50 Episodes Beyond: Lessons, Growth, and the Future of Interior Design

In this milestone 50th episode of Beyond Interior Design, host Marc Múskens reflects on the journey so far—what started during the pandemic as a creative experiment has now become a global community of nearly 250,000 design professionals. 

Marc shares the most powerful lessons from 49 conversations with world-leading designers, thinkers, and changemakers, as well as what he’s discovered through his solo episodes: the importance of authenticity, the power of choice, and why design is more than aesthetics—it shapes behavior, health, and futures. 

This solo reflection celebrates the past while looking forward, reminding us that design is not just about spaces, but about meaning, humanity, and leadership in our field. 

📌 Connect with us:

Follow us for more interior design insights:

• Instagram: @beyondinteriordesign
• Website: www.beyondinteriordesign.club

🎧 Where to listen:

Find this episode on your favorite platforms:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Buzzsprout

Transcript

[00:00:00] Marc: Wow, episode 50. What a, a milestone. But actually this is where it really begins today. I'm just grateful. Grateful for this journey for every conversation and for you. Being here, Whitney.

[00:00:23] Marc: So in this episode, I want to look back, look back at the last 49 episodes and the biggest lessons or insights that are hidden in all those beautiful conversations. And trust me, there's a ton of insights waiting for you. Bear with me.

[00:00:42] Marc: Along the way, I've had a chance to mentor, to coach, to meet so many creatives with brilliant ideas, all working to make this world not only more beautiful, but also more meaningful. And when I look at the bigger picture, our LinkedIn community has now grown to almost 250,000 interior design professionals worldwide.

[00:01:02] Marc: That blows my mind, and that's important to mention because I'm not only a mentor or a host here, I'm an interior designer myself. Every lesson, every story I share with you comes from my own experience of building, failing, learning, and growing as a designer. And with our own interior design studio, because when I look back, this whole journey started in such a different period.

[00:01:29] Marc: This podcast, the Beyond Interior Design Podcast, was born during the pandemic, a time when the world suddenly came to a standstill. Everything slowed down. We knew nothing, not what the future would look like, not what it would mean for our profession. We were mostly in survival mode. And yet exactly in that stillness space emerged for me in that space.

[00:01:57] Marc: Was this podcast a way to stay connected, to explore what does beyond interior design really mean? How are other professionals doing it? How did they view our field? What's happening in other industries? And honestly, it, it felt like freedom, especially at a time when we weren't even alone. Out to leave our homes, sometimes not even allowed onto the street.

[00:02:24] Marc: This podcast became a breath of fresh air, a playground as a place to experiment, to listen, to discover. I clearly remember my first episode. I was so excited. I had. Just reach out to him on LinkedIn with a simple message. I would like to invite you for a digital coffee on Zoom. And he replied, yes, of course.

[00:02:49] Marc: And that moment thought me such a powerful lesson of my own. Don't overthink, just start. Just take the first, next step. So how did it all begin? It was with Ton a studio in Istanbul in London, that even during the epidemic was already building the architecture firm of the future, a completely new way of working.

[00:03:14] Marc: Not everyone in the office by default anymore with STAT forming the best team for each project. With experts from different fields, multiple disciplines coming together. So inspiring to see that growth and innovation are absolutely possible even during times of crisis. And now a few years later, it's proven.

[00:03:36] Marc: No doubt about it. That's very first episode. I remember it clearly. We had a clear direction, an idea, and still interior design plus something extra. And that X-rays the guest, their vision, their story, exploring the beyond layer, and to me it still feels like magic. I speak to people from all over the world.

[00:03:58] Marc: Sometimes I reach out to a guest. Sometimes people meshes me wanting to share the story, and every time it feels like flow. And to be honest, not everything always went smoothly with this podcast. There were moments when there were no guests lined up. No recording scheduled, no episodes ready to release, and then you are just sitting there.

[00:04:22] Marc: Those are the moments when you think what? Now we got creative, or rather, there was only one option. I recorded solo, just me, no guest, and I was terrified. Why would anyone want to listen to just me? What do I have to say without someone on the other side? But you know what happens? Those solo episodes became the most listened to of all, and that hit me deeply because it gave me the confirmation that it's allowed, that it's okay when things go differently that I don't have to hide behind the guest or someone else story that I, with my search, my voice, my confusion at times that that is too, is welcome.

