How to Build an Interiors Team From Scratch with Christina Franklin

How to Build an Interiors Team From Scratch with Christina Franklin

From I Hear Design: the i+s podcast by interiors+sources

April 13, 2026 · 33 min · Episode 130

About this episode

Christina Franklin discusses building an interiors team from scratch and integrating it into the design process.

What does it take to build an interiors team from scratch and make it a true strategic partner to architecture, not a “finishes at the end” function? In this episode of I Hear Design, we sit down with Christina Franklin, Partner and Director of Interior Design at Generator Studio in Kansas City. Christina shares what it was like joining as a team of one and how she established the foundations that allowed an interiors practice to scale, which included defining a clear point of view, clarifying the scope of ownership, and embedding interiors into the design process from day one. We also talk about what “hospitality-forward design” really means beyond buzzwords (translating it into tangible decisions like arrival sequence, lighting, and emotional resonance instead), plus the tools and standards that help maintain quality as a team grows. Christina also offers a candid take on AI as an early-stage ideation tool, how to gauge whether a team is truly healthy, and the leadership shift she calls out most: learning to release control and build trust.

People in this episode

Guest: Christina Franklin

Topics covered

  • interiors team building
  • strategic partnership
  • hospitality-forward design
  • AI in design
  • team health

Keywords

  • interior design
  • architecture
  • team dynamics
  • leadership
  • quality standards

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Generator Studio

Books & works: I Hear Design

Places: Kansas City

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