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Are you leaving money on the table?

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Programa
Updated: 08 April 2025
Master time, profit & creative vision

The truth about design business profitability

 

You didn’t become an interior designer to spend your days rebuilding project plans from scratch—or navigating awkward conversations about your value every time a new client signs on.

And yet, here you are, juggling timelines, deliverables, and scope—all while your creative energy gets drained by repetitive admin tasks.

Every hour spent on setup is an hour lost to the part of your business that actually moves the needle.

So, what if you could reclaim that time?

What if your projects started with the same clarity and elegance you bring to your designs?

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter—by implementing project templates and offering packaged services that scale with your studio.

 

We've partnered with ASID New York Chapter to bring guidance on best practice ways to setup your studio and take more control of your time, profits and focus more on the designs.

Register now to secure your spot

30th April, 1pm EDT
Available to all US timezones

Master your time, profits, and creative vision with Programa

 

Here's how you can streamline your design workflow

  • Identifying your most profitable project types.
  • Mapping time and pricing for accurate pricing and budgeting.
  • Building templates and libraries for efficient project management.
  • See how tools like Programa can assist in these processes.

Whether you’re new to Programa or a seasoned user, you’ll leave with fresh ideas and practical strategies you can implement right away.

Why attend this US focused Programa webinar?

If you’re an interior designer or creative professional with projects across America. If you want to level up your workflow and streamline your design services, this webinar is for you.
MKCA MWP

The hidden cost of disorganized project management

In competitive design markets and cities like New York, efficiency isn't just nice-to-have—it's essential for survival and growth.

That’s not just time saved—that’s revenue reclaimed. Billable hours that can go back into design work and client relationships.

Design firms using standardized project templates reported a 20–25% reduction in admin time.

2023 Interior Design Business Handbook Survey

 

Template mastery: your secret weapon for scalability

Most design studios operate with inconsistent systems, leading to:

  • Unpredictable timelines
  • Repetitive project setup
  • Scope creep and misalignment
  • Difficulty scaling operations

The solution? A strategic template ecosystem that:

  • Streamlines your process
  • Standardizes the client experience
  • Protects your creative bandwidth
  • Supports your studio’s growth
Programa keeps everything in one space

How to create your project management ecosystem

Audit your project types

  • What are your core service offerings? (styling, full renovation, new build)
  • What are the consistent phases in each project type?
  • Which deliverables repeat across similar projects?

Build your master templates

  • Create a distinct workflow template for each service offering
  • Include standard timelines and phase structures
  • Pre-populate with repeatable tasks and milestones

Evolve from templates to products

  • Package these templates into clearly defined service offerings
  • Assign appropriate flat-fee pricing to each service package
  • Create clear deliverable scope that clients can understand
  • Set boundaries for out-of-scope work to protect your time

Firms implementing standardized processes saw a 15–20% improvement in project completion times.

ASID State of the Industry Report, 2022
Project Management built for Interior Designers

Packaged design service: Transform how clients see your value

Stop selling abstract "design services." Start offering concrete design solutions as products.

Traditional design services challenges:

  • Vague scope boundaries
  • Difficulty communicating value
  • Endless customization requests and back and forth
  • Difficulty forecasting revenue

Packaged service advantages:

  • Clear deliverables clients can understand and visualize
  • Defined processes with transparent timelines and expectations
  • Predictable workloads and budgets for your team
  • Premium positioning in the marketplace attracting the right clients

 

Interior design firms using defined service packages saw 28% fewer cases of scope creep.

ASID Business Performance Study, 2022
Client Dashboard

The power of a Product Library

Your product library isn't just a catalog—it's the foundation of your design consistency and efficiency.

It’s where you keep:

  • Pre-vetted furniture collections for different project types
  • Align specifications across multiple projects
  • Eliminate repetitive selection work
  • Consistent material specifications ready to add to the project

 

With Programa's Product Library, you'll:

  • Eliminate redundant specification work
  • Ensure consistent quality across projects
  • Reduce errors in ordering and implementation
  • Present cohesive options to clients live via the Client Dashboard effortlessly
Product Library

If practices are disciplined about their positioning and their client portfolio, the firm becomes stronger than the sum of its parts.

Harvard Business Review,'What Professional Service Firms Must Do to Thrive' 2021

Project template showcase: the design package

Imagine what your productized design service and corresponding template might look like for a "Design or Styling Package":

Phase 1: Discovery

  • Onboarding & contracts
  • Client questionnaire (template)
  • Site floor plan & photography
  • Style direction presentation

Phase 2: Conceptualization

  • Space planning (2 options)
  • Pinboard development
  • Initial product selections
  • Client feedback round

Phase 3: Specification

  • Final selections
  • Procurement schedule
  • Client sign-off process

Phase 4: Implementation

  • Delivery logistics
  • Installation coordination
  • Final styling + photography
  • Post-project client wrap-up

Instead of starting from zero, you’re delivering a repeatable, high-value experience—with less stress, more profit, and clear client expectations.

