Design Besties shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Design, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
In the design industry, I think many are struggling with standing out without burning out. There’s constant pressure to be creative, manage a business, and show up on social media, all while maintaining inspiration. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially without a solid support system. I believe collaboration and being honest about these challenges is key to sustainability in this field.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The Design Besties are four creatives, Nikki Watson (Stager & Builder), Whitney Atkinson (Product Inventor), Lori Johnson (Artist), and Rhobin Delacruz (Designer). We knew something special was happening when we came together. Our connection was instant, and it wasn’t long before we decided to channel that energy into something bigger than ourselves.
Our very first collaboration was a teacher lounge makeover in Plano, Texas. A simple request from the schools PTA to replace some of the teacher lounge furniture. It quickly turned into something incredibly meaningful when Nikki called us to see if we wanted to help transform this lounge. Seeing the emotional reaction from the teachers and the transformation we were able to create sparked a new purpose. That one project led us to officially launching our nonprofit, with the goal to make over teachers lounges across the country.
Today, The Design Besties is about more than design, it’s about heart. We’re on a mission to give back, uplift others, and support each other through creativity and community. We also collaborate with brands to help them gain exposure within the design world in an authentic, impactful way. At our core, we believe design can be both beautiful and purpose-driven, and we’re proud to be part of something that does both.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bond between people is often ego, comparison, and a lack of genuine support. In creative industries especially, it’s easy to fall into a mindset of competition instead of collaboration.
But what connects people, truly, is vulnerability, shared purpose, and mutual support. From the start, The Design Besties was built on trust, respect, and the desire to lift each other up. We weren’t afraid to show up fully, to ask for help, or to celebrate each other’s wins. That’s what makes this bond unbreakable.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
One real struggle for The Design Besties was balancing our individual careers while building something together. We all had full plates, projects, families, and our own businesses. There were moments when it felt impossible to align our schedules, keep the momentum, and stay true to our vision. But instead of letting it break us, we got creative. We divided tasks based on our strengths, leaned on each other when one of us was overwhelmed, and kept showing up, even when it wasn’t easy. That resilience is what’s helped us grow and stay besties through it all.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
What people see on the outside is the real us.
We’re The Design Besties, four creatives with big hearts, bold ideas, and a shared mission to make design mean something more.
There’s no facade here. The laughs, the chaos, the purpose, it’s all real.
We show up fully ourselves and bring that energy into everything we take on, from national lounge makeovers to industry panels to uplifting the brands we believe in.
And our favorite motto?
Everyone can sit with us.
Because when you lead with purpose and community, there’s always room at the table.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
We hope that when we’re gone people will tell about how we changed the world one school at a time. That we touched the lives of the teachers parents staff and even the students at each campus. That teachers moods changed and test scores climbed as a result. That there was less turnover and teachers were happier at work and at home. That’s the results we’d like to see and to have it continue long after we are gone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedesignbesties.org
- Instagram: @the_designbesties
- Facebook: TheDesignBesties
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
