More Than a Pretty Space: On Self-Doubt, Design, and Standing in Your Power

Starting your own business, especially in design and architecture, can come with an unexpected weight. Sometimes it’s self-doubt. Sometimes it’s the pressure to show up in a way that’s “palatable” to others. And sometimes, it’s the internal tug between being taken seriously and staying true to who you are.

Here’s what I’ve learned (and honestly still learning) about claiming your space, creating from your values, and carving out a future that’s rooted in trust

The Invisible Weight of Being “Too Much” or “Not Enough”

There’s a pressure many women in business and design feel that no one talks about out loud:

Should I dress up for this meeting? Or will that make me seem frivolous?
Should I speak with more authority? Or will that make me sound cold?
Can I be both soft and smart? Creative and credible?

It’s exhausting to feel like you’re constantly shape-shifting to be taken seriously, especially in spaces like banks, job sites, or boardrooms. But that tension? It’s not a flaw in you. It’s a crack in the system.

My first job out of college was with a study abroad company. I was interviewing for a sales role (to be honest I didn’t know that’s what it truly was, I just wanted to stay in the study abroad world). I’ll never forget one of the first questions I was asked that honestly serves as a checkpoint. This man asked me how I would respond to someone who told me they had more experience than me. Asking me how I would respond if I had a disagreement with someone who made it clear they had more experience than me. What’s crazy is I can’t imagine someone asking a man that. Today I wonder if it would have been as impressionable if a woman had asked me that. I think about this question a lot when I’m sitting across from older men who clearly don’t see me as an equal, a collaborator, just a younger person who knows less. Sometimes it leads to uncomfortable conversations and “emotional” battles, but it’s a fight that I’m willing to fight, especially if it means I can show my fellow women in architecture we don’t have to put up with this constant BS. 

Design as a Woman’s Profession, Architecture as a Man’s: Breaking the Binary

Design is often viewed as feminine, interiors = aesthetics, “making it look nice.” Architecture, on the other hand, has traditionally been considered masculine, very structural, rational, technical.

But the truth is: both disciplines require emotional intelligence and analytical skill. Both are deeply human. Listening to how people live, celebrating their identities, understanding their pain points, this is literally the root of good design.

It’s not about “dressing up a space.” It’s about connecting. Healing. Storytelling. Designing with people, not for them.

Building What You’ve Been Searching For

One of the biggest gifts of starting Mayer Creative Designs is the freedom to create the kind of environment I’ve always wanted to work in:

A space where female voices aren’t minimized or micromanaged
A practice that uplifts solo creatives without condescension
A process that values empathy and strategy equally

But to build that, I had to confront my own doubts first. I had to trust my perspective, my experiences, and my ability to lead. I had to shake off the performative “women supporting women” branding and instead live those values—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Final Thoughts

This work is about more than colors, textures, and clever floor plans. It’s about crafting environments that reflect who people are and who they want to become. It’s about designing spaces where entrepreneurs, families, and communities can feel both powerful and safe.

And for every woman, especially those entering the architecture world or branching out on their own, this is your reminder: you don’t have to split yourself in two to succeed. Your whole self belongs here.

At Mayer Creative Designs, we’re here to build something real with you. I’d love to connect and hear your story. Let’s grab coffee (or wine).