Programa helps us manage several projects across multiple teams and see quickly what’s cataloged, approved, and the status of things.

Michael ChenFounder, MKCA

Programa: Powerful tools

Programa gives you the tools to streamline your design business:

  • Customizable project templates
  • A growing, centralized product library
  • Specification & Project Schedule tools that save time
  • A Client Dashboard that keeps communication clear

 

This isn’t just about project management. It’s about business transformation.

Studio best practices

Register now to secure your spot

30th April, 1pm EDT
EditorialInteriors
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Table of contents
  1. With Programa’s Client Dashboard, you can:
  2. Minimalise Misunderstandings, Maximalise Results
  3. Shared Schedules and Integration with Client Dashboard
  4. Collaboration between Designers and Clients
  5. Goodbye Fragmented Financial Management
  6. Build Connected and Efficient Processes<br />
  7. Meet The Programa x QuickBooks Integration<br />
    1. Tasks: The Building Blocks of Effortless Studio Management
    2. Phases: Your Project's Roadmap to Success
    3. The Magic of Combining Tasks and Phases
    4. Getting Started is a Breeze
  8. Key Benefits:
  9. Seamless Integration with Product Library
  10. Tailored PDF Exports
  11. Intuitive Schedule Navigation
    1. What’s New at Programa?
    2. Looking Ahead: Upcoming Features
    3. Pricing Update: Supporting Continuous Improvement
    4. Thank You for Being Part of the Programa Community
  12. What inspires your work, and how do you stay creatively motivated?
  13. What have been some of your favorite collaborations with big brands, and how did those partnerships come about?
  14. How did you land these partnerships - was it outreach, or did they come to you?
  15. As someone who is active on Instagram, how do you balance showcasing your work with building authentic connections with your audience?
  16. What has been the biggest challenge in marketing yourself, and how did you overcome it?
  17. You mentioned making content that's easy to produce - could you give an example of what that looks like in practice?
  18. If you had to name one type of content that's been easiest to stay consistent with, what would that be?
  19. What advice would you give to interior designers who are just starting out in marketing their businesses?
  20. What's next for your business? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon?
    1. 19 December 2024
    2. 17 December 2024
    3. 10 December 2024
    4. 09 December 2024
    5. 03 December 2024
    6. 28 November 2024
    7. 27 November 2024
    8. 26 November 2024
    9. 20 November 2024
    10. 19 November 2024
    11. Schedules Update:
    12. Client Dashboard & Brag Stats
    13. Pinboards Update
    14. Web Clipper Update
    15. On the Horizon
      1. Why Leading Design Firms Choose Programa
      2. Time Tracking That Speaks Your Language
      3. Client Communication Reimagined
      4. Automation for the Creative Mind
      5. The Impact on Your Studio
      6. <a href="https://programa.design/features/best-interior-design-project-management-software" target="_blank">Beyond Project Management</a>
      7. Your Design Evolution Starts Here
    16. Client Portal
    17. Client Communication
    18. Rebranding
    19. Client Testimonial
    20. Software Solution
    21. 14 August 2024
    22. 12 August 2024
    23. 13 August 2024
    24. 07 August 2024
    25. 08 August 2024
    26. 09 August 2024
    27. 05 August 2024
    28. 01 August 2024
    29. 31 July 2024
    30. 30 July 2024
    31. 29 July 2024
    32. 26 July 2024
    33. 23 July 2024
    34. 18 July 2024
    35. Welcome Back!
    36. 06 January 2025
      1. A Note from Zoe
    37. Join the Future of Design
    38. 14 May 2024
    39. 09 May 2024
    40. 03 May 2024
    41. 02 May 2024
    42. 13 September 2024
    43. 11 September 2024
    44. 06 September 2024
    45. 05 September 2024
    46. 03 September 2024
    47. 02 September 2024
      1. Why Winning Work Matters for Interior Designers
      2. The Benefits of CRM Software for Interior Designers
      3. Using Project Management Tools as a CRM
      4. Outcome
      5. The Stone Gallery
      6. CULT pairs with Fritz Hansen to debut the Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection — a showcase of Danish elegance and sustainability for our design community.
    48. Master your time, profits, and creative vision with Programa
    49. Why attend this US focused Programa webinar?
    50. Template mastery: your secret weapon for scalability
    51. How to create your project management ecosystem
    52. Packaged design service: Transform how clients see your value
    53. The power of a Product Library
    54. Project template showcase: the design package
    55. Programa: Powerful tools
  • Editorial
  • Interiors
Reading: Master your time and profits with Programa, Programa Online Webinar
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Try Programa for free with a 7 day trial

Join the world’s best studios

What if your projects started with the same clarity and elegance you bring to your designs?

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter—by implementing project templates and offering packaged services that scale with your studio.