November 30, 2022

On our most recent KBB – From the Tap podcast, we spoke with designer Nicole Salceda, owner of San Francisco-based Eye for Pretty Design Studio, about creating and cultivating joy in the workplace and in life.

Salceda’s motto is that beautiful design can be achievable for everyone. She talked about how she stays true to herself while overcoming the pressure to keep up with everyone else. Taking a step back, reflecting on her company’s vision and letting go of others’ expectations are part of that.

The designer sets herself apart from the competition by not always doing the same thing as other firms. And customer service is one of her top priorities, as is making her clients feel like they are number one.

Salceda believes in eliminating the drama and emotions from employee and client relationships and tries not to ignore the red flags in the beginning. She shared her tips for letting clients go gracefully and hiring employees who are the best fit for her firm. She looks for flexible team players who are open to suggestions.

The designer told us how she creates and cultivates joy in the workplace through various employee initiatives, including offering flexible schedules and providing a beautiful environment in which to work (see above photo). Salceda also believes in celebrating their successes and offering encouragement.

She said the most important thing to a successful team is trust on both sides, and she likes to pair employees with clients who are a good personality fit. Salceda’s life philosophy is to feel the fear and do it anyway, which is how she runs her business. She shared some of her steps for making her dreams come to life so that other designers can achieve those goals as well.

To learn more, watch the full video above or listen to the podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets.

By Chelsie Butler, KBB Executive Editor