111 episodes

No fluff or vague lectures that make you zone out. Just real talk on building the business and life of your dreams… Because you deserve both.
Unfiltered entrepreneurship insights—in your ears for free every other week.
Are you tired of reading and hearing the same old aspirational BS?

Too much business content online is the curated result of years of painstaking work and unsexy struggle. Those poolside laptop photos and launch-earning reveals hide what really goes on behind the scenes, which is where the true lessons lie.

Behind the Design Olivia Austin

    • Business
    • 4.8 • 34 Ratings

No fluff or vague lectures that make you zone out. Just real talk on building the business and life of your dreams… Because you deserve both.
Unfiltered entrepreneurship insights—in your ears for free every other week.
Are you tired of reading and hearing the same old aspirational BS?

Too much business content online is the curated result of years of painstaking work and unsexy struggle. Those poolside laptop photos and launch-earning reveals hide what really goes on behind the scenes, which is where the true lessons lie.

    106. Daily Life of an Artist, Romanticizing Your Life Through Creativity & Following Your Intuition with Nicole Goldfarb

    106. Daily Life of an Artist, Romanticizing Your Life Through Creativity & Following Your Intuition with Nicole Goldfarb

    In this episode of "Behind the Design Podcast", hosted by Olivia Austin, we get an inspiring glimpse into the colorful world of Nicole Goldfarb, the creative CEO of Nixie, and her journey into the business of joy-infusing design.



    Nicole Goldfarb is a color-loving creative whose eye-catching illustrations radiate a playful energy that is synonymous with joy. With a signature blend of lively hues, bold shapes and funky typography, her mission is to inspire a life full of fun by making the most out of every day. Nicole believes life is so much more fun when you lean into the things that make you truly happy, so she created Nixie, a brand toting a colorful curation of art and lifestyle goods. Color is her love language, summer is her muse, design is her passion, and the beach is her happy place. Nicole is currently catching rays and making waves in Venice, CA.



    Timestamps:


    00:00 Olivia Austin, brand designer, strategist, business coach.
    04:10 Worked in freelance creative agency, then started selling art.
    06:40 Struggling between job and passion leads breakthrough.
    12:24 Preparing to move, given different feedback related.
    15:27 Launching collection with colorful and cute items.
    18:58 Finding joy in small, creative moments daily.
    21:20 Finding inspiration in world, city, nature.
    23:06 Create, sketch, and let ideas simmer.
    27:22 Adapting and taking breaks to enhance productivity.
    31:19 Be open to different creative opportunities.
    35:42 Excited about expanding party accessories with Nixie.
    38:07 Podcast host offering guidance and resources. Follow!

    • 38 min
    105. Stop Clients From Stalling Website Projects With These Tactics

    105. Stop Clients From Stalling Website Projects With These Tactics

    In this episode, Olivia Austin shares expert insights on preventing website project stalls with effective communication, system implementation, and client guidance in brand and web design. Tune in for actionable strategies and tips on setting boundaries, maintaining project momentum, and ensuring profitable, timely delivery.


    00:00 Encouraging audience engagement, seeking input on topics.




    04:51 Integrating copywriting into the design process.


    09:07 Copywriter involvement varies based on client preference.


    10:20 Align deadline for brand identity and website.


    14:52 Experts lead, guide, and communicate in projects.


    18:45 Offering multiple options for feedback in detail.


    22:33 Clear communication about finalizing website content stages.


    24:06 Client feedback shapes website design, limited revisions.


    28:50 Implementing fees for ghosting clients ensures profitability.


    30:24 Recommend fee range, contract terms, and communication tips.


    33:44 Client investment affects commitment, discussed on podcast.

    • 35 min
    104. Simplifying Your Creative Services, Staying in Your Creative Genius & Becoming a New Mom with Angela Mondloch, Saffron Avenue

    104. Simplifying Your Creative Services, Staying in Your Creative Genius & Becoming a New Mom with Angela Mondloch, Saffron Avenue

    Angela is the Founder and Creative Heart behind Saffron Avenue, a graphic design studio for ambitious brands and a template shop for entrepreneurs and artists. With a love of designing with intention and connection, I focus on infusing strategy, sophistication, and hand-crafted details into each brand, website, and product. Her mission has been to help creative business owners gain clarity and confidence with their brand and website, allowing them to effortlessly evolve with growth. Today we chat about her evolution of Saffron Avenue and everything she's learned along the way from simplifying her services, honing in on her niche, what her schedule is like as a new mom and business owner and where she finds creativity to do multiple launch collections/year. If you're a creative at heart, you're going to love this episode!



    Timestamps:


    00:00 Feeling determined to start creative business early.


    04:38 Ignorance turned to success through hard work.


    07:08 Learned design skills through self-teaching and perseverance.


    11:09 Passionate about branding and unique websites.


    14:24 Love playing with color, creating seasonal palettes.


    18:56 Personalized branding creates excitement and customer engagement.


    19:36 Workbook helps brand alignment, Pinterest board review.


    25:28 Semi-customs provide clarity and save time.


    28:53 Entrepreneurship: follow intuition, find joy, attract success.


    30:52 Mindset change, fear replaced by joy.


    35:36 Women leading, setting positive examples for kids.


    36:31 Changing mind, aging, career impact on family.


    39:33 Scheduled work, ongoing projects, and flexibility.


