We recently connected with Kim Bailey and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

We’re already redefining what education can be—opening doors for people to pursue their passions and turn them into careers faster than they ever thought possible. It’s not so much about what I would change in the education system—it’s about what we are changing right now. For decades, the message has been that a traditional four-year degree is the only “right” path to a successful career. But that simply isn’t true. There’s an entire world of fulfilling, lucrative careers that start with skills-based, hands-on training—and that’s exactly the gap HSID Dallas was created to fill.

My own story is proof of why this change is needed. Interior Design wasn’t my first career—it was my calling that came later in life, after raising my children. When I looked at the educational options available, I found they were mostly years-long programs built for students just starting out, not for adults ready to pivot and build something of their own. I wanted a path that was immersive, practical, and fast enough to make a real impact. I also found that many instructors in traditional 2- and 4-year programs have never practiced Interior Design. They have the textbook knowledge, but not the real-world experience. At HSID Dallas, our instructors are not only educated, but they have worked in the Interior Design profession therefore brining real world experiences as part of the education approach to our students.

That’s why HSID Dallas exists. In a year or less, our students—many with no prior design experience—master the fundamentals, gain real-world exposure, and graduate ready to launch their careers. I’ve seen graduates go from corporate jobs or military service to working in the interior design industry or owning their own design businesses in under 12 months.

We’re proving that education can be flexible, focused, and just as rigorous—without requiring years in a lecture hall. The future of education is about creating more ways for people to discover their passions and turn them into professions. And we’re making that happen every single day.

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

For me, Interior Design was a second career born out of a deep personal calling. After raising my children, I felt a pull to create something of my own, something that blended my love for beautiful spaces and my personal creativity with my entrepreneurial spirit. That spark became Design Lifestyles, a luxury full-service Interior Design firm in Carrollton, Texas. Over the past 20 years, we’ve earned a reputation for crafting timeless, elegant interiors that reflect each client’s unique lifestyle and vision.

But my passion for design grew beyond serving clients. I wanted to help shape the next generation of designers—to open the door for others who shared that same creative drive. That’s when I connected with Stephanie Plymale, President of Heritage School of Interior Design (HSID). I was inspired by the school’s mission: to offer an alternative path into Interior Design that didn’t require a traditional 2–4 year degree. As a business owner and employer hiring new designers right out of traditional two- and four-year design programs, I felt there were significant gaps in what students were learning. They needed a more immersive, hand-on applicable approach to Interior Design. When I reviewed the curriculum for the Heritage programs, I knew this was the type of program that would prepare students to be much more desirable to a new employer or give a stronger foundation to a designer who wanted to open their own firm. I wanted to bring that opportunity to Dallas, a city where the demand for skilled designers has never been higher.

HSID Dallas is that vision realized—with our immersive, accelerated programs that are licensed and approved by the Texas Workforce Commission – Career Schools and Colleges Division. This program is where students can become educated designers in as little as 10 months, or 3 overall terms. Our Master’s curriculum blends the foundations of design with technical skills, hands-on projects, and real-world exposure. Through our Fundamentals of Interior Design Program, weekly field visits to the Dallas Design District, practicing designers as guest speakers and mentors, plus our Beyond the Threshold internship program connect students directly to the industry, giving them invaluable experience and relationships that last well beyond graduation.

After completing our very first year, we are already nearing full capacity for the upcoming Fall term—a clear sign that the design world is ready for this kind of focused, skills-based education. We’re part of a larger movement toward redefining career paths, proving that success doesn’t have to start with a traditional four-year degree. Instead, intensive, hands-on training can launch a fulfilling creative career faster—and with more post-graduation opportunity.

HSID Dallas is thrilled to join the design of the St. Jude Show Home in Southlake, TX, partnering with lead designer Donna Moss and builder Beckett Graham. Together, the participants of the Dream Street initiative will raise over $1 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our HSID mentors and student mentees are working in teams to bring each room of the show home to life–opening Spring 2026!​ We are so grateful to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students to design real spaces and showcase their work to the public. Our school is always looking for ways to help our talented students shine through industry opportunities where they can build connections that launch successful careers post-graduation.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my story, it’s this: It’s never too late to follow your passion. Our students come from every walk of life—corporate professionals, stay-at-home parents, military veterans—and each one proves that a love for design can lead to a brand-new chapter filled with creativity, connection, and possibility.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn as an entrepreneur was the idea that asking for help is a sign of weakness. Early on, I thought I had to do everything myself to prove I could succeed—control every detail, manage every client, and grow my business entirely on my own. The myth of entrepreneurship is that it’s a solo act – the truth is, every great business is a symphony.

Making connections in this industry is everything. When I joined the Interior Design Society and became actively involved in the local chapter, I connected with other independent designers as well as industry partners who became invaluable in growing my business. Even your competitors can offer insights, inspiration, or support. Design isn’t an industry you thrive in alone; it’s one where collaboration, mentorship, and genuine relationships open doors that skill alone cannot.

Launching Design Lifestyles taught me that trusting the right people, leaning on mentors, and embracing collaboration doesn’t make you weaker—it makes you stronger. “Iron sharpens iron” is one of my favorite quotes. It allows you to focus on what you do best while learning from those around you. That lesson carries over into HSID Dallas, where I encourage students to see their peers, instructors, and industry professionals as part of a lifelong network, not just colleagues. Success in design comes not only from talent but from the community you cultivate, the relationships you nurture, and the generosity you show along the way.

The lesson? An entrepreneur who tries to do everything alone builds a job; one who builds with others builds a legacy. Ask for insights, collaborate freely, build relationships and embrace the network around you—because in this industry, community is everything.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media has been about more than just posting beautiful images—it’s about telling our story and connecting with our community. From the very beginning, we focused on sharing not just the work happening in our classrooms, but the experiences, successes, and journeys of our students. Behind-the-scenes glimpses, field trips, design projects, and student milestones all help people feel like they’re part of something bigger.

We’ve also learned the power of collaboration on platforms like Instagram. Tagging, partnering, and engaging with other accounts that share similar values and interests allows your content to reach new, like-minded audiences. It’s not just about growing followers—it’s about cultivating a network of people who are genuinely aligned with our mission, amplifying our message while building meaningful connections in the community.

For anyone starting out, my advice is simple: be authentic, consistent, and intentional with your content. Show the human side of your brand, share knowledge, and create things that spark connection. Social media works best when it brings people together, and those connections often translate into real-world opportunities and collaborations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heritageschoolofinteriordesign.com/campuses/dallas/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsiddallas/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HSID-Dallas/61560349859227/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/heritage-school-of-interior-design/