The Ins and Outs of Software Workflow for Designers
- Brenna Knight
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
As interior designers, you wear a lot of hats—creative visionary, project manager, financial planner, and more. The good news? With the right software stack, you can streamline nearly every aspect of your design business, from initial client inquiry to final invoicing. We’re diving deeper into the essential tools for running a modern interior design business than ever before. From client onboarding to purchasing, accounting, and beyond, this is your comprehensive guide to creating a seamless software workflow.
Whether you're an established design firm or just getting started, the right software helps you stay organized, elevate your client experience, and get paid—on time and without the stress.
Design: Nate Berkus | Photography: Kelly Marshall
Dubsado: Your All-In-One CRM
Dubsado is the powerhouse behind a beautifully branded client experience. Every touchpoint your client sees—emails, forms, contracts, invoices—is designed with your branding. That means your fonts, your colors, and even your URL are front and center. No more clunky third-party interfaces.
Dubsado also comes with onboarding assistance and a library of templates designed by professionals across creative industries, helping you get up and running fast with contracts, proposals, questionnaires, and more.
Use Dubsado for:
Inquiry Questionnaire
Appointment Scheduling
Consultation Booking
Design Questionnaires
Project Homework
Client Communications
Design Proofs
Contracts
Time Tracking
Design Estimate
Payments + Accounting
Studio Designer: The Gold Standard for Procurement and Accounting
Studio Designer is item-based rather than document-based, which means you can easily modify a single item without disturbing the rest of a proposal or invoice. The detailed accounting features ensure you always know your margins, with every dollar accounted for in its proper category. From proposal to PO to invoice, it’s all connected, so nothing slips through the cracks.
Use Studio Designer for:
Product Catalog Management
Website Clipping Tool
Client Proposals
Ordering and Purchasing
FFE Schedules
Direct-to-Vendor Orders
Invoicing + Time Billing
Line Item Approvals
Accounting + Financial Reporting
More Tools Interior Designers Love
The ideal workflow doesn’t stop with Dubsado and Studio Designer. Here's a look at the supporting cast of software tools that keep your design business running smoothly:
Slack
Best for: Internal Team Communication
Say goodbye to endless email threads. Slack keeps conversations organized by topic or project, so your team can move faster and stay aligned.
Trello or Asana
Best for: Project Management
Create boards or timelines for every client project. Assign tasks, set due dates, and track progress in real time.
Dropbox or Google Drive
Best for: Client File Sharing + Photo Storage
Share files, store project photos, and organize documents with cloud-based tools your whole team can access. Dropbox is especially great for large files, while Google Drive integrates seamlessly with Sheets, Docs, and Gmail.
Google Sheets
Best for: FFE Schedules + Budget Tracking
Build custom spreadsheets for tracking items, delivery timelines, and budgets. Store your files digitally and back them up in Dropbox for peace of mind.
Canva
Best for: Social Graphics + Client Presentations
Design on-brand Instagram graphics, Pinterest templates, and even client-facing moodboards or design presentations without needing to know Photoshop.
Our Complete List of Software for Interior Designers
Client Management
Dubsado: Client management for forms, contracts, invoicing, and workflows—all fully branded to your business.
Honeybook: CRM for proposals, payments, and scheduling, designed for creative professionals.
Basecamp: Team communication and project management with to-do lists, file storage, and messaging in one place.
Hubspot: Powerful CRM for client tracking, email marketing, and sales pipelines, ideal for scaling businesses.
17Hats: All-in-one business tool with templates for contracts, invoices, and workflows tailored to solopreneurs.
Sidemark: Interior design-specific platform for proposals, product sourcing, budgeting, and procurement.
Project Management
Studio Designer: Procurement, accounting, and project management software built specifically for interior designers.
Ivy/Houzz Pro: Proposal, invoicing, and time tracking platform with integrated client communication and vendor access.
Design Files: Online design boards, product sourcing, and e-commerce tools for delivering polished client presentations.
MyDoma: Interior design project management platform with client portals, mood boards, and product libraries.
Materio: Cloud-based material library and finish schedule tool for organizing FF&E details in one place.
Alcove: Digital library and sourcing platform to organize, save, and collaborate on design products with your team.
