Leveraging AI and Communities to Grow as a Small Business
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Leveraging AI and Community: Insights from Krystal McNaughton
Hi Designers! It’s Jenna Gaidusek here, and today I had the pleasure of chatting with Krystal McNaughton, a true leader in both the luxury plumbing and tech startup worlds. We had an insightful discussion about how AI is making waves in the interior design industry—especially for small business owners like us. From streamlining operations to creating a more connected community, it’s clear that AI is becoming a vital tool for both our business practices and creative processes.
Krystal’s background is such an interesting mix of luxury design and tech, and it’s given her a fresh perspective on how AI can elevate the way we manage and grow our design businesses. Throughout our conversation, she shared some fantastic tips on how we, as designers, can use AI to boost efficiency, enhance creativity, and improve client engagement. Plus, we dove into some specific AI tools—like chatbots and transcription services—that can make the day-to-day running of a design firm much smoother.
The Power of Community and Innovation
Krystal’s journey, from founding a luxury plumbing showroom to her current role in tech, highlights just how important it is to build a supportive community around your business. We all know that relationships are at the heart of the design industry—whether it’s with clients, other designers, or contractors. Krystal reinforced this by explaining how essential community is to success, especially when paired with innovative technology.
As designers, we’re always balancing the human side of our work with the operational demands of running a business. Krystal emphasized that AI isn’t here to replace those connections—it’s here to enhance them. By integrating AI into our workflows, we can free up more time to focus on building relationships and collaborating with others in meaningful ways.
How AI Can Streamline Business Operations
One of the most exciting parts of our conversation was about how AI can take a lot of the pressure off when it comes to managing the operational side of a design business. We all know how much time we spend on administrative tasks—handling sales, managing client inquiries, organizing project timelines—and it can feel overwhelming at times.
AI can help us automate many of these tasks, allowing us to focus on the parts of the job we truly love—like working on design concepts and connecting with clients. Krystal mentioned how AI-driven tools can streamline client communication and project management by keeping track of important details, managing workflows, and even handling follow-ups. Imagine having an AI-powered CRM system that keeps everything organized, so you never miss a beat. This allows us to be more efficient without sacrificing the personal touch that sets our work apart.
Using AI to Onboard and Train Your Team
We also touched on how AI can be a game-changer when it comes to onboarding new employees. As our businesses grow, bringing on new team members can feel like a huge task, especially when we’re juggling multiple projects. AI can help by documenting processes and creating training materials that make onboarding quicker and more consistent.
Krystal shared some great insights into how AI can store and organize all the knowledge within your business—like best practices, design guidelines, or even specific workflows—and make it easy for new hires to access and learn at their own pace. This not only speeds up the onboarding process but also reduces the need for constant oversight, so you can focus on other areas of your business while your new team member gets up to speed.
Building a Community-Driven Business with the Help of AI
Another important takeaway was how AI can support the community side of our businesses. While AI can handle many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, it also gives us the freedom to focus more on building relationships—both with clients and within the design community.
One example we discussed was using AI tools, like chatbots, to improve client communication. Chatbots can answer common questions or guide clients through processes when we’re unavailable. This makes clients feel supported, even when we can’t respond immediately. By handling these routine interactions, AI gives us the time to nurture deeper, more personal connections with clients and peers.
Krystal and I also talked about how AI can enhance networking and collaboration within the design community, helping us share ideas, support each other, and even work together on larger projects.
The Future of AI in Interior Design
To wrap up our conversation, we looked ahead to the future of AI in the design industry. Krystal and I both believe that the potential of AI is just beginning to unfold. One area that’s especially exciting is the way AI tools are becoming more proactive—helping us engage clients, predict their needs, and even suggest design solutions tailored to their preferences.
For example, imagine an AI-powered tool that not only manages your schedules and budgets but also analyzes design trends and suggests ideas that align perfectly with your client’s style. These kinds of tools will allow us to deliver even more personalized service, while making the design process faster and more efficient. As AI continues to evolve, it’s going to open up all sorts of new opportunities for us as designers.
As design professionals, we know how important it is to stay ahead of the curve. AI is a powerful tool that can help us streamline our workflows, boost creativity, and foster deeper connections within the industry. But what really stood out from my conversation with Krystal is that while AI can handle many operational tasks, it’s our human relationships—our clients, collaborators, and the community we build—that truly define our success.
Today’s episode is a reminder that AI is here to support us, not replace us. It gives us more time to focus on the personal aspects of our work, allowing us to create, collaborate, and thrive in ways that make our businesses stronger than ever.
Until next time, keep innovating, keep designing, and keep sharing your unique perspectives with the world. Don’t forget to follow and subscribe for more insights on AI in interior design. See you in the next episode!
Warm regards,
Jenna Gaidusek
CEO, AI for Interior Designers™️
Disclaimer: This blog was written using AI as a recap from the recording then edited by the author for accuracy and details.
