Authority Building for Designers & Founders
We build momentum for interior designers and founders through earned media, authority positioning, and strategic visibility. So you stop being the best-kept secret in your market.
AD, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Forbes, and more.
What Visibility Actually Changes
This is what changes when you stop relying on referrals alone and start building real authority.
- Chasing every lead
- Explaining who you are from scratch
- Competing on price
- Referrals as your only pipeline
- Watching competitors get the spotlight
- No press, no authority, no inbound
- Choosing which clients to take
- People arrive already knowing your work
- Charging premium rates with confidence
- Multiple inbound channels working for you
- Being the name people recommend
- Press, credibility, and opportunities you’re positioned to attract
Matt McGarry
“I grew up around the design world. My mother was an interior designer, and watching her build something from nothing gave me a deep respect for the founders who pour everything into their craft. That’s what drew me to this work.”
For the past five years, Matt has worked exclusively with interior designers: helping them grow their businesses, win high-value new projects, and earn the national profile their work deserves.
In the past year alone, his clients have appeared in more than 100 published articles across 25+ publications reaching over 10 million readers. He builds press pages, branded quizzes, and complete authority systems for designers and founders who deserve more recognition than they’re getting.
If your work is better than your visibility, let’s talk.
Get in TouchThe Momentum Method
Authority isn’t built with a single press hit. It’s built with a system of reinforcing elements that compound over time. Each placement makes the next one easier. Each piece of credibility opens the next door. That’s momentum.
Foundation
We define your positioning, build your authority assets (press page, lead magnets, branded tools), and develop the story angles that make editors pay attention.
Traction
Expert quotes help build editorial relationships. Project pitches aim to land features. Authority content positions you as the go-to voice. Your name starts showing up in more of the right places.
Flywheel
Editors start reaching out. Opportunities can come inbound. Clients begin arriving already knowing your name. That’s the momentum we’re building toward.
“Press isn’t about one room, one reveal, one article. It’s about earning as much of it as you can, and compounding it into a reputation that keeps opening doors for years.”
Errez Design: published in 50+ design articles
Katie and Ruben Gutierrez had the talent. We made them own one word, maximalism, until editors called them first. Over 18 months they were published in 50+ design articles, reached the top of page one on Google in their market, and built enough momentum to open their own boutique, which won an award before the doors even opened.
What They Say
Questions designers ask us
How much does PR cost for an interior designer?
It depends on scope: how many projects you have ready to pitch, which outlets you're targeting, and how much support you want. Rather than quote a one-size-fits-all number, we scope each engagement per project and make the pricing transparent before you commit to anything. The first strategy call is free, so you'll know exactly what it would cost before spending a dollar.
Is PR worth it for a small interior design studio?
It can be, if you have strong photographed projects and the patience to let coverage build. PR is a momentum game: earned media compounds over months, and a single feature rarely changes a business overnight. If you need clients this week, PR is the wrong tool. If you want a reputation that keeps working for years, it can be one of the smartest investments a small studio makes.
What does a PR agency actually do for an interior designer?
The short version: we get your work in front of the editors who decide what gets published. That means preparing your projects and story angles, pitching outlets like Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful, answering journalist requests fast, and building the relationships that lead to repeat coverage. You keep designing. We handle the media side.
How long does it take to get a press placement after hiring a publicist?
Honestly, it varies, and anyone who gives you a fixed date is guessing. Digital outlets move faster, often within a couple of months, while print magazines plan issues close to a year ahead. That's why we treat PR as momentum rather than one-off hits: pitching starts right away, coverage builds over months, and individual results vary from client to client.
Should I be worried if a PR agency guarantees media placements?
Yes. No honest agency guarantees placements, because editors decide what gets published, not publicists. Earned media is exactly that: earned. What a good agency can promise is the work itself, consistent pitching, real editor relationships, and honest reporting on what's landing. If someone guarantees you a specific magazine by a specific date, ask them how, and be ready to walk away.
Does a magazine feature actually bring in new clients?
Sometimes directly, more often indirectly, and anyone who promises otherwise is overselling. What press does well is compound: each placement builds credibility that shows up in referrals, shortens sales conversations, and strengthens everything else you do, from your website to your ads. Our client Errez Design was published in 50+ design articles in 18 months and went on to open their own retail store.
How do I choose a good PR agency for interior designers?
Look for three things: real experience in the design world, published placements you can verify in the outlets you actually want, and pricing explained before you sign anything. Design Story PR works exclusively with interior designers, architects, and kitchen and bath designers, and in the past year our clients appeared in 100+ articles across 25+ publications reaching 10M+ readers. Ask any agency for the same proof.
Stop Being the Best-Kept Secret in Your Market
Book a complimentary call with Matt. No pitch, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and whether we can help you get there.
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