We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shaqueria Dial. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shaqueria below.

Shaqueria, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was starting my creative business while still working full-time. I didn’t have help or a roadmap—I had to figure everything out on my own, from building my brand to learning how to market myself. Balancing a full-time job with launching something from scratch was overwhelming at times, but I knew if I didn’t take the leap, I’d always wonder “what if.” Looking back, that risk gave me the confidence and momentum to grow as a creator and build something that’s truly mine.

Shaqueria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Shaqueria (Ria), a professional designer and creative with a focus on interior design, art, fashion, and lifestyle. I was born and raised in Selma, Al and currently reside in Birmingham, AL. My love for design started early—my mom was the one who first introduced me to interior design by letting me help her redecorate around the house. When she passed unexpectedly when I was 11, my grandmother stepped in to raise me and my older sister. Even through that difficult time, design stayed with me. I grew up watching HGTV, sketching, and exploring creativity, but it wasn’t until a career fair in high school, after speaking with a realtor, that I knew I wanted to pursue interior design and art professionally. That path led me to earn dual degrees in Interior Design and Art from the University of Alabama, graduating in 2020 during the challenges of COVID.

In 2022, I took a leap and started my business, securing my LLC and launching a virtual interior design and art studio—all on my own. Then, in 2023, I expanded into lifestyle and fashion content creation, giving me another outlet to share my creative vision. Today, I provide design concepts, mood boards, and creative content that help people bring their ideas and spaces to life. What sets me apart is my ability to make design approachable while blending timeless style with a fresh, Gen Z perspective.

I’m most proud of building this journey from the ground up, without a roadmap or outside help—just determination, creativity, and resilience. If there’s one thing I want people and my followers to take away from my story, it’s that anything is possible if you have a dream and put consistent action behind it.

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

In all honesty, I’m still learning on how to effectively grow my social presence, haha. However, I started building my audience on social media by showing up consistently and sharing my passions in a way that felt authentic to me. At first, it was mainly about interior design and art—I shared virtual mood boards/E-Designs, design ideas, and creative art projects I worked on in my spare time. Over time, I expanded into lifestyle and fashion content in 2023, which allowed me to connect with people on a more personal level. That mix of creativity and relatability helped me reach a broader audience and grow a community of people who resonate with my style and vision.

My advice for anyone just starting out is to stay true to yourself and not get caught up in comparison. Consistency is key, but so is authenticity—people connect with the person behind the content as much as the content itself. Setting realistic timelines and schedules is essential too, because growth doesn’t happen overnight, and burnout can happen if you try to do everything at once. Don’t be afraid to experiment and refine your style along the way. Building an audience takes time, but if you’re passionate and intentional, your community will grow.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that stands out is graduating during 2020, right in the middle of COVID. Like many others, my plans and expectations for starting my career were flipped upside down. The design industry slowed, opportunities were uncertain, and it was easy to feel discouraged after working so hard for my degrees in Interior Design and Art. I was working after college, but it was challenging because I wasn’t fully following my dreams—I knew I wanted to do more creatively, and that feeling pushed me to keep going.

Instead of giving up, I used that time to refocus and invest in myself. I kept creating, building my portfolio, and laying the foundation for what would eventually become my business. By 2022, I had officially launched my LLC and started my virtual interior design and art business completely on my own. Balancing that with a full-time job wasn’t easy, but it taught me how to manage my time, stay disciplined, and keep pushing forward even when things felt overwhelming. That resilience carried over into 2023, when I expanded into lifestyle and fashion content creation.

Looking back, those challenges built my confidence. They showed me that setbacks don’t have to define you—they can be the very moments that shape you into who you’re meant to become.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sddesigns5.godaddysites.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.d.designs__/ (Business), https://www.instagram.com/beautayyyyy_/(Personal)
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/s.d.designsss/ (Business), https://www.facebook.com/shaqueriadial (personal)
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaqueriadial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRiaRi
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/s-d-designs-hoover-2

Image Credits

Photo Credits: Myself + Photographer @septheshooter
Instagram URL: https://www.instagram.com/septheshooter/?hl=en