[00:05:11] Marc: And I want to thank you for that, for listening, for continuing to listen, for joining me in this conversation. It gives me so much motivation, so much energy to keep going, to dive even deeper, to be even more open and above all, to know that what we're building here is real. The Beyond Interior Design Club.

[00:05:30] Marc: This podcast is not just a project, it's something that's alive, something that resonates, and you are a part of that. Thank you. And now here we are, episode 50. I told you in the meantime, our LinkedIn community has grown from a small gray circle to almost a quarter of a million professionals, and within our AL clip community.

[00:05:52] Marc: Through the programs, through the real conversations, I've gained my biggest insights and date. I want to share those with you and to say thank you because nowadays with. Technology evolving faster than ever. It's even more important to look closely at what's really going on raw, real. What is our profession truly about?

[00:06:14] Marc: What is it that we bring and add to the world as interior designers? Are we redundant, replaceable, or is this the time to rethink, to adapt, to connect more deeply than ever with our clients, to create something that goes beyond just interior design. We've talked about entrepreneurship, business growth, whatever growth means to you about purpose marketing and branding, online presence, uh, uh, creating a brand customer experience, serving high-end clients, luxury, spirituality, color sustainability, science in these high multi-sensory design, modern nature psychology, human behavior, and I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting a few subjects.

[00:06:58] Marc: We've covered so many different angles of interior design, and I'm curious which one resonated most with you. Which topic or episode has been your favorite so far? Let me know. I love to hear, but most of all, we've talked about authenticity because it has become so clear over the past 49 episodes, you have to stay close to yourself as a designer.

[00:07:21] Marc: But funny enough, Jeti Peti came up with his line recently in one of my chats. What's most personal is most of the time, the most powerful, and that phrase really stuck with me. What's most personal is most of the time, the most powerful. Your studio needs to align with who you are. You are the foundation, and when you choose, when you dare to stand for what matters to you, something shifts.

[00:07:52] Marc: Suddenly, the right clients start showing up and you think, where have you been all this time? How is that even possible? But it's not coincidence this. It's a result of your decision. And that's what I kept hearing in all those conversations with top designers, experts, entrepreneurs, the power of choice of living and working on your own terms.

[00:08:17] Marc: And that really confirmed for me why we started this podcast. The power of taking yourself seriously, but not too seriously. Grandads and the man. Behind how to Wow. Reminded me of that. He brought us back to the child within. To that sense of wonder, that curiosity, because let's be honest, we sometimes take design our profession far too seriously, and Grant reminded us design can also be about play.

[00:08:46] Marc: I'll quote grit. We, artists and designers have the opportunity to change this world through our work, through creativity, and that brings that sense of childhood magic back again. Our philosophy, if you've been listening for a while, you'll know this. One form follows meaning. We don't just design spaces, we influence behavior, we create calm structure.

[00:09:15] Marc: Even health, there's now so much science-based research that shows how powerful well considered design is what it does to our brain, our wellbeing, to how we function, how we live together, and that is the impact our field can have. I was already aware of it, but this podcast belief. Changed my world, but let's be honest, the term interior designer doesn't even begin to cover it anymore.

[00:09:47] Marc: Everyone has an opinion, everyone wants to put the label on it, but our field is so much more than that. Modern nature keeps teaching us again and again. And speaking of seeing designed differently, one guest in particular keeps challenging me every single time. One of my recurring favorites on this podcast, Cali, from The Mirror on Behavioral Design, how our profession goes far beyond aesthetics, about how the human brain works, about the gap between what people say and what they actually do, about how design can guide peace, safety, decision making, rituals, you name it.

[00:10:26] Marc: Design as behavioral architecture with Kelly. It always gets deep and concrete, and one of the quotes really stuck with me. You don't have to be the best designer, but you have to be damn good at understanding people. Every time I talk to Kelly, I walk away with a new perspective. How about you? Did one of these ideas or quotes stick with you as well?

[00:10:50] Marc: We even spoke again later on this time about environ wrecking. How do you design an environment so that everyone who enters feels better? How do we make the space work better? How do we make humans better from behavior to feeling? Is research what has continued to involve design as an invisible guide?