Google Suite: Essential tools like Gmail, Drive, Sheets, and Calendar for communication, file sharing, and scheduling.
Asana: Visual project management for tracking tasks, deadlines, and workflows with your internal team.
Trello: Simple, card-based project management ideal for tracking project phases, task lists, and client deliverables.
Design Software
Canva: Easy-to-use graphic design tool for social media, mood boards, and client presentations—no design degree required.
CAD: Industry-standard software for precise floor plans, elevations, and construction documentation.
Revit: BIM (Building Information Modeling) software for drafting, rendering, and detailed architectural planning.
Sketchup: 3D modeling for space planning, furniture layouts, and conceptual design visuals.
Adobe Creative Suite: Professional-grade tools like Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator for photo editing, layouts, and branding.
Keynote: Clean, intuitive presentation software perfect for client decks, design proposals, and visual storytelling.
Marketing + Social
Canva: Create branded social graphics, Reels covers, Instagram carousels, and email headers with drag-and-drop ease.
Later: Social media scheduler with visual planning, auto-publishing, and performance analytics for Instagram and beyond.
Tailwind: Pinterest and Instagram scheduler with built-in tools for content creation, hashtag strategy, and smart scheduling.
Planoly: Visual planner and scheduler for Instagram and Pinterest, with content calendar tools and drag-and-drop feed design.
Operations
Studio Designer: Interior design operations software for proposals, purchasing, accounting, and vendor management.
Slack: Instant messaging platform for streamlined team communication, organized by channels and projects.
Google Suite: Cloud-based tools like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Drive for file sharing, collaboration, and scheduling.
Microsoft 365: Professional productivity tools including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams for email, docs, and communication.
Dropbox: Cloud file storage and sharing for project assets, mood boards, contracts, and client folders.
Zoom: Video conferencing platform for virtual consultations, team meetings, and client presentations with screen sharing and recording features.
Miscellaneous
Quickbooks: Accounting software for tracking income, expenses, payroll, and generating financial reports.
Gusto: Payroll and benefits management platform for small businesses, handling everything from direct deposit to tax filings.
Rippling: All-in-one HR, IT, and payroll solution that automates onboarding, benefits, and employee management.
Email Signature Rescue: Branded email signature generator with custom fonts, colors, logos, and clickable icons.
WiseStamp: Professional email signature tool with design templates, banners, and social media integration.
Loom: Screen recording and video messaging tool perfect for client walkthroughs, team training, or explaining revisions.
Scribe: Automatically creates step-by-step guides with screenshots while you work—great for documenting workflows.
ChatGPT: AI assistant for writing, brainstorming, drafting emails, and solving workflow challenges faster.
Design: Amber Interior Design | Photography: Shade Degges
Sample Onboarding Workflow
Want to see how all these tools can come together into one seamless experience? Here's a sample onboarding workflow that integrates Dubsado and Studio Designer:
Prospect completes Dubsado inquiry form on your website
Dubsado automatically sends your investment guide, complete with a link to schedule a call
Client books a consultation (free or paid) → Dubsado sends a confirmation email
Two reminder emails go out automatically, and the appointment is added to your calendar
You customize a templated design proposal in Dubsado and send it to the client
Client reviews and approves the proposal
Dubsado automatically generates and sends the contract
Client signs the contract → Dubsado sends a branded thank you note and welcome packet
You input client information into Studio Designer
Design retainer is collected via Studio Designer
Dubsado sends a "thank you for your payment" email
Client receives their first project homework via a Dubsado questionnaire
This is just one example of a client onboarding sequence, but the beauty of these tools is that they’re completely customizable. You can tailor your workflow to your own design process and create a client experience that’s consistent, professional, and efficient.
Software That Grows with Your Business
Choosing the right software stack isn't about hopping on the latest trends—it’s about building a system that works for you and your team. When all your tools are working together in harmony, you gain more time to focus on your creative work, more clarity in your financials, and more confidence in your process.
At IDCO, we offer support for designers at every stage of business. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to overhaul your entire client workflow, our software workflow specialist can help. We offer setup services for Dubsado, one-on-one support, and answers to any and all questions about running your business efficiently and effectively.
Need help building or optimizing your software workflow? Book a call or shoot us an email at support@idco.studio
