We recently connected with Anne Mason and have shared our conversation below.

Anne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

One of the biggest trends to take the design world by storm has been the DIY movement, inspired by HGTV, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. To be honest, I actually went into interior design because of this influence! Though when I entered graduate school, I quickly realized that there was way more to the profession than what I had been seeing on social media. A majority of designers only show projects when they’re finalized and it’s rare to see into the real life of specifying, engineering, and constructing of spaces. This behind the scenes work is what truly differentiates the amateurs from the licensed professionals.

Though I am a licensed interior designer and have many resources available to me, I personally love a good DIY project. These can be used in any project type, and I believe there is room for them to be embraced in our field. No matter the starting budget, we must understand the current economy and practice good stewardship with our clients’ money. Whether it’s installing a custom art wall for a corporate client or adding contemporary moulding to a family’s dining room, I’m not above using my own hands to add little touches that will make a difference in our projects. I also love to work with clients who are frequent DIY-ers because it shows their understanding of both their own personal style and the work it takes to achieve a higher level of design. When someone works on their own space, whether it’s painting art or building furniture, it adds a special touch that leads to pride and love – and there’s nothing better than that!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, known as the “Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In addition to being a big music city, Memphis is famous for its unique visual arts scene. All of this creativity inspired me to be an artist myself and by the time I was in high school, I had been experimenting with 2D art mediums of all kinds. I was very excited to attend Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) for my Bachelor’s degree, where I majored in Industrial Design and minored in Graphic Design. After graduation I quickly moved to Atlanta, GA and become an Industrial Designer for Altium, one of the largest packaging manufacturers (and recyclers!) in the country.

While I loved being an Industrial Designer, I had a yearning for a change of scenery. I applied to the SCAD Atlanta’s Interior Design Masters program and launched a brand new career path. After many late nights and hard work, I was hired by Niles Bolton Associates, one of the top architecture firms in Atlanta. Over the next five years I loved working on corporate offices, multifamily complexes, government offices, private aviation terminals, and non-profit projects, both as renovations and new builds.

Soon after becoming a nationally licensed interior designer in 2023, I began to feel a pull to work with individuals and smaller scaled companies. This led me to opening my own firm, Anne Mason Design (AMD) this past March. I now proudly help individuals and businesses discover creative solutions to their spaces, no matter the project type or size. AMD is a full-service interior design firm that has worked with many home owners, restaurant owners, corporate offices, and law firms. No two projects have the exact same needs, so it’s important to approach each project with a completely new mindset and willingness to learn about my clients as individuals. Completing deep dives on their existing lifestyles ultimately helps me to discover the best solutions for them. This personalized process is what really sets AMD apart from our competitors and it is what I’m most proud of as a designer.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I am proud to say that I come from a family of entrepreneurship. My father opened his own law firm when I was five years old, and I had the privilege of watching first hand as it turned into a successful business. He has been my greatest influence and mentor in business practices and marketing, as he spent countless hours studying strategies for his own firm. For years he has also been gifting me books by Dan Kennedy, Peter Post, Napoleon Hill, and Gary Vaynerchuk – which thankfully I actually read! My favorite book out of them all was The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber. The premise of this book is how to correctly set up your business to be successful – from the very first jump. I have now read it three times and highly recommend it to everyone considering opening their own business.

I would also recommend researching and talking to successful people in your field. Before I started AMD, I reached out to many female business owners in the Atlanta interior design community and picked their brains. These conversations not only gave me valuable advice, they gave me confidence in pursuing this path. I keep in touch with many of these women today, and they have been incredibly supportive through my journey.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Word of mouth, hands down. Even in this day and age of technology, clients tend to be loyal to people, not businesses. Your clients will remember how you made them feel and how well (or not) they interacted with you. Social media is a tool for establishing yourself as a visible and trusted expert in your field, but you also need to be personable with everyone you work with. In the past six months alone, one of my previous clients has recommended AMD to four new clients! Care about the people you work with and they will reciprocate!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.AnneMasonDesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annemasondesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneMasonDesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anne-mason-design/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneMasonDesign