How One Designer Used AI to Rethink Her Business in a Week
Exploring how one interior designer used AI to rethink and rebrand her business strategy in just one week
A conversation between Jenna Gaidusek, Founder of AI for Interior Designers™, and Julia Reinert, Founder of The Lifestyle Historian™
What does it look like when a designer uses AI not just for day-to-day tasks, but as a true creative partner?
In Episode 44 of the AI for Interior Designers™ podcast, Jenna sits down with designer Dixie Willard to unpack how she used AI to completely rebrand her business, Poised & Plumb, in just one week.
From redefining her audience to rewriting her website copy, Dixie didn’t just apply AI, she collaborated with it. And in this month’s forum, Jenna and Julia explore what it takes to use AI not just for efficiency, but for evolution.
Jenna:
This episode really captured what I mean when I say, “Use AI to think with you.” Dixie didn’t just ask ChatGPT for content, she had a full-on back-and-forth with it. I think it helped that she knew what she wanted to say, but AI helped her say it better.
As she put it:
“From the get go, ChatGPT has been my best friend. We discussed everything together and I don’t think there is anything that it doesn’t know about me. It cracks me up because the custom GPT does a really great job of putting things into the very serious tone that I tend to take when I first write things and then I have to tell it to warm it up.”
That kind of nuance you only get when you treat the AI like a collaborator, not a vending machine.
Julia:
Exactly. I loved how open Dixie was about going through that process, not getting it perfect the first time, but refining it through dialogue. One thing that really stuck with me was how she used a custom GPT trained on her past writing to keep her voice consistent. That’s such a smart move, feeding it her old blog posts so it would learn her tone and she could then prompt it with new content that sounded more like her style. That’s next-level personalization, and it shows how accessible this kind of AI tailoring is now.
Jenna:
And the timing of it all blew me away. She rebranded in a week! Like, from concept to launch. That’s the part designers need to hear in that this doesn’t have to take months anymore. She used AI to brainstorm names, outline services, refine her offers, and write the entire website.
Julia:
And she didn’t just build a new website, she changed the focus of her business model from interior design to project planning and communication. She clarified and solidified her role as a translator between the designer, the contractor, and the homeowner and took her entire brand to the next level.
“I made it appropriate for what I’m going to be doing and it was so easy. It took everything, it’s all in my words and it sounds like me, it feels like me.”
Jenna:
What’s great is that she used AI not just for writing, but for strategic thinking. She prompted things like focused on her structure, pricing, and creative process.
Julia:
That’s what made this episode feel so practical. She used tools that anyone can access but she layered it with her own insight. And I love that while she is tech fluent, she didn’t overthink that part. She just got started.
Jenna:
Yes, and she was intentional about not “starting from scratch.” She reused what worked like her old site structure and then reimagined the parts that didn’t. That’s a lesson in itself: You don’t need to burn everything down to pivot. You just need clarity, and maybe a little help from AI.
Julia:
Honestly, it made me want to take another look at my own content. The irony is that I have been helping brands for over a decade to reinvent or refresh; however, it is a completely different game when you are doing it for yourself. It is so beyond personal and that makes it challenging. While I of course encourage everyone to consult with a brand professional, a colleague, or someone else that you can trust to be objective with feedback, it is empowering to know that you don’t have to do any part of this process on your own anymore. And when Dixie talked about the emotional weight of finally aligning her brand with what she really does…wow.
Jenna:
So true. Her closing line really stuck with me:
“It’s not scary. It’s like having a conversation. I even tend to say please and thank you to it though it doesn’t need that. The conversation just goes back and forth and it feels good takes adjustments very well.”
Final Thoughts (from both of us):
AI can’t tell you who you are, but it can help you express it. Whether you’re refining your message, rethinking your services, or reconnecting with your voice, this episode proves that AI can be more than a tool. It can be a catalyst.
And as Dixie reminded us, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Haven’t heard Episode 44 yet? Listen here and let’s chat about how we can help you create your own AI-powered rebrand!
Expert Resources and Next Steps
The DAIly Training Program - Comprehensive AI implementation for design professionals
AI for Interior Designers Podcast - Weekly insights and tool reviews
AI Interior Design Tools: Game-Changing Technology for Creative Professionals
Featured Experts:
Julia Reinert - Founder, The Lifestyle Historian | Business Efficiency Strategist
Jenna Gaidusek - Founder, AI for Interior Designers & Jenna Gaidusek Designs