    43:13 Shifting focus to branding education, website templates.

    • 44 min
    103. Create a Customized Growth Strategy for Your Best Quarter Yet

    103. Create a Customized Growth Strategy for Your Best Quarter Yet

    In this episode of Behind the Design, host Olivia Austin shares a step-by-step strategy for reflecting on the past quarter and creating a customized plan for the next quarter. Discover the #1 important, reflection exercise and identify the actionable steps to define your goals, refine your strategies, and achieve success in Quarter 2.



    Timestamps:


    00:00 Entrepreneurs need strategic reflection to grow
    03:38 Review, reflect, and refine for business growth
    09:06 Reflect on achievements and set clear goals
    10:16 Setting and maintaining habits for productivity and wellness
    14:58 Focus on one goal and specific tasks
    17:12 Reflect on goals, ramp up podcast, refine tasks
    22:11 Reflect on the episode and share goals
    23:00 Encouraging feedback and strategy for business growth

    • 24 min
    102. Lead Generating Ads for Beginners, Using AI in Your Agency & Stepping Up As a Leader with Kay Allen-Car

    102. Lead Generating Ads for Beginners, Using AI in Your Agency & Stepping Up As a Leader with Kay Allen-Car

    Join our guest, Kay from KAC Marketing, on the Behind the Design podcast as we dive into secrets on scaling agencies, leveraging AI for efficiency, and mastering email marketing and ad management strategies for small businesses. Plus, you'll hear expert advice on balancing work-life and harnessing the power of organic content and paid ads to grow your client base. Don't miss these valuable insights - perfect for agency owners and marketing professionals looking to thrive!

    Kay is a marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience helping businesses take a data-driven approach to increasing revenue. She is a former VP of Marketing & Analytics and is now the founder of the KAC Marketing Agency where she helps 7-figure brands scale through ads and email marketing.

    Timestamps:


    00:00 Launched email marketing agency, grew through referrals.
    06:09 Messaging strategy, GBT training, boosts efficiency.
    07:38 AI enhances efficiency and profitability in agencies.
    10:49 Learning from previous large agency experience helped.
    16:19 Delegation is key for successful hiring.
    18:47 Consistent content with client results generates leads.
    20:34 Strong network connections essential for business success.
    25:48 Starting from scratch, testing messaging and imagery.
    29:31 Agencies are expensive; consider freelance options.
    33:24 Disagreements with art director over design choices.
    35:48 Instagram content should have specific calls-to-action.
    37:49 Lower costs with in-app ads, better conversion.
    42:45 Prioritizing balance after experiencing burnout, flexible schedule.
    44:31 Embrace flexibility in work for success.

    • 46 min
    101. Elevate Your Process & Increase Profitability with ClickUp

    101. Elevate Your Process & Increase Profitability with ClickUp

    It's no secret I am obsessed with ClickUp, so in today's episode I'm sharing the reasons why I switched to ClickUp, an inside look of how we use it with clients and our internal processes and how I've been able to ditch all other platforms to streamline to just ONE. ClickUp revolutionized the workflow my agency, eliminating bottlenecks in client and team communication, allows us to get efficient client feedback, systemize client expectations, enhance team collaborations and optimize product. It's truly the reason I can run a multiple six figure design studio working part-time hours. Learn how this powerful platform transformed the business operations and client interactions, paving the way for efficiency, clarity, and seamless project management and how you can use it too!

    If you've been curious about ClickUp, or want to elevate your process, this episode will help!

    All templates I mention in this episode are in my shop, byoliviaaustin.com/shop ! Use code BTD10 for 10% off!

    Start your free trial with ClickUp using this link → https://clickup.com?fp_ref=olivia41

    Free Leads + Clients tracker → https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/ycuwhsfli1



    Timestamps:


    00:00 Excited to talk about streamlining business processes.
    05:26 Overwhelmed by client and team communication.
    09:14 Client communication improved with new project tools.
    11:16 Centralized platform streamlines client project organization effectively.
    17:25 Efficient communication, eliminates confusion, and simplifies processes.
    23:34 Streamlining communication, organization, and project management efficiently.
    25:30 ClickUp is great for agency owners and designers.

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
34 Ratings

34 Ratings

alisonnz ,

The real deal!

I always appreciate Olivia’s candor and transparency with each podcast episode, whether she’s talking about her income reports, mistakes she’s made (and learned from), to her experience creating a business that supports her dream life! I’m always so inspired by her, even though I’m not a designer. This podcast is really for anyone building a business that supports living life to the fullest in a way that honors your dreams!

Savannah Benefiekd ,

Creative & Entrepreneur Mentor

Olivia’s podcast has brought me so much insight through the years. As someone who owns a digital agency, it’s been a great resource & has given me lots of comfort hearing her journey and learning from her! I loved the episode about process and systems as that’s something I’m currently working on. It really motivated me and gave me good insights into what tools I need to invest in & why. A great listen for anyone growing a business!

Beth M Coach ,

A go-to resource as I establish my business

I found Olivia's podcast because she is building my website. It has become a go-to resource for me on all things business. I find that when I have a question around pretty much anything related to setting up my business—goal setting, lead generation, systems—she has an episode. She shares her expertise in a relatable and understandable way. I continue to share episodes and recommend this podcast to friends and colleagues.

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