Where Should a Beginner Designer Look for Clients?

Many beginner designers now find it hard to find clients due to high competition. We asked professionals how they handled these challenges and also requested some useful tips.

Olesya Berezovskaya, Designer, Founder of DesignStudio13

I found my first client on an online classifieds website, although colleagues discouraged me. I added visualizations and sketches of my diploma project to my portfolio. I was lucky: the client participated in all stages of the project and agreed to a photo shoot of the interior. It was later published in one of the leading interior design magazines.

For newcomers, I recommend looking for clients on non-professional sites. Register on a forum for young mothers or residents of a housing complex and write that you're ready to take on a design project. It can be just one room, but it's a great experience.

What you shouldn't do when looking for clients?

• Be afraid. Don’t hesitate to say you don’t know something and confidently reach out for help to colleagues. By the way, all necessary knowledge is now available through online webinars.
• Deceive. Never include other people’s projects in your portfolio. Let it be your diploma project, collages, sketches, or drafts.
• Work for free. Don’t do projects for relatives and friends without compensation. Even a small amount of money should be paid—always respect your work.

Victoria Zolina, Designer, Graduate of the British Higher School of Design, Founder of Zi-design Studio

I built my first website using a site builder, studied how search engines work, and launched advertising. It didn’t bring any results. In the future, I tried everything: I tried to establish contact with realtors, developers, builders, placed paid ads on classified boards and freelancing platforms, participated in contests.

However, I found my first client through a post on INMYROOM. This method still works today, along with word-of-mouth recommendations. So I recommend not spending money on advertising.

What you shouldn’t do when looking for clients?

• Be afraid to work independently. Of course, you can find a partner at first, but perhaps working alone will be more comfortable for you.
• Set unrealistic deadlines. It’s better to be upfront about everything. Clients won’t want to work with a designer who has a bad reputation.
• Give up. Starting is always hard, but in the future, you’ll thank yourself for your patience and effort.

Julia Fambulova, Designer, Member of the Union of Designers and Architects

My practice started in the 90s with renovating a communal apartment belonging to relatives. It was in terrible condition, but the volume, proportions, and ceiling height seemed impressive at the time. Later, word-of-mouth recommendations worked. I was confident that my client would find me himself—he just needed some help in the search.

Now there are a lot of contests, magazines, and online publications where you can promote yourself. Just always work with those who are genuinely interested in you.

What you shouldn’t do when looking for clients?

• See the client only as a financial gain. You should love and understand your client, so you can build proper communication with them.
• Reject remote work. Try working remotely—it’s also a good experience, and any questions can be solved even from a distance.

Pavel Gerasimov, Designer, Co-founder of Geometrium Studio and the Basic Course in Interior Design

At the beginning of my career, I went to design courses, but soon realized that I needed more practice. I posted an ad on social media and found my first client. I worked for free and consulted with my teacher. In the end, they did pay me a fee. Later, I met a partner with whom we created a joint project and posted visualizations on all internet portals.

Look for clients among family and friends. Once you have at least one project or visualization, you can start searching online. You can also offer collaboration to architects who work in the same style as you do.

What you shouldn’t do when looking for clients?

• Post interior photos without descriptions. Tell what the project was for, what tasks you had to solve, and how you overcame challenges.
• Add all projects you’ve done to your portfolio. If you want to work only in a modern style, don’t include classical interiors in your portfolio. Decide on the styles and projects you’re interested in and show only those.

Tatyana Bezhedkaya, Designer, Graduate of MGAHSP named after S.G. Straganov, Founder of TB.Design Studio

My first project was for a student competition of young designers. Later, I used it for advertising in social media, mainly on Facebook. However, the first client was actually a friend: I redecorated my classmate’s apartment.

I would recommend young designers not only to approach friends but also to register on freelance platforms and offer their services for a small fee.

What you shouldn’t do when looking for clients?

• Be too pushy. It’s off-putting.
• Be afraid of creative supervision. Everything can be learned in the process—proven.

Sasha Mershiev, Expert, Decorator, Interior Designer, Owner of MERSHYHOME Workshop

My first clients were my friends. Funny thing, at the stage of finishing work, when almost all furniture was already bought, the client asked me where the collages had gone. It was awkward to admit that the sketches were ready before the renovation even started, and I simply forgot to send them.

Then I looked for clients through social media. I recommend creating a beautiful profile on Instagram, being active, and communicating with professionals. One won’t respond, but another will—maybe the second or tenth.

What you shouldn’t do when looking for clients?

• Work with those you doubt. Most likely, you won’t work well together in the future.
• Take on overly complex projects. You’ll handle them in the future, but for now, work with what you’re confident in.

Checklist: Where to Look for Clients? On non-professional sites and forums. In social media. On online platforms dedicated to interior design. On freelancing marketplaces. Among friends and acquaintances.

*Meta Platforms, Facebook and Instagram have been recognized by a Russian court as extremist organizations, and their activities are prohibited in the Russian Federation.