By Lindsay Field Penticuff
It’s been nearly 15 years since Jenna Gaidusek earned her degree in interior design and started practicing in our industry, but not in the traditional sense so many may think about when it comes to “practicing” interior design.
“After I finished school, I got my real estate license, because there were not a lot of jobs in Albany, New York, where I had gone to school for interior design,” says the owner of Jenna Gaidusek Designs, and CEO and founder of AI for Interior Designers. “I dabbled in that for a little bit, then I moved down to Louisville, Kentucky, where I started working for a larger, high-end furniture store as a salesperson so I could be in the industry again.”
She worked her way up in that company, moving a few times to help manage showrooms before landing in New York City.
“I decided that I didn’t want to be doing that anymore, and commuting and working for someone else, so that’s when I left and pursued virtual design—when all the virtual design companies were popping up—but I simultaneously built my own company while I work for them. I just always knew that it was what I wanted to do.”
To learn more about Gaidusek, what led her to working in interior design and her work, specifically, in the virtual design space, check out our Q&A with her below.
Why did you pursue a career in interior design?
“I always wanted to be an interior designer. I was one of the kids rearranging my bedroom on the weekends when I was supposed to be cleaning. I grew up as a 90s kid, so I got to play outside, but I was also introduced to games like ‘The Sims,’ where you could build your own houses, and that sparked my interest in the virtual side of things.
“When I first learned about [virtual interior design] I didn’t even know it was a thing, so I told myself that I was diving into it. It was so me, and I don’t even have to leave my house. When I was living in New York City, I was doing really long commutes, and it just drained me. I hated the commute, going out and the whole process is so time consuming; when we can streamline it from our computer at home.”
You’ve mentioned your passion for sparking ideas in other designers to change the future of the interior design industry. Could you elaborate on am instance when you felt your influence made a significant impact on someone’s design process or career trajectory?
“What I’ve found from those who do share feedback is that they thought that their business model had to look a certain way. They thought they had to go in person and charge a certain amount, and that this is the way it had to be done; until I told them that if they don’t want to do it, don’t do it. Do it the way you want to and find a way to price it and create the deliverables that you want to deliver. If you don’t do that, you’re going to be miserable and start to resent what you do. So, I’ve had people give me feedback that since hearing that and learning the techniques to practice virtually or implement those practices, that’s when they were able to be successful in their business; when they let go of the stigma surrounding virtual design.”
As a visionary entrepreneur, you’ve been at the forefront of revolutionizing visual communication within the interior design industry. How do you see AI further transforming this field, and what opportunities do you envision for interior designers?
“AI is an enhancement to our existing creativity—it is not a replacement. This is what I try to drill into everyone’s heads when I’m teaching about AI capabilities. If you look at it to being a superpower to enhance your existing workflow or creative process to cut down on time—which in the end will make you more money—that’s where I see this really going in the future, and it’s happening so quickly that we are going to see a lot of changes rapidly.”
Collaboration seems to be a central theme in your approach to design. Can you share a memorable collaboration experience where you and your client(s) brought a design vision to life through effective teamwork and communication?
“What I’m doing right now is working with a builder, the broker and real estate agents in Florida on new construction. We collaborate as a team through emails, MyDoma, chatting, Zoom and phone calls. But I understand that it takes a lot of trust and understanding of my style and how they work and operate to get it done. It’s been so rewarding, though, and those are my favorite types of projects.”
Have utilizing virtual interior design practices helped streamline the design process for you?
“When I teach other designers’ techniques within my workload, they can adapt one thing and continue to do other things the traditional way, but this entirely streamlines my process. I’m not traveling, I’m not going to get samples, I’m not delivering them to the client’s house. There’s none of that. I have a one-hour meeting that’s virtual and everything else is entirely online.”
Do you think the pandemic helped others hop on the “virtual bandwagon?”
“It was definitely the tipping point for designers and clients to really get on board, and I think a lot of designers who were hesitant to do e-design, because they looked down on it, are now wondering why they were doing all these things when they didn’t have to.”
Your journey involves numerous relocations and career advancements, each contributing to your growth as an entrepreneur. How have these experiences shaped your perspective on entrepreneurship and resilience within the design landscape?
“I’ve lived in a lot of places. I think I counted one time and I’ve moved 16 times in my lifetime. I’ve lived in a lot of different diverse and culturally melting pot types of places. That, 100%, is why I’m at where I am today and why I understand people’s decision-making or their style a little bit more. … I have traveled and love to travel still, and experience new people and new perspectives, and get a different sense of what the world is, because I did get out of the small town where I grew up. I think that’s why I’m able to relate to designers and clients on so many different levels.”
You emphasize the importance of helping clients create spaces that they truly love and feel comfortable in. Can you describe a particularly rewarding moment when you felt you had achieved this goal for a client, and what made it stand out to you?
“The most rewarding thing is that the majority of the clients who I have worked with previously are coming back to me eight years later, and they want to continue to work with me. One of them is building a brand-new house and she isn’t yet sure how she needs me, but she is calling me because she loved what I did for them. The style is totally different, but she trusts me. I had another client recently come back to me saying she needs a refresh with three of her rooms. I haven’t talked to her in about six years. The best part isn’t the pictures you get at the end, it’s the fact that clients remember you and want to come back to you.”
Building and maintaining a thriving online community requires dedication and vision. What strategies have you found most effective in fostering engagement and collaboration within your community of interior designers?
“Just be real. I am who I am online in real life. I think it’s easiest to be yourself, and it connects with people. I’m also blunt about things, which I think really helps me connect with people. They don’t want you to sugarcoat it—just tell me what it is so they can move on with their day—and I think that really resonates with the design community.”
In your experience, how has the integration of AI technologies impacted the creative process for interior designers, and what advice would you offer to those looking to incorporate AI into their design practices?
“It has entirely elevated my process. What used to take a very long time to find inspirational images on Pinterest or Instagram, then share and go back and forth, I can now generate in a matter of minutes, and I have them more tailored to the ideas I have in mind. AI can really enhance your workflow and get you to the best results faster. It doesn’t replace anything that we’ve been doing; it’s just a new way to do it, and I still render, source my products and do the backend work. These integrations with the software tools I’m using enable it to be done faster and more efficient. For designers who are hesitant about AI at this time, you’re probably already using it and don’t even know, because it’s in almost everything at this point, but it’s here not to replace your work, but to enhance it.”
Is it hard to convince longtime designers that AI can be helpful not harmful?
“A lot of my students come from all corners of the industry, but a majority are seasoned designers in the luxury space, which is interesting. They have been some of the first to adapt to the new processes, because they see these luxury AI-generated images that they relate to and want to figure out how it can help their client experience. With AI, they are starting to see that it’s not replacing them—it’s helping their bottom line and helping them make more money. Designers are more receptive than I thought they’d be.”
Reflecting on your journey as a trailblazer in leveraging technology to elevate the interior design industry, what are some key lessons you’ve learned along the way, and how do you envision the future intersection of technology and design?
“I know it can feel very daunting, but you’ve got to just dive in and not be scared. It’s become a way to work 10 times faster and smarter. You’re consuming more because AI is simplifying it for you.”
What advice would you like to share with new and seasoned interior designers?
“You are in control. It’s your business. You don’t work for someone else. You get to set the rules.”
Stay in the loop with Jenna’s latest design adventures by following her on Instagram, and be sure to explore her site for more of her innovative work. For deeper dives into the world of AI and interior design, click here for additional educational resources.
