How to Build Confidence as a Designer: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
You land your first client meeting. Your palms sweat, your mind races, and a little voice whispers: Who am I to call myself a designer?
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Studies show that up to 70% of creative professionals experience imposter syndrome, the nagging belief that you’re not good enough, even when you are. After 27 years in design and education, I’ve seen talented women hold themselves back not because of lack of skill, but because of lack of confidence.
The truth? Confidence is not something you’re magically born with. It’s something you build, one choice and one project at a time. Let’s talk about how you can step from self-doubt into inner authority and finally own your role as a designer.
Why Confidence Feels So Elusive
Interior design is deeply personal. You’re not just picking colors, you’re shaping spaces where people live, work, and heal. That responsibility feels heavy, especially when you’re new or comparing yourself to “perfect” portfolios online.
But here’s the thing: doubt doesn’t mean you’re not ready. It means you care. It means you’re paying attention. And those qualities are what make great designers.
Shift #1: Redefine Expertise
Many women think expertise means knowing everything. But in reality, expertise is about problem-solving and curiosity. Clients don’t expect you to have all the answers; they expect you to guide them with empathy and creativity.
Instead of asking, Am I good enough? try asking, Am I willing to learn and lead? That mindset shift alone reduces the pressure to be “perfect” and helps you step into authority.
Shift #2: Own Your Unique Edge
No two designers see the world the same way. Maybe you’re drawn to biophilic design, weaving nature into homes to boost well-being. Maybe your strength is empathy, creating trauma-informed spaces that feel safe. Or maybe you bring a business background that helps clients stay organized and stress-free.
Confidence grows when you stop trying to be “like everyone else” and start owning what sets you apart. Write down three qualities that make your approach unique. That’s your signature, and your clients will feel it.
Shift #3: Practice Visible Action
Confidence isn’t built in your head. It’s built in action. Share your work on social media, even if it feels vulnerable. Present your ideas to friends or peers. Collect testimonials from early projects.
Each small act of visibility rewires your brain: proof that yes, you can do this. Over time, those small actions add up to confidence that’s unshakable.
Shift #4: Reframe Mistakes as Mastery
Every designer stumbles. A wrong paint color, a delayed order, a miscommunication with a client. Instead of letting mistakes confirm your worst fears, reframe them as lessons.
The most confident designers aren’t the ones who never fail. They’re the ones who fail, learn, and try again. That resilience becomes their superpower, and it can be yours too.
Confidence in Community
One of the fastest ways to grow confidence is to surround yourself with others who believe in you. Isolation feeds imposter syndrome. Community starves it.
This is why I built the Design with Purpose Course, not just to teach design principles and business strategy, but to create a space where women encourage each other, share wins, and remind one another of their brilliance. Because sometimes, you need to borrow confidence from others until your own takes root.
Your First Step: Step Into Your Authority
If you’ve been waiting for permission to feel like a “real” designer, here it is: You already are one.
Your path, your perspective, and your passion are valid. And every time you take a step forward, no matter how small, you’re building confidence that will carry you into your next chapter.
