EP 425 | IP and Succession: How Interior Designers Protect Value and Plan What’s Next with Wendy Estela
Succession planning can feel like a distant concern—but in reality, it’s one of the smartest ways to strengthen your design business right now. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon sits down with attorney Wendy Estela to unpack what intellectual property really means for interior designers and why protecting it is essential to long-term value.
Wendy explains how thinking about succession early—whether or not you plan to sell—forces clarity around ownership, worth, and structure. A business designed to be transferable is also a business that’s more resilient, more profitable, and less dependent on you personally. This conversation is a wake-up call for designers who give too much away, undervalue their expertise, or delay protecting what they’ve built.
If future-proofing your business is on your mind—or should be—this episode will help you understand where to start and why it matters.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- What intellectual property really means in an interior design business
- How to recognize and protect your value as a designer
- Key succession planning options and when to start thinking about them
- Why building a sellable business makes your business stronger today
- How knowing what a “good deal” looks like prevents long-term regret
DESIGN INTERVENTION
You absolutely need to know your worth as a designer. Don’t give it all away.
Designers are very hard on themselves. The best thing you can do is know what a good deal looks like for you, and what a bad deal looks like, and don’t get to a point where you are giving, giving, giving, until you finally get the deal… but it’s not a good deal.
TAKEAWAY
Check out the BOD™ Course, Project Management, A Legal Path to Compliance, in partnership with Wendy Estella.
About Wendy Estela
Wendy Estela focuses on legal services tailored to the design and creative industries, notably partnering with interior designers from up-and-coming talents to those recognized on the Elle Decor A-List and AD100. With a robust legal background spanning over two decades, she provides trusted counsel on contracts, business law, disputes and risk management.
Her broader practice includes supporting diverse entrepreneurs and small businesses, such as women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned, startups, and non-profits, guiding them through the intricate legal landscape that affects both their professional and personal lives.
Wendy holds a BA in Spanish with minors in Communications and International Studies from Boston College, an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Pace University and an LL.M. in Insurance Law from the University of Connecticut. She is admitted to practice in New York, Connecticut and Utah, and works with clients across the country. Wendy lives in West Hartford, Connecticut with her two daughters, ages 12 and 14, and her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.
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