Friday, April 11, 2025
By: Cara Jackson
The University of Florida’s Department of Interior Design hosted an alumni panel on March 25, during which successful interior designers shared advice on managing expectations and stress in the industry.
The panel featured four accomplished designers: Smita Sahoo, owner, founder and creative director of āśaya I DESIGN in Chicago; Cat Lindsay, owner and founder of CAT LINDSAY DESIGNS in New York City; Chiara Manhas, designer at MANHAS DESIGN in Fort Lauderdale; and Miriam Ganesh, director of interior design and associate at RLF in Orlando.
The event aimed to provide students with practical advice on navigating the complexities of the design industry while continuing to develop professionally. The speakers emphasized the importance of setting boundaries, maintaining creativity, networking and communicating effectively with clients and teams.
“If you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t care for anyone else,” Lindsay said, stressing the importance of self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Manhas encouraged students to recognize when taking a step back is necessary. “It’s okay to take a break. You can’t really force creativity,” she said. “Know that it’s okay to take a step back, disconnect completely, and come back to it once you have a fresh slate.”
Ganesh acknowledged the challenges of staying inspired when working on uninspiring projects. “Burnout is huge in our industry, and being creative is a part of who we are,” she said. “If it’s not something you’re passionate about, put a positive spin on it and focus on that, and then the pieces will start to fall in place for you.”
The panelists discussed managing stress, keeping creativity flowing during complex projects, and handling challenges. “Failure is not failure. It’s learning,” Sahoo said, encouraging students to face challenges as learning experiences.
Effective communication, transparency, and flexibility were key discussions centered around maintaining professional relationships. “I think communication is key, and if there are some issues, don’t wait until the end. Raise your hand and say what the issues are,” Sahoo said. “It’s important to stay laser focused on the goal and be flexible with your day-to-day execution.”
Manhas emphasized the importance of communication. “I feel like the most important things when it comes to this topic are communication, honesty and transparency,” she said. “When things go wrong, you have to be upfront. Being proactive with your team and clients is the best way to manage expectations.”
Lindsay advised students to collaborate with clients as they move into the field. “We found that developing strong relationships with clients where it’s actually dynamic,” she said. “It’s not, ‘I’m a designer, and you’re the client.’ It’s like, ‘We are a team.'”
The designers also encouraged students to prioritize networking and building connections before graduation. “The more people you know, the better your opportunities,” Lindsay said.
” Even if you’re in school, you have tremendous opportunities,” Sahoo said.
The event provided students with valuable insights and strategies for navigating their careers, highlighting the importance of building connections and overcoming industry challenges.