[00:11:13] Marc: And there are so many subconscious clues we can work with as designers, definitely beyond the their design. And it reminded me of our very first episode together as well, when we asked what is good design anyway, and who decides that? That conversation shopped my entire view in our profession. And then there were those episodes that didn't just inspire me, but touched something very personal.

[00:11:41] Marc: My childhood hero, mon Bre from the Netherlands, Jen's wife, sadly young Bre, passed away a couple of years ago. I was 10, maybe 12 years old. I used to sit on the couch as a kid in pajamas with my mom, dad, and brother, who had no choice. By the way. He had to watch it every Saturday night, 9:00 PM the whole week, waiting for tv, phone magazine, a bag of crisps in and glass of Coke.

[00:12:11] Marc: My favorite moment of the week, and I. Just knew that that's what I want. I want to be an interior designer and look at me now interviewing Monique last year. It felt like coming home in my own story. That was one of those full circle moments for me. I'm curious, what about you? Do you remember a moment, a person or even a TV show that first sparked your passion for design?

[00:12:36] Marc: Ine Foss also joined us, one of the Netherlands most celebrated interior designers. And, uh, good to know the very first place I worked right when I started, and now 20 years later, we were sitting in my online podcast studio together. INE started or shared a story of. Blending business and creativity, finding balance, and staying inspired in the fast-paced world of luxury interiors.

[00:13:03] Marc: I still love her down to earth approach and deep passion for design. Also, a beautiful full circle moment for me. If there is one thing I felt after all those conversations with top designers, change makers, thinkers, dreamers, doers, it's this. We have the power. To design our world. Whoever has that power also has the re responsibility.

[00:13:32] Marc: As interior designers, we stand in the unique position between aesthetics and attics, between atmosphere and system, between form and transformation. We don't just design interiors, we design futures. We design lives that align with who people truly are, and if we do it right, we also design a version of ourselves that aligns with who we are.

[00:13:56] Marc: And that's what. Beyond the terror design is about not just about beautiful projects, but about deep impact on wellbeing, on behavior, on experience, on humanity. Where we're on the way to a world where designers become leaders again, where our voice matters, where our vision makes a difference. And that movement, you get to shape it too, with your choices.

[00:14:21] Marc: Your studio, your words. And your courage. And here I want to pause for a moment to say something I don't say often enough. Thank you to all the guests who share their knowledge, experiences, doubts, and vision on this podcast. Without you, there would be no playground, no growth, and no doubt. And of course, to my friend and business partner in our interior design studio and the Beyond Interior design clip, SW Van.

[00:14:50] Marc: With everything we discovered, design, create, and celebrate together, and even more so in tougher times. Our synergy is truly magical. Thank you, Swan, and to you, the listener, of course, thank you for being here, for listening, reflecting, sharing, thinking along because you are the one reposting our clips of social media was liking or sharing our content, who clicks the follow button left as a five star review on Apple Podcast.

[00:15:20] Marc: That's how we can reach even more people and keep doing what we love most without you. This would never have become what it is today. A community, a movement, a clip of people who dare to chose meaning over form. And this is in the end, it's just the beginning. We already have such a beautiful guest list lined up for the upcoming episodes.

[00:15:42] Marc: Designers, thinkers, change makers from all over the world, and I can't wait to share those conversations with you. This is also an open invitation to you. Do you have a beyond story of your own? Something about your studio, your vision, your journey as a designer that could inspire audits. Reach out to me.

[00:16:02] Marc: I'm always looking for voices from our community who dare to share, to question, to go beyond. Maybe you'll be one of the next voices on this podcast. Who knows? And if you feel this, know that you belong here. Visit beyond Interior Design Club. This might be the way for you to go beyond to add that magical beyond layer to your own interior design studio.

[00:16:27] Marc: And now I'm really curious, after 50 episodes, which one has been the most valuable for you? Or maybe you haven't listened to all of them yet, which one are you going to revisit first? This is my playground. Here's to the next 50. I invite you to keep playing with me. Keep questioning, keep creating, keep choosing meaning.

[00:16:52] Marc: Together we're setting a new standard beyond interior design.