigating the messy, exhilarating middle where most of us live. And let me tell you, this isn’t a polished highlight reel. It’s honest. It’s gritty. It’s unexpectedly funny. And it’s loaded with the kind of insight that only comes from two decades of trial, error, and refusing to settle. Inside the episode, we explore • The surprising place Rebekah says taught her more than design school ever did • What really happens behind the scenes of a rebrand • The moment she realized her company had outgrown its own name • Why brand equity is more powerful than most creatives realize • The tension between what clients think you do and who you’re becoming • The emotional cost of growth and why “imperfect” became the perfect identity • A rare look at how top creatives choose PR partners who actually move the needle This episode is a reminder that design isn’t just about rooms. It’s about identity. It’s about evolution. It’s about learning to trust your gut even when the safe option is staring you right in the face. If you’re growing a business, building a brand, or figuring out the next version of yourself, Rebekah’s story will hit you in the best possible way. It’s one of those conversations you think about long after it ends. Check out our website too: https://designdash.com/ Follow us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/ https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher